The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent federal agency that has issued Grants to State Library Administrative Agencies since 1996. Florida’s Division of Library and Information Services (DLIS) issues Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants from those funds to Multitype Library Cooperatives (MLCs) for Statewide Projects. Ask a Librarian (AAL) has historically received funds for project continuation, at no expense to participating Libraries, through LSTA funds, since July, 2002. Each year, we re-apply for the LSTA funds with a capped budget amount, set by DLIS, to fund the full project for the next grant year.
There is currently no plan to release LSTA funds from the state for October 2025-September 2026. To maintain service levels, Ask a Librarian will move to a cost-share model, outlined below. An invoice will be prepared by Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Inc. based on your level of access requested. This invoice cost may be covered in part or whole by a partnering organization (PLAN, SWFLN, or TBLC):
Local use of Email and Chat ($420): Live Chat departments can be associated with an email queue to allow your library staff to answer questions directly from your library patrons. Chat widgets and even chatbots can be customized for your library’s homegrown needs. There is no required scheduling of local chat. Local Email access is required for Local Chat access.
SMS add on ($89): SMS, or text messaging, capabilities can be added to either the local email or both local email and chat use. SMS questions can be answered via the email ticket dashboard or live, through the chat dashboard. Each library opting in to SMS use will have their own SMS number assigned to receive questions directly to you from your patrons. Local Email use is required for minimum access of SMS. This feature is calculated at an additional cost per Springshare’s billing methods.
Collaborative Desk use ($880): Collaborative chat desks (Statewide for public libraries and Academic for academic libraries) are available for statewide coverage support of chat questions from 10am to 5pm ET Monday through Friday. Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Inc. hires contracted staff to answer “after-hours” questions when libraries are normally closed in the evenings, from 5pm to 10pm ET Monday through Thursday, and 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. To support each other’s chat services, anyone utilizing the collaborative desk coverage is asked to contribute at least 3 hours a week (per library) answering Statewide or Academic chat questions.
Download the agreement for invoicing and participation here: AAL Invoiced Participation Agreement 2025
Annual costs are subject to increases or decreases depending on platform costs and participation numbers, determining cost-share distributions. We’re happy to negotiate your agreement and any incurring costs at any time during this agreement period. Please do not hesitate to ask.