Director’s Message
This week, communities across the country celebrated National Library Week. Here in Washington, D.C., First Lady Laura Bush took the opportunity Tuesday to encourage young readers. She visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and talked with fourth-graders from Washington’s Maury Elementary School. During her visit, Mrs. Bush read from Oliver Butterworth's The Enormous Egg and introduced her Scottish terrier Miss Beazley to the students.
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/
2005/04/images/20050412-1_p44717-251-515h.html

While at the library, Mrs. Bush was greeted by representatives of the American Library Association, who honored her for her tireless support of libraries and library workers. The ALA presented Mrs. Bush with a citation and a gift of Kitten's First Full Moon and Kira Kira, the 2005 winners of the Newberry and Caldecott medals.

Carol Brey-Casiano, president of the American Library Association and director of the El Paso Public Library in Texas, said Mrs. Bush has been “an exemplary role model to women and men considering the profession of librarianship, and she has been a consistent advocate for the importance of reading since her days in the Texas Governor's mansion. Librarians and library users everywhere owe her thanks."

We join our library colleagues in celebrating libraries and the wonderful dedication of our First Librarian, Laura Bush.

Special Notice: IMLS Is Moving!
The offices of the Institute of Museum and Library Services are moving. Effective April 26, 2005, our address will be 1800 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-5802. We anticipate a smooth transition with very little interruption in our service to you. Beginning April 26 we will have new phone numbers and fax numbers, which will be posted on our Web site. Our Web site and e-mail addresses will remain the same. See http:// www.imls.gov for details.

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grant Applications Due May 1
IMLS is currently accepting Native American Library Enhancement Grant Applications. Enhancement Grants are competitive grants that support activities to advance library operations to new levels of service, particularly projects to enhance digital networks; link libraries with educational, social, and information resources; and establish consortia and share resources to acquire computer and telecommunications technology and provide library and information services to underserved communities.

To be eligible for Enhancement Grants, Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages or corporations must already have applied for Basic Grants this fiscal year. Applicants may apply for up to $150,000 for one- or two-year projects. For all eligibility requirements, applications, and more information, please read the full press release at http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/032505.htm.

Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Grant Applications Due May 15
May 15 is the new deadline for applications to the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Grant program. Guidelines are available online for the program, which provides grants from $5,000 to $20,000 to support museum activities of Native American tribes; Alaska Native villages, regional corporations, and village corporations; and organizations that primarily serve Native Hawaiians. Funding will be provided for three areas:

Programming - services and activities that support the educational mission of the museum, including exhibits, research and interpretation, educational resources, demonstrations, and performances

Professional development - education or training that builds skills, knowledge, and other professional capacity for individuals who provide museum services, including enrollment in courses, attendance at professional conferences, and hiring of consultants or technical assistance; and

Enhancement of museum services – support for activities that enable and improve museum services, including planning, policy development, technology equipment purchase, security, collections care and management, and hiring of staff to support museum services.

For more information, see http://www.imls.gov/grants/museum/mus_ntams.htm.

Native Hawaiian Library Services Grant Applications Due May 16
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is accepting grant applications for the Native Hawaiian Library Services program. This grant program marks new opportunities for improved library services for an important part of the nation’s community of library users. For all eligibility requirements, applications, and more information, please read the full press release at http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/032205.htm.

IMLS and AAM Host Museum and Library Day, May 3, 2005
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the American Association of Museums (AAM) are proud to host the first-ever Museum and Library Day at AAM’s Annual Meeting and MUSEUMEXPO™ (May 1–5) on Tuesday, May 3, 2005. In partnership with AAM, three IMLS sessions will explore innovative collaborations between museums, libraries, and public broadcasting that advance community goals; business planning for sustaining digital asset management programs; and new partnership models that involve museums, libraries, and other community organizations in creating effective learning communities. AAM has also collaborated with the American Library Association to bring author and Poet Laureate of the State of Connecticut Marilyn Nelson to present the keynote address at the general session on Museum and Library Day. Location: Indiana Convention Center. For information about Museum and Library Day at AAM 's Annual Meeting, access: http://www.aam-us.org/am05/museums_librariesday.htm. For information about other IMLS sponsored sessions at AAM's annual meeting, please access: http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/033105b.htm.

CPB American History and Civics Initiative
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) will award $20 million in grants through its American History and Civics Initiative. This CPB initiative intends to forge unique and sustainable partnerships among public television producers and broadcast outlets, the educational community, curriculum developers, the high-tech industry, and other appropriate partners to design, test, and create integrated interactive multimedia platforms that improve middle and high school students' knowledge of American history, our political system, and their roles as citizens.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the American History and Civics Initiative. The RFP is available at http://www.cpb.org/grants/historyandcivics. For more information, e-mail History.Civics@cpb.org.

IMLS on the Road
"Federal Funding Opportunities," Dan Lukash, IMLS Senior Program Officer, Office of Museum Services, and representatives from other federal agencies, sponsored by the Association of Children's Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 4/28.

"Let's Imagine Together: Museums, Libraries, and Public Broadcasting," Panel Facilitator, Marsha Semmel, IMLS Director for Strategic Partnerships, sponsored by the Association of Children's Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 4/28.

"The Power of Family Learning Symposium," Commentator, Marsha Semmel, IMLS Director for Strategic Partnerships, sponsored by the Association of Children's Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/1.

"Put Your Museum on the Road to Federal Funding From IMLS,” Steven B. Shwartzman, IMLS Senior Program Officer; Sandra Narva, IMLS Senior Program Officer; Dan Lukash, IMLS Senior Program Officer; Christine Henry, IMLS Senior Program Officer; and, Jeannette Thomas, IMLS Program Officer, Office of Museum Services, sponsored by the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/1.

"Conservation Planning 101,” Steven B. Shwartzman, IMLS Senior Program Officer, Office of Museum Services, sponsored by the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/3.

“Put Your Museum on the Road to Federal Funding from IMLS,” Dan Lukash, IMLS Senior Program Officer, Office of Museum Services, sponsored by the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/1.

“Put Your Museum at the Starting Line with Institutional Planning,” Christine Henry, IMLS Senior Program Officer, Office of Museum Services, sponsored by the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/2.

“Streamlining MAP and CAP--New Process, Same Benefits,” Jeannette Thomas, IMLS Program Officer, Office of Museum Services, sponsored by the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/3.

"Blending Cultures, Building Relationships: Museums, Libraries, and Public Broadcasting," Panel Facilitator, Marsha Semmel, IMLS Director for Strategic Partnerships, sponsored by the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/3.

"Charting the Landscape/Mapping New Paths: Museums, Libraries, and the K–12 Years--What Do Learners Need?" Session Chair, Marsha Semmel, IMLS Director for Strategic Partnerships, sponsored by the American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, 5/3.

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