Director’s Message
As I read about the success of the IMLS funded Urban Libraries Council Scholarship Program to recruit librarians in this month’s Highlight (see A Closer Look below), I thought how proud Laura Bush would be of these new librarians.

On the evening of January 9, 2002, at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Kansas, Mrs. Bush announced a proposed $10,000,000 to recruit a new generation of librarians. The announcement came at a time when the American Library Association was issuing new warnings about the impending critical shortage of public, school, and university librarians. Anyone who has had the experience of searching for information on the World Wide Web and had over 10,000 references returned knows that the information age is not an era to be lacking librarians.

The IMLS Librarians for the 21st Century grant program has shown great success and potential in the short time it has been in existence. In 2003 and 2004, it funded the education of 970 master’s degree students, 97 doctoral students, and 122 preprofessional students. And later this month, those numbers will increase when IMLS announces the 2005 grant awards. To build on this success, the president proposes the expansion of the 21st Century Librarian Initiative and requests a 14 percent increase for the recruitment program to $26,000,000 in 2006.

We are fortunate to have a first lady whose actions speak volumes about the importance of libraries. Thank you, Mrs. Bush.

A Closer Look
An Urban Libraries Council scholarship program is training the next generation of urban librarians. Made possible through an IMLS Librarians for the 21st Century grant, this program prepares students of library science to meet the challenges facing city library systems. Read all about Librarians for America’s Neighborhoods in this month’s Highlight at http://www.imls.gov/closer/hlt_c0505.htm.

Proposals Requested for National Study on User Satisfaction with Access to Government Information at Public Libraries
IMLS is seeking proposals for a national research study on how individuals with limited access to Internet resources access federal, state, and local government services and whether such users are satisfied with the access provided by public libraries and public access computing centers. Read all about it at http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/052405.htm.

New IMLS Report on African American History and Culture in Museums
A new publication, "African American History & Culture in Museums: Strategic Crossroads and New Opportunities," is available from IMLS. The reports results from a day-long forum where leaders in the African American museum community and the museum community at large explored the evolving role of African American museums, their contributions, and their challenges. This report, along with other discussions and consultations, will help guide IMLS in the development of a new grant program that seeks to recognize and support the role of African American museums in communities across the United States as authorized by The National Museum of African American History and Culture Act. For more information, see the full press release at: http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/061405.htm.

Teaching and Learning with Digital Resources: Web-Wise 2005 Conference Papers, Videos, and Other Resources Available
More than 300 archivists, museum curators, systems scientists, educators, historians, librarians, and technology leaders assembled for the Web-Wise 2005 conference, February 16-18. Experts from across the country shared the latest research and advances in digital collections from the nation's museums and libraries. The focus of this year's conference was teaching and learning with digital resources. To extend the benefit of Web-Wise 2005, conference papers, videos, and other resources are available on the IMLS Web site at http://www.imls.gov/pubs/webwise2005/index.htm.

Mark your Calendars! 2005 National Book Festival: September 24
The 2005 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2005, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine). The festival is free and open to the public. As in previous years, IMLS will sponsor the popular Pavilion of the States, highlighting reading programs and literary events from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. trusts and territories. Mark you calendars! http://www.loc.gov/bookfest.

Museum Data Collection Report
A report commissioned by IMLS to assess the status of data collection activities in the museum community is available on the IMLS web site. The Museum Data Collection Report and Analysis reinforces recommendations made by a similar 1998 study noting that little has been done to address the need for systematic data collection necessary to inform public policy and museum management decision-making. The report recommends improvements in data collection including regular and systematic collection, standardization of definitions and sharing of results among museum professionals and others. On a positive note, the report cites that many studies are available on the internet and that the web has enormous potential for enabling the museum community to collaborate in gathering and sharing data. A PDF (1202KB) of the report is available on the IMLS Web site at: http://www.imls.gov/pubs/pdf/Museum_Data_Collection.pdf.

“Managing Across Generations: Traditionalists to Millennials” (panel program), Mary L. Chute (panelist), Deputy Director for Libraries, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/25.

“Sustaining Digital Programs in Cultural Heritage” (panel program), Joyce Ray, PhD (facilitator), Associate Deputy Director for Libraries, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/25.

“Wow, We Really Do Change Lives: Knowing and Showing Outcomes” (workshop sponsored by the Public Library Association), Karen Motylewski, Evaluation Officer, Office of Research and Technology, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/25.

“Purple Cow Theory: Recruiting Remarkable People” (panel program), Elaina Norlin (facilitator), Program Officer, Office of Library Services, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/25.

“Recruiting Public Librarians for the 21st Century: Lessons Learned from New IMLS Grantees” (panel program), Stephanie Clark (panelist), Senior Program Officer, Office of Library Services, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/26.

“National Dialogue on the Curriculum of Readiness for the 21st Century Librarian,” Mary L. Chute (welcome remarks), Deputy Director for Libraries, summit co-sponsored by the Office for Diversity and the Association for Library and Information Science Education, American Library Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, 6/28.

"IMLS Forum on Librarians for the 21st Century," Robert Martin, Director; Mary Chute, Deputy Director for Library Services; Stephanie Clark, Senior Program Officer, Office of Library Services; Elaina Norlin, Program Officer, Office of Library Services, hosted by U.S. Representative Ralph Regula (OH-16), National First Ladies' Library, Canton, OH, 7/7.

"The Digital Revolution and Libraries," Dr. Joyce Ray, Associate Deputy Director for Library Services, Cornell Summer Institute on Technology and Society, Washington, DC, 7/5.

"IMLS Grants Seminar," Mary Chute, Deputy Director for Library Services; Schroeder Cherry, Deputy Director for Museum Services, hosted by U.S. Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4), Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, Hewlett, NY, 7/11.

"Fostering and Funding the Collaboration of Libraries, Archives and Museums," Dr. Joyce Ray, Associate Deputy Director for Library Services, RLG Members Forum on Libraries, Archives and Museums, Minneapolis, MN, 7/12.

How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Each issue of Primary Source is linked to the IMLS Web site at http://www.imls.gov.

Brief articles alert readers to new information about grants, monthly highlights of best practices, and important agency news with hotlinks to more detailed information on the Web site. Past and current issues of the newsletter and subscription information are available at http://www.imls.gov/news/new_imls.htm#ps.

To subscribe send a blank e-mail message to:
join-primarysource@space.sparklist.com.

To unsubscribe send a blank e-mail message to:
unsub-primarysource@space.sparklist.com.
You will receive an e-mail notification of your subscription status.

Report technical problems or comments about the automatic IMLS Subscription Service to the IMLS webmaster at webmaster@imls.gov.