Libraries

WHAT ARE THE E-RATE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LIBRARIES?

Libraries must meet the statutory definition of library or library consortium found in the 1996 Library Services and Technology Act (Pub. L. 104-208) (LSTA) and must be eligible for assistance from a state library administrative agency under that Act.

A library includes:

  • A public library

  • A public elementary school or secondary school library

  • An academic library

  • A private library, but only if the state in which such private library is located determines that the library should be considered a library for purposes of this definition

  • A research library, which for the purposes of this definition means a library that:

    • makes publicly available library services and material suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available to the public; and

    • is not an integral part of an institution of higher education

A library’s eligibility for support also depends on its funding as an independent entity. Only libraries whose budgets are completely separate from any schools (including, but not limited to, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities) shall be eligible to receive discounted services.


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