Purpose and Priorities of the LORI Grant Program

• LORI Grants are sub-grants offered by the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) using its federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds. LORI Grants are given in accord with LSTA funding priorities. (See further Library Services and Technology Act of 2003 – Priorities)
• The purpose of the LORI grant program is to fund projects that contribute to resource sharing among LORI libraries.
• Projects that benefit the multi-type library community are strongly encouraged and will be given highest priority.
• Priority will be given to collaborative projects involving more than one library, to projects that address sharing resources and holdings information online, digitization, and to new and innovative projects that can be used as a model for other libraries.
• Proposals to fund commercial databases must be for multi-type library access and use.
• Proposals for data conversion are not eligible for LORI Grants.

Library Services and Technology Act of 2003 - Priorities

LSTA, a section of the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003, promotes access to information resources provided by all types of libraries for individuals of all ages. The LSTA program priorities are as follows:

• expand services for learning and access to information and educational resources in a variety of formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all ages.
• develop library services that provide all users access to information through local, state, regional, national, and international electronic networks.
• provide electronic and other linkages between and among all types of libraries.
• develop public and private partnerships with other agencies and community-based organizations.
• target library services to individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills.
• target library and information services to persons having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban and rural communities, including children from families with incomes below the poverty.