Grants for library automation

The state, through the State Library Board, may provide financial assistance in the form of grants to support the application of automation to the state's libraries. Grants shall be made to assist in the payment of expenses associated with: The purchase of necessary capital equipment and entrance fees to join the centralized automated library systems; changing library records from a manual system to an automated system accessible to users of other libraries in the state; enlarging existing library data bases to accommodate increased library participation and technological innovations; providing connections to centralized automated library data bases; procurement of terminals and software for libraries to access shared bibliographic and source data bases; expansion of electronic mail service among the state's libraries; and establishment of communication systems to support cooperative information services for the public. The grants shall be made in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Library Board in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.