FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2005

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

Congressman Regula and IMLS Host Grants Workshop at National First Ladies' Library in Canton, Ohio

Washington, DC—The Honorable Ralph Regula (OH-16) and Dr. Robert Martin, Director of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) hosted a workshop July 7, 2005 at the National First Ladies’ Library in Canton, Ohio. The workshop focused primarily on the Institute’s Librarians for the 21st Century grant program designed to recruit new librarians and help offset a looming national shortage. Over 30 library professionals from Ohio’s 16th District attended. (According to the American Library Association, Ohio leads the nation in library use. With 14.63 items per person, it is the top state for public library circulation. The national average is 6.85 items.)

The Congressman and Mary Regula, Founder and President of the National First Ladies’ Library, introduced the workshop presenters who included Joanne “Jo” Budler, State Librarian of Ohio, Mary Chute, Deputy Director of Library Services for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Dr. Carolyn Brodie, Co-Director, Institute for Library and Information Literacy Education, and Greg Byerly, Associate Professor, Kent State School of Library and Information Science, and others.

“With the exception of First Lady Laura Bush herself, no one has been a stronger champion for Librarians for the 21st Century than Chairman Regula,” remarked Director Martin at the workshop. “His subcommittee (House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies) gave the program its initial appropriation of nearly $10 million in 2003 and has more than doubled that amount is subsequent years, recommending $24 million for fiscal year 2006….Hundreds of thousands of library users will be the ultimate beneficiaries.”

Since Laura Bush announced the President would support a multi-million dollar initiative to recruit 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 in the library sciences. In honor of the First Lady’s career as a librarian and her dedication to early learning, Congressman Regula’s subcommittee drafted a measure approved by the House to rename the recruitment program the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (see Committee Report text below). Congressman Regula spoke to the audience of the vital educational role libraries have in the community, punctuating his passion for life long learning with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

From the House Committee Report on FY 2006 Appropriations for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies:

In honor of her career as a librarian and lifelong dedication to early learning, early reading, and literacy, the Committee has renamed the Librarians for the 21st Century program, The Committee has included $24,000,000 for this program that recruits and educates librarians. This program is helping recruit new professionals for public, academic, research and school libraries; building the capacity of library schools through faculty and curriculum development; and updating the skills of current library workers. The Committee is particularly interested in the program's work in enhancing school library media centers. Research has established the value of the school library media center to student achievement, but there is a great need to raise awareness among teachers and school administrators about the role that the library and librarian can play. School library media centers can contribute to improved student achievement by providing instructional materials aligned to the curriculum; by collaborating with teachers, administrators and parents; and by extending their hours of operation beyond the school day. The Committee encourages IMLS to establish a priority within the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program to develop or enhance programs to promote collaboration between educators and librarians employed in educational institutions.