About Us - Issues

21st Century Skills

The global economy calls for new skills like critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation.

Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century SkillsNational Initiative: Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills
The Institute's Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills initiative underscores the critical role our nation’s museums and libraries play in helping citizens build such 21st century skills as information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness.

Stem Video Game Challenge logoPartnership: STEM Video Game Challenge
IMLS is a National Community Sponsor of the National STEM Video Game Challenge. The Challenge, now in its third year, was inspired by President Obama’s "Educate to Innovate" Campaign, promoting science, technology, engineering and math education.

Search the Awarded Grants database for grants to programs that strengthen 21st century skills (issue areas have only been assigned to grants awarded since FY 2009)

21st century skills content on the IMLS Web site:
champions of change
White House Highlights Museum and Library “Champions of Change”

June 10, 2013 11:10 AM
On Tuesday, June 11th, the White House will honor twelve people as museum and library “Champions of Change,” for their work making a difference for their neighborhoods and for our nation. Read More

 
Civic Hacking Logo
IMLS Invites Civic-Minded Techies to Hack Agency Data

May 21, 2013 03:26 PM
The first National Day of Civic Hacking is June 1 and 2, 2013. More than 90 sites across the country are planning events that will bring together techies, entrepreneurs, do-gooders, and activists to invent new tools using publicly-released data from local, state and federal government agencies. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is joining in, contributing challenges and data about museums and libraries. Read More

 
Video Game Design Is More Than Writing Code

March 18, 2013 12:55 PM
Webinars show museums and libraries how to get youth involved in the National STEM Video Game Challenge. Read More

 
IMLS and Library of Congress Announce New National Digital Stewardship Residency

February 21, 2013 09:38 AM
Applications are being accepted from recent master’s program graduates for nine-month residencies in the Washington, D.C. area. Read More

 
Calling All Youth Gamers: Contest for Original Video Games Now Open

February 11, 2013 12:24 PM
IMLS is expanding opportunities for libraries and museums to support the 2013 National STEM Video Game Challenge, which is now excepting applications. Read More