IMLS Announces $1.3 Million Investment in Small Libraries Initiative
Cohort Learning and Evaluation to Expand Impact of Funded Grants

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced $1.3 million in funding for the Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries (APP) initiative to strengthen the ability of small or rural libraries and archives to serve their communities.

Wisconsin Library Services, Kansas City Public Library, and OCLC will serve as mentor organizations to facilitate communication and networking between grantees, provide expert guidance, and build grantee capacity in relevant areas such as project management and evaluation. These mentors will leverage their institutional capacity, subject matter expertise, understanding of varying practice needs, and professional networks to facilitate both cohort learning and support individual grantees in meeting the goals of their projects.

Each mentor works with a community of grantees based on a specific grant category:

• Wisconsin Library Services will lead a community memory cohort of 10 grantees from small or rural libraries.
• Kansas City Public Library will lead digital inclusion cohort of 10 grantees from small or rural libraries.
• OCLC will lead a transforming school library practice cohort of 10 grantees from small or rural libraries.

The cohorts will meet and facilitate individual grantee projects over the course of two years.

Partners for Public Good will serve as an evaluation and learning partner with IMLS in order to better understand and communicate the most effective methods for libraries and archives to serve their communities in the areas of digital inclusion, community memory, and transforming school library practice.

“Funding projects in these areas helps smaller communities target critical library resources,” said Deputy Director Cynthia Landrum, Office of Library Services. “Having the grantees work within these cohorts alongside a mentor allows for expanding best practices and developing meaningful and robust projects.”

“As part of our strategic plan, IMLS seeks to respond to the sector’s changing needs including those of small and rural libraries,” said IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “This capacity-building investment aligns with one of our strategies of conducting learning and evaluation activities with grantees.”

More information about the Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries Initiative is available on the IMLS website.

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 libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.