The New York State Library’s (NYSL) intent for this grant program is to improve public libraries’ and library systems’ capacity to offer services and information resources in their communities in the areas of outreach and community engagement; best practices in literacy; and social wellbeing and improving lives of New Yorkers.
Project components may include outreach, programming, consultations from outside experts, and the purchase of supplies and technology which support a larger library initiative. The minimum grant award is $5,000 and the maximum grant award is $20,000. No financial match is required.
Please take the time to read through all the eligibility and application requirements listed below.
Eligible Applicants
Library systems and public and association libraries chartered by the Regents are eligible to apply to this grant program. Library systems include public library systems, reference and research library resources systems, and school library systems.
For detailed information about this grant program, please review the NYSED site and the RFP. More information is available on the NYSL website. A sample application is available here. All questions must be submitted via this online form by March 24, 2026 (RFP# GC24-005). A Questions and Answers Summary will be posted no later than March 31, 2026.
Prequalification requirement for non-profit organizations
New York State has implemented a statewide prequalification requirement for not-for-profit organizations applying for grants. This applies to all association libraries and some library systems. To become prequalified, a nonprofit must register with the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and complete an online prequalification application. Find more information on the prequalification process here.
The SFS prequalification registration process requests information about an organization’s capacity, legal compliance, and integrity. This process may take up to a few weeks to complete. Begin the prequalification registration process immediately if you are considering applying for an LSTA Competitive Grant. Detailed information is available on the Grants Management website.
Unique Entity Identifier (UIE) requirement for all applicants
To receive federal funds as a federal grant subrecipient, a library or system must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Libraries or systems that intend to receive federal grant subawards (i.e., LSTA grant funding) should use the System for Award Management (SAM) to obtain a UEI. Applicants can request a UEI through SAM.gov without needing to complete a full entity registration process for the purposes of receiving an LSTA grant subaward.
Proposals received from non-profit applicants that are not prequalified in SFS by 5:00 PM on the proposal due date of 5/15/26 cannot be evaluated. Proposals received from libraries or library systems that do not have a current UEI by 5:00 PM on the proposal due date of 5/15/26 cannot be evaluated. All such proposals will be disqualified from further consideration.
NYSL Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Competitive Grant Program
The New York State Library’s (NYSL) intent for this grant program is to improve public libraries’ and library systems’ capacity to offer services and information resources in their communities in the areas of outreach and community engagement; best practices in literacy; and social wellbeing and improving lives of New Yorkers.
Project components may include outreach, programming, consultations from outside experts, and the purchase of supplies and technology which support a larger library initiative. The minimum grant award is $5,000 and the maximum grant award is $20,000. No financial match is required.
Please take the time to read through all the eligibility and application requirements listed below.
Eligible Applicants
Library systems and public and association libraries chartered by the Regents are eligible to apply to this grant program. Library systems include public library systems, reference and research library resources systems, and school library systems.
For detailed information about this grant program, please review the NYSED site and the RFP. More information is available on the NYSL website. A sample application is available here. All questions must be submitted via this online form by March 24, 2026 (RFP# GC24-005). A Questions and Answers Summary will be posted no later than March 31, 2026.
Prequalification requirement for non-profit organizations
New York State has implemented a statewide prequalification requirement for not-for-profit organizations applying for grants. This applies to all association libraries and some library systems. To become prequalified, a nonprofit must register with the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and complete an online prequalification application. Find more information on the prequalification process here.
The SFS prequalification registration process requests information about an organization’s capacity, legal compliance, and integrity. This process may take up to a few weeks to complete. Begin the prequalification registration process immediately if you are considering applying for an LSTA Competitive Grant. Detailed information is available on the Grants Management website.
Unique Entity Identifier (UIE) requirement for all applicants
To receive federal funds as a federal grant subrecipient, a library or system must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Libraries or systems that intend to receive federal grant subawards (i.e., LSTA grant funding) should use the System for Award Management (SAM) to obtain a UEI. Applicants can request a UEI through SAM.gov without needing to complete a full entity registration process for the purposes of receiving an LSTA grant subaward.
Proposals received from non-profit applicants that are not prequalified in SFS by 5:00 PM on the proposal due date of 5/15/26 cannot be evaluated. Proposals received from libraries or library systems that do not have a current UEI by 5:00 PM on the proposal due date of 5/15/26 cannot be evaluated. All such proposals will be disqualified from further consideration.