Ala. Admin. Code r. 520-2-1-.05

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 520-2-1-.05 - Strengthening Information Technology

The purpose of this grant category is to improve library services for users through:

1) updating technological equipment,

2) accessing information through electronic networks,

3) paying the costs for libraries to acquire other technologies to record, save, and retrieve information, and

4) training library staff and users.

(1) Project title: Digitization of High-Demand Rare

Library Materials. Grants shall be for equipment, software, and contractual services necessary for the conversion of analog images of high-demand rare library materials (including text and pictures) into digital images for free worldwide Internet access.

(a)Stipulations:

1. An applicant may apply for only one grant per grant cycle under this program.

2. The maximum LSTA grant is $15,000.

3. Required local match must equal 25% of the LSTA grant award. Up to 25% of the required local match may come from project personnel salaries.

4. Project funds may be used for the following purposes:

1) an image capture device, such as a scanner or digital camera;

2) a computer and pre-developed software to interface with the image capture device;

3) contractual services performed by a dedicated digitization agency external to the grantee to perform the digitization; and

4) staff training to learn how to perform the conversion process.

5. Applicants must comply with all copyright laws. Materials to be digitized must be of such a kind that they may be legally available for free worldwide Internet access.

6. The applicant must explain and use specific and effective methods to make persons aware of, and to encourage their use of, the digitized library materials.

7. Federal and required local matching funds are notallowable for the following costs:

1) software development;

2) supplies;

4) maintenance costs; and

5) other ongoing expenses.

(2) Program title: Library Technology and

Automation. Grants shall be for one or more of the following:

1) the acquisition and installation of technological equipment and software necessary to run library system software for collections;

2) staff training to use acquired equipment and software;

3) user training on how to access information electronically;

4) the acquisition and installation of technological equipment and software necessary to mount automated library catalogs on the Internet;

5) the acquisition and installation of technological equipment and software necessary to assist libraries in sending or receiving information through internal and external electronic networks;

6) the acquisition and installation of technological equipment and software necessary to support the training of library staff and users to use electronic information services.

(a)Stipulations:

1. In this program title there is a small library development subprogram and a general subprogram:

(i) Small library development subprogram: A public library with a population in its legal service area of 10,000 or less may apply for one grant under this subprogram if it is applying for $20,000 or less; or it may apply under the general subprogram for $20,001 up to $50,000 but it may not apply under both subprograms.

(ii) General subprogram: A public library with a population of in its legal service area of 10,001 or more may apply under this subprogram for up to $50,000. A public library with a population in its legal service area of 10,000 or less may apply under this subprogram for $20,001 up to $50,000. A cooperative library network or a public library system may apply under this subprogram for up to $150,000.

2. An applicant may apply for only one technology grant per grant cycle, except that a recipient of a two-year award may not apply for a grant for a project which would occur in the same fiscal year in which the second phase of the original two-year project occurs.

3. LSTA support of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) project may extend two fiscal years. The following rules shall be applicable for two-year RFID projects:

(i) The award for an RFID project cannot exceed $90,000.

(ii) A second-year award may not exceed 50% of the first year award and will be awarded only upon the successful completion of the first year phase as determined by APLS and only if LSTA funds are available.

(iii) A complete description of the activities of the first and second year, including cost estimates, must be submitted with the first year's application.

(iv) A supplementary application for the second year must be submitted by a date established by APLS. This application shall include a progress report on the accomplishments during the first-year phase.

(v) A separate RFID application cannot be submitted for at least five years after the completion of a two-year proj ect.

4. Required local match must equal 25% of the LSTA grant award. Up to 25% of the required local match may come from project personnel salaries.

5. Project funds may be used for the following purposes:

(i) The acquisition and installation in library buildings, on library property, or in mobile units of communication and electrical wiring necessary for the operation of the hardware and software that enables internal or external hosted library automation applications listed in this section and acquired in the same project;

(ii) The acquisition and installation of technological equipment and pre-developed software for use in library buildings and mobile units, and the acquisition of other items, as follows:

(I) ANSI/NISO Z39.50 compliant library automation software modules:

1) acquisitions,

2) authority control,

3) cataloging,

4) circulation,

5) public access catalog,

6) serials control, and

7) web-accessible catalog.

(II) Infrastructure for use of the above equipment and software:

1) LAN/WAN operating software (pre-developed) for library or inter-library connections,

2) staff and patron training,

3) first-year service charges if the applicant is contracting for internal or external hosted library automation applications provided by a public library system, cooperative library network, or vendor for the first time,

4) supplies for use with automated systems, including borrowers cards, printer supplies, dumb barcodes, smart barcodes, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags (Smart barcodes and RFID tags must be purchased with the technological hardware and software or with the contracted internal or external hosted library automation applications specified above, and installation of barcodes and tags is a local responsibility.), and

5) data preparation as follows:

a) Internet databases of USMARC records for conversion (for purchase or one-year subscription),

b) first-time conversion where shelflist cards or copies of title and verso pages are sent to a company providing conversion services,

c) first-time authority control processing by a vendor, and

d) conversion of an existing database for loading into a new system when migrating from an old automated system to a new automated system, if such conversion is performed by the system vendor or by a company under contract with, or recommended by, the system vendor,

6) print-management software, and

7) time-management software for limiting use of public access computers to permit equal access by library users.

(III) Computers; upgrades of existing computers; wireless computer communication equipment; scanners; printers; routers; hubs; switches; fax machines; combination copy machines with scanning, fax, or networking features; other similar equipment; and pre-developed software needed to utilize:

1) library automation software modules,

2) LAN/WAN operating system software for library or interlibrary connections,

3) external electronic networks (such as the Internet) for sending or receiving information (such as that available through the Alabama Virtual Library), and

4) other internal resources.

(IV) Self-checkout equipment for checkout of library materials (excluding library materials security equipment which is physically separate from the checkout system, such as detection antennae at exits, or a physically separate device for sensitizing and desensitizing library materials). Security equipment directly connected to PCs, self-check equipment, and/or the local network hardware or software by wireless, cable, etc. (such as RFID) may be paid for with federal funds.

(V) Technological equipment and software necessary to contain and operate internal informational databases and necessary to assist libraries in accessing their own internal informational databases and/or in making those databases available for free worldwide Internet access (while complying with applicable copyright laws).

(VI) Computers, computer projection equipment, and pre-developed software for staff and/or patron training to utilize acquired equipment and software and to access information electronically.

(VII) Staff and/or patron training to utilize acquired equipment and software and to access information electronically.

(VIII) The acquisition and installation of pre-developed filtering software if acquired as part of a larger project which includes the acquisition of equipment and other software eligible under this program.

(IX) The one-time subscription to electronic information services (such as reference and tutoring services) and the one-time acquisition of equipment and software necessary to access these services.

(X) Equipment, software, and contractual services necessary to implement a library website.

(XI) The acquisition and installation of ADA-compliant adaptive equipment to enable library users with special needs to access library resources and services.

(XII) Furnishings, such as workstations, stands, tables, and chairs.

6. A diagram(s) of the proposed overall network configuration (including all locations) showing the existing equipment and the equipment that will be placed by the new project (and equipment that will be placed by any current project or projects) can be submitted with the application. The diagram(s) should include workstations, servers, routers, wiring, telecommunications connections, and any other pertinent information related to the project. The diagram(s) should also include the function of each equipment item, such as electronic reference, public access catalog, or staff cataloging. The diagram(s) is optional and is intended as a supporting document.

7. Federal and required local matching funds for project-related furnishings, training, or supplies may not exceed 25% of the total project cost. For any project which involves the purchase of equipment or software for an amount per unit of $5,000 or more, the applicant must submit technical specifications and a justification for use with the project application.

8. Anti-virus software may be acquired as part of a project when acquiring other eligible software or equipment.

9. Library security equipment which is physically separate from a library materials checkout system, such as detection antennae at exits, or a physically separate device for sensitizing and desensitizing library materials, must be paid for entirely with required local matching funds or other local funds. Security equipment directly connected to PCs, self-check equipment, and/or the local network hardware or software by wireless, cable, etc. (such as RFID) may be paid for with federal funds.

10. Federal and required local matching funds are notallowable for the following costs:

1) software development;

2) ongoing Internet and telecommunications;

3) parts, maintenance, and warranties not included in the initial purchase contract;

4) database conversion or database upgrade when migrating to a new automated system from an old automated system, if such conversion is performed by a vendor not under contract with, or not recommended by, the system vendor;

5) contractual services for in-house retrospective conversion procedures (including inventorying and cataloging);

6) copying title and verso pages;

7) plain photocopy machines without networking, scanning, or fax features; and

8) security strips for insertion into library materials.

11. Library system software acquired must support USMARC cataloging.

(4) Program title: Micrographic Equipment. Grants shall be for increasing access to library materials through the acquisition of equipment to enable users to read microforms and produce paper copies of microform images.

(a)Stipulations:

1. An applicant may apply for only one grant per grant cycle under this program.

2. The maximum LSTA grant is $5,000.

3. Required local match must equal 25% of the LSTA grant award. Up to 25% of the required local match may come from project personnel salaries.

4. Project funds may be used for the acquisition and installation of equipment in one or more of the following configurations:

(i) Microform readers.

(ii) Microform reader/printers.

(iii) Microform reader/scanners and pre-developed software from the vendor for digitally transmitting microform images to a personal computer, or computer network, and then to a printer.

(iv) Special lens systems and special attachments for using all microform types (including roll film and microfiche) may be acquired as part of the equipment listed in sections (i), (ii), and (iii) above.

5. All equipment purchased must be located in the library and available for use by staff and patrons when the library is open.

6. Federal and required local matching funds are notallowable for the following costs:

1) separate printers,

2) supplies,

3) maintenance costs,

4) software not from the vendor, and

5) other ongoing expenses.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 520-2-1-.05

Effective July 24, 1998. Repealed and New Rule: Filled March 19, 1999; Effective July 24, 1998. Repealed and New Rule: Filed December 15, 1999; effective January 19, 2000. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 13, 2000, effective October 18, 2000. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 14, 2001; effective September 18, 2001. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 19, 2002; effective October 24, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 19, 2003; effective October 24, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 27, 2004; effective November 1, 2 0 04. Repealed and New Rule: Filed July 22, 2005; effective August 26, 2005. Repealed and New Rule: Filed July 21, 2006; effective August 25, 2006. Repealed and New Rule: Filed February 2, 2 007; effective March 9, 2 007. Repealed and New Rule: Filed February 2, 2007; effective March 9, 2007. Repealed and New Rule: Filed February 8, 2008; effective March 14, 2 008. Repealed and New Rule: Filed March 22, 2 010; effective April 26, 2010. Repealed and New Rule: Filed January 12, 2 011; effective February 16, 2011.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 03, December 28, 2018, eff. 1/24/2019.

Rule 520-2-1-.05 was renumbered to 520-2-1-.06 as per certification filed February 2, 2007; effective March 9, 2007. Rule 520-2-1-.06 was renumber to 520-2-1-.05 as per certification filed February 9, 2008.

Author: Nancy C. Pack, Director

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §41-8-(1-10). Title 20, U.S. Code, Sections 9121-9163, Museum and Library Services Act of 1996.