FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2006

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

Libraries, Museums, and Public Broadcasters Collaborate to Improve Their Communities

Washington, DC--The Partnership for a Nation of Learners (PNL), a leadership initiative of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) today announced just under $3 million for thirteen Community Collaboration Grants across the country. The grants encourage museums, libraries, and public broadcasters to work together to address critical needs in their communities. The award recipients will match the federal funds with an additional $2.7 million.

“The Partnership for a Nation of Learners provides extraordinary opportunities,” said Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “Through television documentaries, radio journalism, community archaeology projects, family book clubs and more, the grants announced today will teach local history, inspire an interest in science among young people, promote family literacy, help keep our kids free from violence and drugs, and promote the protection of precious environmental resources.”

"Public broadcasters, libraries and museums have a unique ability to connect individuals to their communities, and communities to the resources, ideas, and knowledge that they need to solve problems," said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB. "Through these grants, public broadcasters, museums, and libraries in the thirteen communities will be able to address local concerns in valuable ways and strengthen the bonds of our civil society."

The Partnership for a Nation of Learners received 68 applications nationwide requesting over $14.9 million for this highly competitive grant program. Grants were awarded to collaborations in Rohnert Park, CA; New Haven, CT; Johnston, IA; Shawnee Mission, KS; Boston, MA; Springfield MA; East Lansing, MI; Magdalena, NM; Philadelphia, PA; Columbia, SC; Richmond, VA; Montpelier, VT; and Salt Lake City, UT. For a contact list of the grant recipients with descriptions of their projects, please access: http://www.imls.gov/news/2006/091906_list.shtm.

About the Partnership for a Nation of Learners
The Partnership for a Nation of Learners (PNL) is an Institute of Museum and Library Services – Corporation for Public Broadcasting 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, they 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.

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
CPB, 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 1000 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. To learn about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, please visit 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 lifelong 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.