• Michigan libraries provide a rich source of information and education.shelves of library books image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
  
  Michigan has multiple ways to fund its libraries. Federal funding for libraries is often administered by the state to help support advancements in technology, operating costs, literacy and the arts. Libraries throughout Michigan share a tradition of providing residents with many services made possible through grants.
  
  

LSTA

• The Library Services and Technology Act of 1996 (LSTA) is a federal program that allocates funding to libraries through the Library of Michigan. Money is used to support various programs for libraries in the state and to fund the LSTA competitive grant program, known as Modeling the Future. LSTA funding focuses on the use of technology for sharing of information among libraries and between community organizations. The program also seeks to bring library resources to urban and rural areas, low-income people and anyone else who may find it challenging to use library services.
  
  

State Aid

• The state supports public libraries through the State Aid to Public Libraries grant fund. Funding is awarded on an annual basis and is determined in part by the population in the surrounding community. A public library will report statistics, such as operating expenses, programs offered, and the amount of people using the library, to the state which will then submit the data to the federal government. Grant funding for individual public libraries is then awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
  
  

MCFB

• The Michigan Center for the Book (MCFB) is a statewide program offered in conjunction with the Library of Congress. Grant funding is made available to libraries at various times to promote books, reading, literacy, authors and the state's literary culture. Grant money is used to support resources such as the Michigan Authors and Illustrators database, and to fund the Michigan Author Award program.
  
  

MCACA

• The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) provides a grant program through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Funding is made available to nonprofit organizations, including libraries, to help support projects that promote cultural and artistic activity, such as having an author visit the library.
  
  

ALA

• The oldest and largest organization of libraries in the world is the American Library Association (ALA). The organization advocates development and improvement of libraries across the country and promotes librarianship as a career. The ALA has an extensive grant program that includes diversity research grants awarded to colleges and universities. In the past, libraries at Wayne State University, the University of Michigan and others in the state have benefited from ALA grant funding.