FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
June 28, 2006
Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
First Lady Laura Bush Announces
More Than $20 Million in Librarian Recruitment and Education
Grants
from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Grants help offset
current shortage of school library media specialists,
librarians working in underserved communities, and more
Washington, DC—First
Lady Laura Bush announced $20,869,145 in grants from the
federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Thirty-five
awards will go to universities, libraries, and library
organizations across the country today to recruit and
educate librarians. The grants are designed to help offset
a current shortage of school library media specialists,
library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved
communities, as well a looming shortage of library directors
and other senior librarians, many of whom are expected
to retire in the next 20 years.
The First Lady made the announcement on
June 26th during a national town hall meeting in New Orleans
of local and national government officials, educators,
and business leaders, and an audience of thousands of
librarians across the United States. The meeting, School
Libraries Work: Rebuilding for Learning, focused on the
essential role school libraries and librarians play in
restoring learning and reuniting community in times of
crises. The American Library Association hosted the meeting
as part of its annual convention (June 24-28) at which
17,000 library professionals participated and marks the
first major convention in New Orleans since Hurricane
Katrina struck.
“Restoring libraries on the Gulf
Coast will be a long-term endeavor, requiring well-trained
librarians for years to come,” said Mrs. Bush. “And
the work of recruiting and educating the next generation
of librarians here on the Gulf Coast and throughout our
country must start now.”
The grants benefit 26 doctoral, 361 master’s,
3,201 continuing education, and 289 pre-professional students
across the country. Since First Lady Laura Bush first
announced the President would support a multi-million
initiative to recruit new librarians in 2002, the Institute
has funded 1,898 master’s degree students, 145 doctoral
students, 949 pre-professional students, and 3,579 continuing
education students. The multi-faceted grant program supports
tuition assistance, curriculum development, service expectations,
job placement, recruitment of non-traditional library
students, support for doctoral candidates to teach library
science, and research.
“Libraries in all their forms, whether
public, school, specialized, or academic, play a vital
role in building a nation of learners,” said Dr.
Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the Institute. “Without
well-trained and educated librarians and preprofessionals,
however, library service suffers. That is why we are so
pleased to announce these recipients of the 2006 Laura
Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.”
“With these grants, IMLS is ensuring
that librarians will have the training they need to keep
libraries and education at the center of community life,”
continued Mrs. Bush. Click
here to read the First Lady’s full remarks.
|
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.
|