“Our new Five-Year plan describes how we will use Library Services & Technology Act funds to fulfill the potential of our libraries and meet the needs and support the aspirations of our communities. The plan prioritizes equity-centered community engagement. The goals focus on key priority areas expressed by the California library community, respond to the documented needs of California’s residents, and align with the Institute of Museum and Library Service’s focal areas.” 

- Greg Lucas, State Librarian, California State Library

Workforce Partnership Initiative  
The Workforce Partnership Initiative provided resources, training, networking, and support for staff in the cohort of California public libraries identified as having a willing partner in their local Labor and Workforce Development Agency office. Designed in partnership with the California State Labor and Workforce Development Agency in order to prevent a duplication of services, nine library jurisdictions and partner local workforce boards paired up. They shared resources, worked on joint job/career fairs, and explored other ways to work together, such as co-locating workforce resources in libraries, tracking referrals between agencies, and creating an asset map of other workforce resources in each community.
IMLS Funds: $146,643 

Libraries on the Spectrum 
The Libraries on the Spectrum Project encouraged families with autistic individuals of all ages to access their local public library to attend educational and recreational programs, borrow resources, and expand their personal networks in a library environment designed to be more comfortable and welcoming. All five public libraries in Imperial County, including Imperial County Free Library, Brawley Public Library, Camarena Memorial Library, El Centro Public Library, and Imperial Public Library, circulated a collection of autism-specific resources and tools and provided targeting programming to benefit families. This project helped families with autism, as well as empowered all library staff to serve these families.
IMLS Funds: $80,960 

Preparing to Respond and Recover Together  
Preparing to Respond and Recover Together provided disaster preparedness coaching, mentorship and support to libraries in the NorthNet Library System (NLS) and statewide. The project helped to create and build a culture of disaster and emergency preparedness, empowered libraries to prepare before another disaster strikes, and encouraged highly valued peer-to-peer support. As a result of the project activities, NLS strengthened a regionwide network of support including lessons learned during COVID-19 and throughout a disastrous wildfire season. Ten diverse libraries participated in the preparedness training cohort and developed actionable plans that “go beyond the binder” to help them adapt to dynamic conditions. NLS member insights and tools created within the cohort training were captured at the project website LibraryRecovery.org. 
IMLS Funds: $90,000