"The Montana State Library Commission is committed to ensuring that all Montanans have access to library content and services that meet their needs. To accomplish this goal, the Montana State Library creates statewide strategies aimed at providing sufficient access to library resources for everyone in Montana. The Montana State Library also supports and encourages partnerships, including with Montana libraries, that play a crucial role in our success.”

- Jennie Stapp, State Librarian, Montana State Library

Consulting Services
The Montana State Library (MSL) offered consulting services and training opportunities to public librarians and trustees to help them better respond to the needs of their local communities and strengthen the leadership skills of directors and board members. Three statewide consulting librarians helped libraries with questions about technology, finance, library laws and operations, and personnel, both virtually and in-person. During the project period, they traveled 4,415 miles to conduct site visits throughout the state. In addition to consulting, this project supported the expansion of broadband statewide via E-Rate consulting, an in-depth statewide broadband assessment, and the provision of 959 Wi-Fi hotspots.
IMLS Funds: $392,268.78 
 

Montana History Portal 
The Montana History Portal (Portal) supported the creation of and free access to digital collections of maps, photos, rare books, oral histories, and other items related to Montana’s cultural heritage. Libraries, museums, local government agencies, and historical societies across Montana contributed content to the website. During the project period, the number of page views increased 13 percent to 2,863,258, the number of users increased 86 percent to 263,255, and the number of sessions increased 61 percent to 335,900. The Portal Director shared curated and themed sets of the Portal's content with the public via social media, averaging a reach of over 1 million Facebook users per post. The Portal’s social media following increased 69 percent since the last reporting period. The Portal also successfully migrated to a new platform, which allows new ways for users to interact with content, including tagging, suggested edits, and crowdsourced transcription.  
IMLS Funds: $145,961.81 

Lifelong Learning
The Montana State Library (MSL) worked with Montana librarians, other staff, and local, state, and regional agencies to help libraries become resources for economic development in their communities. As a result, Montana libraries provided more lifelong learning resources to their communities, which led to meaningful improvements in their quality of life. This project has continued to grow since MSL contracted with an economic development consultant to develop programs such as the Montana libraries SPARK ED initiative and entrepreneurial coaching. To support early literacy and outdoor education, MSL partnered with the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department and circulated trunks to libraries with bear and bat themes to use with families.  
IMLS Funds: $86,745.65