Director's Message
June 22, 2009
 President Obama is calling on every American to volunteer this summer and throughout their lives. Today, the Administration is launching a summer service initiative to showcase the importance of volunteer efforts throughout the country. The initiative focuses on education, health care, energy and environment, and community renewal.
People who volunteer in libraries and museums make a real difference. Examples of library volunteer opportunities include reading to children, helping people find information on the web, and organizing book drives. Museum volunteers help provide customer service to visitors, support the administration of the museum, raise funds and more.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is working in partnership with the Corporation for National & Community Service, to get museums and libraries involved in this national volunteer initiative. I encourage libraries and museums throughout the country to use this initiative to engage new volunteers and to encourage new projects.
How can you get involved? Post your local volunteer opportunities online at www.serve.gov, and encourage community members to visit the website to find volunteer opportunities. Encourage your staff to volunteer and partner with other organizations in your community to support volunteering. And plan with others to make September 11, the last day of this summer initiative, a day of service and remembrance.
To learn more about the initiative, please visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/initiatives/
summer.asp. Thank you for all you do to ensure that your community has access to great museum and library services and resources! We have a unique opportunity to come together and solve our nation’s most vexing problems.
Sincerely,
Anne-Imelda Radice
Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services
|
