FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2005 updated 11:42 AM

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Over $21 Million to Recruit New Librarians and Help Offset National Shortage

Federal Grants Include Scholarships, Minority and Bilingual Student Outreach, Employment Opportunities and More

Washington, DC—The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services announced $21,087,684 in grants to 37 universities, libraries, and library organizations across the country today to recruit and educate a new generation of 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 who are expected to retire in the next 20 years.* Click here for a list of the organizations funded, including descriptions of their recruitment and education projects.

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 1,537 master’s degree students, 119 doctoral students, 660 pre-professional students, and 378 continuing education students.

“Librarianship is absolutely critical to the nation’s education infrastructure,” said Dr. Robert Martin, Director of the Institute. “There is a strong correlation between good school libraries and student academic achievement. Public librarians help their communities increase literacy rates, provide top-notch after school programs, and even assist local residents in finding jobs. And in this digital age, library science professionals are more important than ever. Anyone who has had the experience of searching for information on the World Wide Web and had over 10,000 references returned would agree.”

The Institute's approach to recruiting and educating a new generation of librarians is multi-faceted. The grants include tuition assistance, curriculum development, service expectations, job placement, recruitment of non-traditional library students, support for doctoral candidates to teach library science, and research. Today’s grants benefit 22 doctoral, 567 master’s, 378 continuing education, and 538 pre-professional students, and fund two research projects.

* In May 2000, Library Journal magazine reported 40% of America's library directors plan to retire in 9 years or less. And, according to the July 2000 Monthly Labor Review, in 1998 57% of professional librarians were age 45 or older. The March 2002 issue of American Libraries magazine showed that based on 1990 Census data almost 58% of professional librarians will reach the age of 65 between 2005 and 2019.