17 UNC Libraries to Share Resources

UNC Libraries Awarded Federal LSTA Grant for Resource Sharing

Media contact: Anna Dahlstein , tel. (919) 515-3585

The 17 University of North Carolina (UNC) libraries have been awarded a $150,000 grant to develop a virtual union catalog system that will enable their users to request prompt delivery of materials to and from all UNC institutions across the state. This system will serve UNC students, faculty, and staff across throughout the state, particularly those engaged in distance and online learning. The federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds were awarded by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

These LSTA funds, originating from the federal granting agency, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), invest dollars to expand learning resources and access to information for individuals from all walks of life. The LSTA grant will enable the public university libraries of North Carolina to create a single online gateway to the bibliographic information for their collections, currently available only through their separate library catalogs. With a rapid request and delivery system, the UNC libraries will be able to target their collections expenditures more accurately in accordance with institutional strengths - also as part of the project, they will undertake a comparative analysis of their collections to document their respective strengths and guide future selection of materials. These efficiencies help to further the goals of UNC President Erskine Bowles' President's Advisory Committee on Efficiency and Effectiveness (PACE) initiative.

The UNC libraries received one of the 146 LSTA grants totaling $4,629,570 awarded to North Carolina libraries for 2007-08. The LSTA grants support projects across the state to help libraries provide relevant and up-to-date services for their users. Through the Grants to States program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services provides these funds to state library agencies 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.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas, and fulfill their mission as centers of lifelong learning. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.

For more information about the federal IMLS/LSTA grants, visit the IMLS Web site , the State Library's LSTA Web site , or contact Penny Hornsby at the State Library of North Carolina, penny.hornsby@ncmail.net, (919) 807-7420.