FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2009

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

IMLS Convenes Meeting to Define Global Understanding Initiative

IMLS Director Anne Radice welcomes meeting attendees.

Meeting attendees listen in during group discussion.

Washington, DC—Leaders of international cultural organizations, libraries, museums, and schools met May 15 for an all-day brainstorming session on how museums and public libraries can advance global understanding and increase cross-cultural communications, particularly among youth. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which hosted the meeting, will translate the day’s dialogue into a policy statement highlighting the partnership role that museums and libraries can play in linking global communities.

“Museums and libraries have an exceptional capacity to anchor communities, inspire learning, promote dialogue, and strengthen global awareness,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, IMLS Director. “These cultural institutions are essential partners in their local communities and the time is right for them to become even more powerful partners linking the global community.”

“As the U.S. enters into a new era of international collaboration and prepares itself for a renewed role in cultural diplomacy, it is important that federal agencies like IMLS are drawing attention to the role that museums and libraries can play,” said Mrs. Harriet Mayor Fulbright, widow of Senator J. William Fulbright, President of the J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center.

Goals of the meeting were to:

• Identify common goals and challenges and inspire collaboration;
• Develop awareness and build bridges between museums and libraries and organizations whose experience includes cross-cultural communications and development of global understanding;
• Develop the capacity of museum and libraries to contribute to successful cross-cultural interaction and navigation of diverse cultures;
• Focus attention on building global awareness among young people and library and museum professionals, and;
• Identify possible policy, practice, communication, and resource strategies.

To provide comments on museums and libraries’ roles in advancing global understanding and cross-cultural communications, please contact IMLS Research Officer Mary Downs at mdowns@imls.gov.

Participants were leaders in citizen diplomacy, international exchange, youth development, community development, and the museum and library fields, including the following members:

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. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.