Libraries Are a Refuge in Times of Crisis
March 13, 2020Libraries are centers for learning, for trusted information, and critical resources that communities need to thrive. They connect us with each other, with the world, and with vital information—online, through books and other resources, and through activities and services. Now more than ever, as schools and universities close, programs and events are canceled, and we are asked to physically… Read more
Transforming Communities and Ourselves: A Year in Review
January 22, 2020Transforming Communities and Ourselves: A Year in Review IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew Reflects on 2019 A new year is a time of celebration, anticipation, and reflection on the past year’s aspirations and accomplishments and that left undone. Like many of you, we at IMLS now look ahead to all that 2020 may have in store. 2019 yielded a diverse range of interactions with our museum and… Read more
IMLS on the Road: Trends We Saw in U.S. Public Libraries This Year
January 10, 2020IMLS on the Road: Trends We Saw in U.S. Public Libraries This Year Throughout 2019, we visited libraries all across the U.S. Here’s what we learned. By Madison Bolls, Michele Farrell, and Dennis Nangle IMLS staff member Madison Bolls (center) with members of Maine InfoNet. Grants to States: How IMLS Invests in Public Libraries Each year, public libraries all across the 50 states, the… Read more
Veterans Find a Path Forward at the Chicago Botanic Garden
November 8, 2019By Erica Jaros Program graduate Anna Andersen, who interned with Camp CBG then returned as a camp counselor, is now employed full-time as an assistant horticulturist at the Garden. Anna is eager to present on her VIP experience at the American Public Gardens Association annual meeting in 2020. The military becomes a way of life for those on active duty across the U.S. or deployed overseas.… Read more
How Science Museum of Minnesota Put Its Collections and Research on the MAP
October 22, 2019This is a cross-post from the The American Alliance of Museums. You can find the original blog post here. By Charlie Iverson, Registrar, Science Museum of Minnesota Participating in the Museum Assessment Program for collections stewardship helped Science Museum of Minnesota meet several goals for its collections, including increasing their visibility with staff and the public. The timing was… Read more
Grantmaking Across the Spectrum of Innovation
August 16, 2019By Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew Traditional American quilt evoking a starry night sky, ca. 1845. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art American society celebrates new ideas. We place value on creativity and the “next big thing,” which tends to get all the attention and much of the admiration. If you’ve ever watched a TED Talk, you’ll know what I mean. As grantmakers, we at IMLS love a… Read more
These 10 Libraries and Museums Won the Nation's Highest Honor. Here Are Their Stories.
June 12, 2019Students visit the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery at the South Carolina Aquarium Congratulations to the 2019 National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners! Now in its 25th year, the Institute of Museum and Library Services' annual award honors libraries and museums that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities This year's winners went the extra mile. They… Read more
How a Massachusetts Public Library Celebrates Financial Literacy Month All Year
April 23, 2019By Emily Patterson Camp Millionaire, an financial literacy game for elementary students, made learning about money management fun and interactive. In April, tax season comes to a close, and many people are left wondering how they can better handle their finances in the year to come. Although a financial planner or the bookstore’s self-help aisle might be the first places people turn for… Read more
Their Youngest Readers: A Washington Tribal Library Connects Children with the Community
April 17, 2019Photo credit: Swinomish Tribe Jeanne Robson, Director, Swinomish Child Care Program Carolyn Petersen, Assistant Program Manager, Library Development, Washington State Library Sandra Toro, Ph.D., Senior Program Officer, IMLS For over two decades, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has offered grants to tribal communities across the United States. Over the past ten years, 24 tribes… Read more
Computer Science for All: How Libraries Can Support the Next Chapter in Black History
February 28, 2019By Dr. Marvin Carr Editor’s Note: For Black History Month, IMLS honors the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans throughout our nation’s history by taking a look at the essential role of libraries in black history—both in the past and going forward. IMLS African American History and Culture grants are just one of the ways that the agency supports African American communities… Read more