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The Montana State Library is now accepting applications for the 2025 Excellent Library Service Award (ELSA), covering library activities from calendar year 2024.
Deadline to apply: February 20, 2025
Click here to apply.
Important Information: This will be the last year for the Excellent Library Service Award (ELSA). The State Library Commission is exploring a periodic award. Commissioners and State Library staff will be discussing changes to the award over the course of the next year.
If your library has not yet reached out for your CSLP Summer Reading Manual access code please reach out to Bobbi deMontigny (bdemontigny@mt.gov)
We are reaching out to provide an update on the future of the Hotspot Program. The Montana Department of Labor and Industry included hotspot funding in their NTIA Digital Equity Competitive grant this past fall to continue the program, but we have not received notification from NTIA (National Telecommunication and Information Administration- Federal Agency) if that funding will be awarded at this time. We are supposed to receive notification of the funding status between January-April of 2025.
If funding is not secured, the program through the Montana State Library will sunset June 30th, 2025. If needed, we will provide you with detailed information to continue on your own. We were hoping to have an answer before the end of January, especially knowing that libraries will begin to plan for next fiscal year’s budget and with the deadlines for E-rate for libraries interested in applying.
Basic Current Hotspot Information:
- Monthly Service: $30-$40 per device (Note: E-rate has a cap of $15. A new open bid may lead to a lower price from the current rate but given the current difference in price, libraries will most likely be responsible for paying for a portion of the bill.)
- New Hotspots Device: $80-$90 per device
Hotspots through E-rate:
Hotspots are eligible for funding through E-rate for FY25-FY27, as of right now, but that could change in the future. Libraries should carefully consider the return on investment and workload required for E-rate Hotspot funding. Libraries will have to submit applications on their own. Below is a link with details on funding caps, budget calculations, usage requirements, CIPA requirements, limits of service, and eligible/ineligible services. Hotspots through E-rate will require an open bid and service will need to go to the lowest bidder, not necessarily the current provider for service. Current physical hotspots are allowed for service through the E-rate program, BUT not all hotspots are compatible with different service vendors.
Information on Applying Hotspots through E-rate
APEX Accelerator (SAM.gov Registration Support)
Important E-Rate Dates:
- February 26th: FCC Form 470
- March 26th: FCC Form 471
We truly wish we had a solid answer to our funding request for hotspots, but we don’t at this time. We know this leaves a tight timeline for those who wish to apply for E-rate. We do apologize for the inconvenience, but we do hope our funding request will still be awarded so we can continue the program as is.
Warm Regards,
Savanna Sill
The Hell Creek Formation in Montana and Dakotas is a fossil treasure trove from around 68 to 66 million years ago. Some dinosaur fossils from the Hell Creek Formation contain preserved biomolecules such as collagen, yet what preserves these biomolecules is still unknown. Dr. Yamamura studies these biomolecules to figure out how this preservation occurs. His fieldwork took place in eastern Montana and South-central Utah where he used chemical signatures for paleoclimate investigation. His research includes petrography, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and stable isotope geochemistry. Register here () to learn more about his fascinating research. If your library is interested in becoming a cohost for this program and you would like printable posters, bookmarks and a social media invitation please contact Bobbi deMontigny (bdemontigny@mt.gov).
Are you working on your story? The Montana History Portal 5th Annual Historical Picture Prompt contest is open. Using any photo in the Portal collection as a story prompt participants will write a fictional short story (650 words or less) and enter through our submission form.
Winners will be chosen from grades 3-6, grades 7-12, and adult. The deadline to enter is February 21, 2025.
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