Interview Questions

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grants to States Program Trends Analysis Study

Interview Questions

Hello, (name), thank you for agreeing to share your perspectives as the (state) State Librarian. This interview is a part of the Trends Analysis for the LSTA Grants to States program that Himmel & Wilson, Library Consultants is conducting for IMLS.

The final report for the project will discuss the achievements and impact of the Grants to States program and will assess the future need for the program. The report will also include a profile for each state that summarizes the importance and impact of the Grants to States program at the state level. Your perceptions and thoughts will be used in the analysis of the program nationally and in the profile that we create of the program in (name of state).

I will be taking detailed notes of the conversation, but it is not being recorded electronically, nor will we be publishing the notes of the interviews as a separate appendix or section of the report. We included the interview questions in the confirmation email. Do you have any questions before we begin?

We’ve heard State Librarians explain that the environment within the various states varies a great deal and that the location of the agency within state government is often an important element in how a particular state library administrative agency approaches its use of LSTA funds.

1. Do you believe that the location of the state library agency within the organizational structure of (name of state) has a significant impact in how your agency uses LSTA Grants to States funds?

Probe: In what way(s)?

While LSTA is a Federal program with national impact, it is also state-based. Within the parameters of the program established in the IMLS Act, each state determines how the funds will be used to address library service needs within the state. Our question is:

2. How is (name of state) different from others in how library services are structured, supported, or delivered? For example, are there regional library systems, cooperatives, or consortia that significantly impact how services are delivered?

Probe: How does this difference (do these differences) affect how LSTA funds are used in your state?

The trends analysis study is intended to result in a report that documents the impact or lack of impact that the LSTA Grants to State program has had in the last five years.

3. What would you say has been the greatest impact of LSTA Grants to States funding in (name of state) in the past five years?

Probe: What have you been able to accomplish because (name of state) receives LSTA funds?

For a moment, look at the bigger picture, look beyond LSTA.

4. What do you see as the three most important challenges facing libraries and the state library agency in your state in the coming 5 years?

Probe: Do you believe that these issues will affect how LSTA funds are allocated in your state in the future?

In what way(s)?

5. Are there important priorities in library services that (name of state library agency) hasn’t been able to accomplish because your state’s priorities are not aligned with the six LSTA Grants to States Goals?

Probe: If yes, what important priorities haven’t you been able to address?

Our final question is about relevance and the continued Federal support for library services.

6. How do you respond to those who question the relevance of libraries in a digital age? What role does the LSTA Grants to States program have in making libraries more relevant to the public?

Thank you.

(end of interview)