Contact Name
Mr. Michael York
Contact Title
State Librarian
State Library Address

New Hampshire State Library
20 Park Street
Concord, NH 03301-6314
United States

Contact Email Address
Michael.York@dcr.nh.gov
Grants to State Programs

The Grants to States Program

The Grants to States Program is the largest grant program run by IMLS; it provides funds to State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) using a population-based formula set by the law. SLAAs determine goals and objectives for the funds in their statutorily required five-year plan (see below). For more information, see the Grants to States program overview.

    Allotments
    YearAllotment Value
    2019 $1,202,040.00
    2020 $1,313,013.00
    2021 $1,350,605.00
    2022 $1,349,771.00
    2023 $1,532,831.00
    5 Year Plan Text

    Each state creates a 5-year plan for its programs to strengthen the efficiency, reach, and effectiveness of library services. View all states' plans.

    5 year plan
    Attachment Size
    newhampshire5yearplan.pdf 422.61 KB
    5 Year Evaluation Text

    At the end of a 5-year period, each state reports their results in achieving goals and objectives projected in their 5-Year Plan. View all states' evaluations.

    5 year evaluation
    Attachment Size
    newhampshire5yearevaluation.pdf 1.89 MB
    Michael York

    “Our demographics set the challenge. Our large urban libraries may serve 100,000, and community libraries may serve 500 or 1,000. We want to make sure that all residents have access to excellent information, including vital records and official reports of local interest. Robust digital resources and access are priorities.”

    --New Hampshire State Library

    Project Examples

    Technology Resources for Public Librarians 
    Children in New Hampshire were first exposed to STEM programming at their public libraries through an IMLS-funded lending collection of educational toys that they could borrow from the New Hampshire State Library (NHSL). During the project period, NHSL offered STEM workshops for NH librarians to continue the momentum, with a focus on summer learning. NHSL consultants also introduced an innovative library program for children ages 8 and younger called Reimagining School Readiness. The program taught librarians to adapt traditional story times and STEM programs for young children to encourage a growth mindset, facilitate complex thinking skills, and develop critical thinking skills. As a result, public libraries began investing in more STEM programs, and were interested in offering other innovative services. 
    IMLS Funds: $6,575.83

    NHAIS Interlibrary Loan System 
    The New Hampshire Automated Information System (NHAIS) is an Interlibrary Loan system that helped the public libraries in New Hampshire serve their patrons through resource sharing and high-quality cataloging records. Over 90 percent of NH public libraries used this resource to serve their patrons, and schools, academic institutions, and special libraries in New Hampshire used this resource as well. During this project period, which occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, member-library holdings increased from 917,897 to 1,022,011.
    IMLS Funds: $395,914.89 

    New Hampshire Overdrive Book Program logo

    New Hampshire Downloadable Book Program
    The New Hampshire State Library (NHSL) managed a service for over 200 public libraries that provided digital audiobooks, eBooks, and magazines to a potential 1.36 million state residents. Public libraries provided the funding for content and NHSL used grant funds for the annual platform fee. To increase digital content during the pandemic, NHSL also invested over $52,000 in CARES Act stimulus funds from IMLS and a $10,000 grant from NH Humanities. NHSL staff provided ongoing administrative and technical support, as well as training for the public library consortium, in-person, virtually, over the phone, and via online handouts and videos. 
    IMLS Funds: $110,079.55 

    Review recent Grants to States projects from this state library in the State Program Report database.

    Search the Awarded Grants Database for additional details about awards in this state or view the State Details Dashboard.

    Five-Year Plan Highlights

    Goal 1: Equity of Access - Increase the equity of access to library and information services for New Hampshire residents of all abilities and backgrounds by providing resource sharing, electronic resources, and continuing access to historic materials through direct services as well as coordination of linkages among and between libraries and partnerships with other agencies and organizations.

    • Projects include:
      • NHAIS (New Hampshire Automated Information System) Interlibrary Loan System 
      • Transportation system for interlibrary loan materials between libraries 
      • New Hampshire Downloadable Books Consortium
      • Digital archive of born-digital state government publications 
      • Open-source integrated library system solution for small libraries 
      • NH Talking Books Services
      • Online databases for all types of libraries through NHewLink 
      • Digitization and preservation of New Hampshire historical printed materials 

    Goal 2: Equity of Service - Increase the equity of service to New Hampshire residents by providing professional development resources and opportunities for librarians throughout the state so that they can learn about best practices and library initiatives that will help them better serve their constituents, especially children, older residents, and rural populations.

    • Projects include:
      • Center for the Book programs 
      • Statewide library services outreach at conferences, meetings, and events
      • Collection of public library statistics 
      • NHAIS helpdesk to support statewide interlibrary loan
      • Conferences for librarians 
      • Professional development for the library workforce 
      • Consultations and trainings for library personnel 
      • Statewide literacy projects, including the Summer Reading Program 

    Goal 3: Equity of Innovation - Inspire lifelong learning and advance the equity of innovative services and programming by developing projects for use by the state’s libraries, including scalable pilot projects, to anticipate and meet the changing needs of New Hampshire’s residents for library services and information. 

    • Projects include:
      • Implementation of a statewide digital library Innovative technologies to library staff and New Hampshire residents 

    IMLS Data Collection

    State Library Administrative Agency Survey
    The State Library Administrative Agency Survey (SLAA) provides descriptive data about state library agencies for all fifty states and the District of Columbia. To interact with the latest data, please visit the SLAA Survey Comparison Tool.

    Public Libraries Survey
    The Public Libraries Survey (PLS) provides national descriptive data on the status of public libraries in the United States and its territories. Explore state profiles representing more than 9,000 public library systems and over 17,000 public library outlets.