Program Overview
Through the Grants to States program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services provides funds to State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) using a population-based formula. State libraries may use the appropriation to support statewide initiatives and services. They also may distribute the funds through subgrant competitions or cooperative agreements to public, academic, research, school, and special libraries in their state.

Each state has an IMLS-approved five-year plan outlining its programs. These programs support the six Grants to States priorities, which are to:

• 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; and
• 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 line.