FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2005

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

IMLS Calls for Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant Applications

Grants help recruit and educate librarians and strengthen graduate schools of library and information science

(APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15, 2005)

The Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS) invites America’s libraries, archives, library agencies, associations and consortia, to apply for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (formerly called Librarians for the 21st Century) grant program. IMLS will award over $21 million under this program to help recruit and educate librarians and strengthen graduate schools of library and information science in FY 2006. The application deadline is December 15, 2005.

“In 2003, with a shortage of professional librarians on the horizon, First Lady Laura Bush called on IMLS to help recruit a new generation of librarians through a special funding initiative,” explained Mary Chute, Acting Director of IMLS. “Since then, IMLS has funded 1,537 master’s degree students, 119 doctoral students, 660 preprofessional students, and 378 continuing education students through this initiative. I am pleased to share with the library community the 2006 grant application guidelines for what will now be called, fittingly, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program.”

The program continues its emphasis on recruiting and educating students at the master’s and doctoral levels, while also supporting efforts to recruit future librarians from the ranks of promising junior high, high school, and college students. It will help update the skills of current librarians and library staff through continuing education programs. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program also helps graduate schools of library and information science build institutional capacity through curriculum development in key areas. In addition, it supports critical research to evaluate program effectiveness and develop strategies for recruiting and retaining librarians.

For fiscal year 2006, IMLS particularly encourages applications for projects that promote collaboration between educators and librarians employed in educational institutions.

Applications, guidelines, and examples of successful proposals can be found on the IMLS Web site. Contact Senior Program Officer Stephanie Clark at sclark@imls.gov or Program Officer Elaina Norlin at enorlin@imls.gov with questions or for more information.

Awards will be announced in mid-June 2006.