FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2006

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Public Broadcasters, Museums, and Libraries to Hold
2nd Videoconference on Collaboration

NewsHour’s Ray Suarez to Emcee

Washington, DC —The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced today that the Partnership for a Nation of Learners will sponsor a second national/local Community Collaboration Videoconference on June 19th, 2006, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, ET.

Building on the success of the first event (November 30, 2005), which helped initiate, strengthen and renew relationships among local museums, libraries and public broadcasting television and radio stations, the second videoconference will focus on real-life partnering tactics, such as developing appropriate roles for each partner and building a case for support. More than 40 public television stations across the country are expected to downlink the PBS-fed videoconference in their studios. The videoconference will be produced at WETA in Washington, DC and will once again feature Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent for The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, as the national host.

Professionals from museums, libraries, public radio stations, and other community organizations across the country are invited to participate. If you would like to attend (you need not have attended the November 30th conference), please visit the Partnership for a Nation of Learners Web site at http://www.partnershipforlearners.org/news.php?nid=21 for a list of confirmed public television host sites, and contact the one nearest you by June 9th.

The Partnership for a Nation of Learners is a Corporation for Public Broadcasting - Institute of Museum and Library Services leadership initiative. Our shared mission is to serve America's communities by encouraging and enabling museums, public broadcasters, and libraries to work together to address locally identified lifelong learning needs and opportunities. Working together, these organizations can be catalysts for vibrant, energized communities and build a foundation for an educated and informed citizenry. Visit http://www.partnershipforlearners.org for information about funding, a tutorial on partnership and more.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. Visit the CPB Web site at: http://www.cpb.org.

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 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to grow and sustain a “Nation of Learners” because life-long learning is essential to a democratic society and individual success. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.