IMLS Grant Announcements

ALA has received three IMLS grants. They are for:
(1) additional Spectrum Scholarships,
(2)development of the support staff certification program, and
(3)the creation of an online resource center for library cultural programming.
Here is the URL for the IMLS site and some additional details: http://www.imls.gov/news/2007/061907_list.shtmAmerican

(1) Project Title: "Reach 21: Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians for 21st Century Library Leadership"Building on the success of the Spectrum Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships for ethnically and racially underrepresented students attending graduate library and information science programs,the American Library Association will initiate *REACH 21: Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians for 21st Century LibraryLeadership.* The project will foster the recruitment, matriculation, and early career development of 150 minority students in master*s-level library and information science programs; provide mentoring and coaching of sixty additional students from underrepresented backgrounds; establish a formal, year-long mentoring program that will leverage community and support networks and aide ducational and early career retention; and create an outreach services component.
(2)Contact: Ms. Nancy Bolt, Project Director - Congratulations, Nancy!
Project Title: "Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP)"The American Library Association, in partnership with the Western Council of State Librarians, will develop a national voluntary certification program for support staff in rural or small town public and academic libraries. Needs assessments for the last fifteen years have called for a national, standardized certification program for library support staff. The three-year project will result in a set of
core competencies and policies and procedures. It will provide alternative options for assessing current knowledge of the field and experience for non-traditionally trained library staff. The resulting plan will be tested in five sites and will be sustained by ALA.

(3) Project Title: "The Online Resource Center for Library CulturalProgramming: A Web-Based Professional Development Space for Librarians"The American Library Association*s Public Programs Office will create and administer the Online Resource Center for Library Cultural Programming (ORC), a professional development Web site to help librarians find authoritative resources for cultural programming, and will train librarians in cultural programming techniques. The ORC will organize and make accessible through links and online documents a wide array of national cultural program information and training tools, and provide access to successful "turnkey" programs developed by cultural organizations such as state humanities councils, thus extending the value of the original investment in the programs. The ORC will be particularly useful for librarians in small rural libraries who rarely can attend conferences and have little professional development funding. The three-year project includes a major evaluation of the Web site by librarians, educators, and students.

Another project of interest is the following:
Denver Public Library – Denver, CO Amount: $988,518 Building upon an earlier IMLS-funded project, the Denver Public Library will partner with REFORMA-Colorado and the University of Denver (DU) to further develop and refine the Future LEADers of America scholarship program in order to increase community access to libraries. The project will provide full scholarships for eighteen racially and linguistically diverse students to earn master’s degrees in library science at DU. Participants will sign an agreement stating their willingness to work in the public library field for at least three years beyond the program. By increasing the number of minority and bilingual public librarians, the LEADers II project will improve library services to underserved populations.