FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMLS Press Contact
202-653-4799
Giuliana Bullard gbullard@imls.gov
Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced today grants totaling $328,659 for projects of the American Library Association (ALA), the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), and the University of Washington.
“These grants get at the heart of the type of forward thinking we strive for at IMLS,” said IMLS Director Susan H. Hildreth. “The meetings, papers, and partnerships that result from these projects of COSLA, the University of Washington, and ALA will help propel libraries forward in ways that ensure their relevancy for many years to come.”
With its IMLS grant, COSLA will establish the CE Connector Function for State Library Administrative Agencies to strengthen continuing education services for public librarians. The initiative will focus on scaling existing resources and new investments to a national level by creating the infrastructure to leverage state library agency training resources, co-develop new continuing education programming, and engage in national partnerships. Project director: Laura Singler, lsingler@amrms.com.
The University of Washington Information School (iSchool), will use its IMLS grant to invite 60 librarians, researchers, and innovators to a national leadership forum in October on digital youth. Digital youth is an emergent research area focused on how people from birth through young adulthood engage with technology and how technology is being shaped by their needs and demands. The inaugural Digital Youth (DY) iLab will strengthen the emerging interdisciplinary community of digital youth researchers, designers, industry leaders, professionals, and policymakers and help position library and information science disciplines as leading voices within this community. Project director: Eliza T. Dresang, edresang@u.washington.edu.
With earlier IMLS funding, the American Library Association began planning for a Center for the Future of Libraries. With the new IMLS grant, ALA will expand this work by holding a national summit to foster a broader, national conversation about the changing environment libraries operate in and to generate interest in trend watching to help libraries respond to and shape the future. ALA will produce a report from the summit and use the outcomes to inform the work of the Center for the Future of Libraries during its first year. Project director: Nancy M. Bolt, nancybolt@earthlink.net.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.