LSTA In Rhode Island FAQs

No. Rhode Island public libraries are funded primarily with local funds from the city or town they are located in, along with state funds . Many libraries also rely on private donations and endowment funds to support services to their community.

No. The State of Rhode Island funds state aid to libraries (grant-in-aid) with "general revenue," that is, funds raised through taxes paid by the people of Rhode Island.

Somewhat. OLIS pays a vendor to pick up, sort, and deliver materials to over 200 libraries in the state. Most of the service contract is funded by the state; 5% of the contract cost is paid with federal funds. However, staff who work on delivery services are paid with a mix of state and federal funds. As a result, the service may face a 15% reduction if federal funds are eliminated.

Yes. Federal funds pay for a number of programs at OLIS that would be eliminated or substantially reduced if federal funding were to be eliminated. These programs include:

• Summer reading programs for children, teens and adults, including Kids Reading Across Rhode Island
• Talking Books Library, library service for the blind and physically handicapped
• AskRI tools for online test preparation and language learning (Learning Express Library, Mango Languages)
• Workshops and professional development classes for librarians and library staff
• Coordination and support for statewide programs for adult education, digital literacy, health literacy and media literacy
• Disaster planning and preservation assistance
• OLIS staff support for libraries, including support for delivery services, children's services, young adult services and reference services

The Library of Congress National Library Service provides digital books on cartridges and through online download along with the machines to play the books. Delivery of the materials is provided for free by the United States Postal Service. Every state has a talking books library for the blind and physically handicapped. However, every state must arrange to store the books and equipment, and ship the materials to people who use the service. In addition, the states must also provide staff to handle these functions and serve people using the service. Many people who use Talking Books are elderly and do not have computers, which requires a high level of customer service. In Rhode Island, OLIS contracts with the Perkins Library in Massachusetts to store, ship and manage materials and equipment; OLIS staff enroll Rhode Islanders in the service and provide daily customer service, placing books orders, helping patrons use the service, and managing the service. Federal LSTA funds are used to pay for the contract with Perkins and OLIS staff who provide the Talking Books service.

Federal funds are used to pay for Learning Express Library and Mango Languages. Learning Express provides online test preparation services and tutorials for professional licenses needed by commercial drivers, plumbers, electricians, allied health services, nurses, cosmetologists, postal workers, real estate professionals, teachers, emergency medical services etc., as well as college entrance examinations and careers in the military, police and firefighting. Learning Express also provides test preparation materials for high school equivalency and citizenship tests, with resources in English and Spanish. Mango Languages provides online learning tools for over 70 foreign languages and English language learning courses for 20 foreign languages.

Other AskRI resources, including EBSCO databases, World Book and AtoZ databases are supported with state funds. Most staff support, including all services provided by the Providence Public Library serving as the Statewide Reference Resource Center, is paid for with state funds. EBSCO databases include Academic Search, Masterfile, History Reference Center, NoveList, Points of View, Biography Reference Center, Literary Reference Center, Consumer Health, and Auto Repair.

Most OLIS staff are paid with a mix of state and LSTA funds. In 2019, out of 12 staff, 9 staff are paid with a mix of LSTA and state funds; adding up the percentage of salaries covered by federal funds, the equivalent of 5.5 FTEs are funded with federal funds.

Loss of LSTA funding would have a minimal impact on OLIS operations in state fiscal year 2020 and a major impact on the following year. OLIS spends its annual award in the state fiscal year following the award year; the 2019 award would be expended in state fiscal year 2020, resulting in minimal disruption of services in 2020 (see note for an explanation of how Grants to States are awarded). OLIS and Rhode Island libraries would experience significant reductions of services beginning in July 2021 if the IMLS and LSTA funding were eliminated.

Information will be placed on the OLIS website as it becomes available. Additionally, the Rhode Island Library Association, and its section, the Coalition of Library Advocates, are strong advocates for Rhode Island's libraries.