Arizona LSTA Express Grants

The Arizona LSTA Express Grants program provides competitive federal Library Services and Technology Act funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered in Arizona by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Express Grants are the smaller, structured component of Arizona's LSTA subgrant program and have preset funding limits, activities, and outcomes. For 2026, the Express Grant opportunities are Collections and Programming, Staff Development Day, Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending, Writers in Residence in Libraries, and AI Training and Tools. These opportunities support the goals of Arizona's IMLS-approved Five-Year Plan, including equitable access to information, lifelong learning, technology resources and staff skills, and library engagement with communities and partner organizations. Collections and Programming grants provide $5,000 to help libraries enhance materials for targeted audiences, and every project must include both collection acquisition and a programming component. Funds may be used only for library collection materials, instructor or presenter fees, and other supplies directly supporting the collection and program, such as shelving. Staff Development Day grants provide $5,000 to library systems to pay for high-quality presenters for all-staff development days. Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending grants provide $5,000 for libraries to lend Wi-Fi hotspots, supporting uses such as closing the homework gap, participation in online education and workforce development, telehealth access, and internet access for users who cannot afford home service. Writers in Residence in Libraries supports public libraries in connecting local professional authors with their communities. Writers spend time at libraries composing new works and providing education to community members. Applicants select a funding level based on the number of writers they can support: $5,000 for two writers, consisting of stipends set at $800 per month for six months plus $200 for marketing, or $7,500 for three writers, consisting of stipends set at $800 per month for nine months plus $300 for marketing. The program describes support for up to four writers' residencies, each lasting three months. Libraries seeking to continue an existing Writers in Residence program must select new writers for the new grant cycle. AI Training and Tools grants provide $5,000 for specialized staff training, consultation with qualified experts, and subscriptions to generative AI tools for staff use or public demonstrations and hands-on experimentation. Projects are intended to build understanding of AI technologies, their potential benefits and risks, information literacy, ethical use, and critical evaluation of AI-generated content. Express Grant applicants must satisfy Arizona LSTA eligibility requirements. Eligible libraries must be located in Arizona, operate on an established schedule with regular posted hours during which trained staff services are available to the public, provide free access to an organized collection within their service area, and submit required State Library reports completely, accurately, and on time. Additional requirements apply to academic, institutional, public, school, special, and tribal libraries. Applicants are also required to supply a Unique Entity Identifier. Local funds, whether cash or in-kind, are required as a match for LSTA grants. The amount of matching funds may vary and does not have to be 1:1, but the match must be allowable under LSTA and specifically allocable to the project. Pre-award costs cannot be reimbursed. Express Grant applications are submitted through the separate online LSTA Express Grant application. The application and certification deadline for the 2026 cycle was April 10, 2026, with submission required no later than 11:59 PM. Grant awards were scheduled to be announced May 15, 2026, subject to the availability of federal funding. May 22, 2026 was the earliest date funds could be requested. Express Grant recipients are required to review the Grant Recipient Packet supplied with the award notification. Funds must be requested between May 22, 2026 and June 30, 2027, and disbursement typically takes 30 to 45 days after a request. Projects must be completed and funds fully encumbered by August 6, 2027, while final reports are due and funds must be fully expended by September 3, 2027. Grant recipients must administer awards in accordance with LSTA statutory and regulatory requirements, applicable Arizona requirements, and the approved proposal and budget. Prior approval is required before deviating from the approved budget or making significant changes to project scope, objectives, project management, or key personnel. Promotional materials and publications resulting from an LSTA-funded project must acknowledge support from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional federal requirements may apply, including applicable CIPA certification, drug-free workplace requirements, protection of personally identifiable information, whistleblower protections, and procurement practices. The Grants Consultant monitors funded projects during the grant year. Contacts vary by Express Grant type. Mary Villegas is identified for Collections and Programming, Megan Hammond for Staff Development Day, Anthony Costantini for Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending and AI Training and Tools, and Donna Throckmorton for Writers in Residence in Libraries. The common program email is libdev@azsos.libanswers.com, and Library Development can be reached at 602-542-6200. The 2026 application cycle has closed, but the official Arizona LSTA webpage documents successive annual LSTA grant cycles, supporting treatment of the program as recurring.

Select the Express Grant category that directly matches the proposed project and follow its preset activities, outcomes, funding amount, and permitted uses. CAP projects must include both collection acquisition and programming and may use funds only for collection materials, instructor or presenter fees, and supplies directly supporting the collection and program. Staff Development Day funding is for high-quality presenters for all-staff development days. Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending projects must support hotspot lending. Writers in Residence applicants must select the funding level based on the number of writers they can support, and applicants continuing an existing program must select new writers for the new grant cycle. AI Training and Tools projects should focus on the specified training, expert consultation, generative AI subscriptions, demonstrations, or hands-on experimentation.