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<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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AI-generated content may be incorrect." href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/grants/cobaa" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:.2pt;width:112.3pt;height:112.3pt;z-index:-251658752;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:margin;mso-height-relative:margin' o:button="t">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/grants/cobaa"><img border="0" width="150" height="150" style="width:1.5572in;height:1.5572in" src="cid:image004.jpg@01DC65F9.F52A3B80" align="left" hspace="12" alt="Logo
AI-generated content may be incorrect." title="" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></a><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">The
State Library of Ohio invites libraries to apply for a <span style="color:#0070C0">
<a href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/grants/cobaa"><span style="color:#0070C0">Celebrating Ohio Book Awards & Authors (COBAA) LSTA grant</span></a></span> to support collection development and collection-related program initiatives for their communities.
The COBAA grant enables libraries to purchase books by Ohio authors and books recognized by Ohio-based book award programs, as indicated within the grant’s Book Selection Tool. This unique initiative allows libraries to expand collections and support literacy
by connecting Ohio readers to Ohio authors and Ohio book award winners. The COBAA grant is made possible with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> The maximum COBAA grant award is $2,000 per eligible institution. No local matching funds are required. Grant applications must be submitted online via the State Library website by
<b>11:59 PM,</b> <b>January 12, 2026.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> “The State Library of Ohio is thrilled to announce the launch of the COBAA LSTA grant for 2026,” stated Evan T. Struble, Associate State Librarian for Library Development. “Robust collections
are vital for the exceptional services provided by libraries in Ohio. This initiative enables libraries to enrich their collections and showcase outstanding authors and illustrators connected to Ohio, all without the requirement for local match funds. The
State Library of Ohio is proud to support this effort.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"> The 2026 COBAA Book List has over 2,000 eligible books including those nominated and awarded by the
<span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://www.ohioana.org/programs/ohio-book-awards/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Ohio Book Awards</span></a>,
<a href="http://www.bcbookaward.info/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Buckeye Children's and Teen Book Award</span></a></span>,
<span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/library-programs-and-development/ctro/floyds-pick-book-award" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Floyd’s Pick Book Award</span></a></span>, James Cook Book Award,
<span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://www.kent.edu/virginiahamiltonconference/about-awards" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Arnold Adoff Poetry Awards</span></a></span>,<span style="color:#0070C0">
<a href="http://daytonliterarypeaceprize.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Dayton Literary Peace Prize</span></a></span>,<span style="color:#0070C0">
<a href="http://www.anisfield-wolf.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards</span></a></span>,<span style="color:#0070C0">
<a href="https://scottodell.com/the-scott-odell-award" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction</span></a></span>,<span style="color:#0070C0">
<a href="https://www.thurberprize.org/about" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Thurber Prize for American Humor</span></a></span>,<span style="color:#0070C0">
<a href="https://ceaoenglishnotes.com/awards/nancy-dasher-book-award/" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#0070C0">Nancy Dasher Book Award</span></a></span> and <span style="color:#0070C0">
<a href="https://cpl.org/norman-a-sugarman-childrens-award/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Norman A. Sugarman Children's Biography Award</span></a></span>. Also included are all
<span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/library-programs-and-development/ctro" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Choose to Read Ohio</span></a></span> selections to date. The awarded federal funds must be used to purchase
titles from the COBAA Book List. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">To facilitate the selection process, an online, COBAA grant specific
<span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://cobaa.library.ohio.gov/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">Book Selection Tool</span></a> i</span>s available to browse and create a list (PDF and/or Excel) of intended purchases. This list must be included/attached
with the online application. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Visit the
<span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/libraries/grants/cobaa" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">State Library’s COBAA webpage</span></a></span><b>
</b>for more Information, materials, and application. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">Questions may be addressed to Jeff Regensburger, LSTA Coordinator, via<b>
</b><span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:LSTA@library.ohio.gov" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0070C0">LSTA@library.ohio.gov</span></a>
</span>or 614-644-6863. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Source Sans 3",sans-serif">####<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="268" height="80" style="width:2.7916in;height:.8333in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.png@01DC65E4.652EB160" alt="A picture containing text
Description automatically generated"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0E3F75">Marsha McDevitt-Stredney<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Director, Marketing & Communications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">State Library of Ohio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">274 E. 1<sup>st</sup> Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Columbus, OH 43201<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">Tel: 614.644.6875<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="mailto:marshams@library.ohio.gov"><span style="color:#0070C0">marshams@library.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0070C0"><a href="https://library.ohio.gov/"><span style="color:#0070C0">library.ohio.gov</span></a><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
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