FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IMLS Press Contact
202-653-4799
Giuliana Bullard, gbullard@imls.gov
Washington, D.C.--Today the Institute of Museum and Library Services and WebJunction hosted a convening of fifteen library continuing education influencers in Arlington, Virginia, including representatives of state libraries, library associations, non-profit providers of library continuing education, and schools of library and information science.
They gathered to discuss the state of continuing education for library staff in the United States and to seek sustainable solutions for unmet needs within the library community. The goal of the meeting was to identify opportunities--through new partnerships, projects, and action steps--to move libraries forward and grow library leadership.
“IMLS values opportunities, like this one, that enable us to hear directly from our strategic allies on issues of importance to museums and libraries,” said IMLS Director Susan Hildreth. “This is one of the many ways we align our grant programs with best practices and support national policies that promote excellence in museums and libraries. I look forward to the exchange of ideas and synergy that will result from this meeting.”
Meeting participants shared:
- Knowledge of CE needs, service gaps, and priority challenges in delivering CE nationally
- Strategies and planned activities of organizations that influence or offer CE
- Ideas for developing sustainable CE business models
- Best ideas for coordinating and supporting joint efforts to address CE needs, including available IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian funding
One of the resources for continuing education in the field is the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program, which supports projects to recruit and educate the next generation of librarians, faculty, and library leaders; early career research; and professional development of librarians and library staff. In April, IMLS announced grants totaling $6,100,806 for 21 projects in 14 states.
IMLS will post a report from the convening at imls.gov in the coming months.
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.
About WebJunction
OCLC’s WebJunction is a continuing education resource offered in partnership with state libraries. WebJunction focuses on library management, services, and technology, especially for small or rural libraries. Since 2003, more than 70,000 WebJunction members use these services to build the skills they need to lead the challenges of today’s libraries. To learn more, visit www.webjunction.org.