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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Subsidies and Grants

    The Office of Commonwealth Libraries' Bureau of Library Development administers grants to strengthen library services for Pennsylvanians.

    Funding sources that may be available include e-Rate, Library Services and Technology Act , Keystone Grants for Public Library Facilities, and State Aid to Public Libraries.​​

    E-rate Program: Broadband Discounts

    The schools and libraries universal service support program, commonly known as the E-rate program, helps schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband and related services. The E-rate program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC.)

    Pennsylvania libraries and schools may obtain E-rate training and support at E-rate in P​ennsylvania.

    E-Rate - Universal Service Administrative Company (usac.org)

    Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides federal Library Services and Technolog​​y Act (LSTA) funding to states through its Grants to the States program.

    In Pennsylv​​ania, the Pennsylvania Department of Education's (PDE) Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) administers these funds to public, school, academic, and special libraries that are aligned with its IMLS-approved five-year plan.

    The overarching purpose of the OCL is to support and provide excellent and equitable library services to the people of Pennsylvania.  Our three strategic goals aim to co​​nnect libraries and library services to the larger Pennsylvania ecosystem by supporting statewide (Goal 1) and local library activities (Goal 2) and ensuring we leverage the larger educational structures of which we are a part (Goal 3).

    To learn more about ​​Pennsylvania's LSTA program (e.g. its federal budget allocation, project examples, obtain a copy of the five-year plan, etc.) visit Pennsylvania's IMLS' state profile page on the IMLS website.​

     

    Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund

    State Aid to Public Libraries