• Ready for Back-to-School? Begin the Year as a Connected Educator!

    August 9, 2012

    Libraries and museums have long had a part to play in learning in the digital age. IMLS-supported institutions and organizations play a crucial role in the educational ecosystem within their communities and within a larger national context of formal and informal education. The Department of Education, in collaboration with a wide range of educational organizations and educators, is supporting… Read more

  • National Leadership Grant Video: Art Beyond Sight/Museum of Science, Boston

    August 7, 2012

    By Kevin O'Connell, IMLS Writer-Editor In this video interview, Nina Levent, Executive Director of Art Beyond Sight, describes an IMLS-funded research project, conducted in partnership with the Museum of Science, Boston. The research will lead to better ways for museums of all types and sizes to meet the needs of patrons with vision loss and other disabilities.

  • Early Learning in the Pacific Region

    August 3, 2012

    By James Lonergan, IMLS Senior Program Officer Laurie Brooks (IMLS Associate Deputy Director for State Programs) and I recently returned from Honolulu, Hawaii, where we met with grantees from three U.S.

  • Preserving Our Present: Sacramento Teens Share Their Stories

    August 1, 2012

    Cross-posted from an article by Chris Shannon on NatomasBuzz.com

  • National Leadership Grant Video: Yale Peabody's Teacher Collaborative

    July 27, 2012

    By Kevin O'Connell, IMLS Writer-Editor In this interview, David Heiser, Head of Education and Outreach, describes Yale University's Peabody Museum of Natural History's Event-Based Teacher Collaborative, which takes teacher training far beyond the model of a half-day workshop.

  • Find a Let's Move! Olympic Fun Day Near You!

    July 24, 2012

    By Susan Hildreth Director, IMLS This Saturday is the first day of competition in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. First Lady Michele Obama is asking all Americans to not only cheer on the U.S. Olympic athletes but to take inspiration from them. Mrs. Obama is calling on families across the country to take part in an “Olympic Fun Day Meet-up" on Saturday. (See video below.) This is part of the… Read more

  • Museum Program Changes

    July 23, 2012

    By Claudia French Deputy Director for Museums, IMLS This year, we at the IMLS Office of Museum Services took a fresh look at our grant guidelines and categories with an eye toward making the grant application process easier and more accessible for museums of all kinds and sizes.

  • 124 Communities Take up the Campaign for Grade Level Reading Challenge

    July 18, 2012

    By Susan Hildreth Director, IMLS We know that more than 80 percent of children in poverty are not reading at grade level by the third grade, and many other children are falling behind as well; libraries and museums are taking up the challenge to improve learning outcomes for young children. At the end of June, IMLS Director for Strategic Partnerships Marsha Semmel and National Board Member… Read more

  • Public Libraries, American Job Centers, and Digital Literacy

    July 18, 2012

    Together America’s public libraries and American Job Centers are teaching digital skills that are essential for job searches and more. By Susan Hildreth Director, IMLS Earlier this week, I joined U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, and Lee Davenport of Connect2Compete at the Arlington Employment Center in Arlington, VA. At this event, we heard from Frank O’Brien,… Read more

  • Let's Read! Let's Move! Summer Learning Series Launches at US Department of Education

    July 13, 2012

    By Susan Hildreth, IMLS Director On Wednesday, I  joined Education Secretary Arne Duncan; White House chef Sam Kass; the first family’s personal trainer, Cornell McClellan; and over 130 students from DC-area schools, camps, and youth programs  at the first event of the Department of Education’s four-part Let’s Read! Let’s Move! series. I met some great kids who are excited about keeping their… Read more