FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2006

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

Second Partnership for a Nation of Learners Videoconference Attracts
Nearly 1,000 Museum, Library, and Public Broadcasting Professionals Nationwide

Washington, DC—Forty-five public broadcasting stations across the country hosted the second Partnership for a Nation of Learners videoconference on June 19, 2006. An Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) initiative, Partnership for a Nation of Learners (PNL) encourages libraries, museums, and public broadcasters to work together to address locally identified lifelong learning needs.

The videoconference, entitled “Mission Possible,” focused on real-life partnerships and featured 15 library, museum, and public broadcasting professionals currently working together on six PNL Community Collaboration Grant projects. Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent for The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, once again served as the national host. “IMLS and CPB know that their constituents—libraries, museums, and public broadcasters—share the same educational mission, and possess complementary assets,” said Suarez. “Fifteen grantees are here proving that collaborative partnerships are mission possible.”

Museum, library, public broadcasting, and community organization professionals convened at the 45 stations throughout the country to view the videoconference, participate in partnership-building activities, and brainstorm ways to secure support for local collaborative projects. CPB President and CEO Pat Harrison and IMLS Director Anne-Imelda M. Radice welcomed the nearly 1,000 participants throughout the country from the WETA studio in Arlington, Virginia.

“Today’s program is first and foremost about you,” said Harrison. “We want you to learn from one another, and from our studio guests…. In today’s town hall-formatted program we’ll hear about successes and challenges and gain insight into exactly what it takes to produce successful, community-focused partnerships.”

Radice, addressing the videoconference participants and their commitment to their communities, said, “We know that each of you—whether you are coming from public broadcasting, libraries, museums, or community organizations—care deeply about your community. You see the power in partnership and know that together we can make a real difference.”

Click here to view photographs of videoconference participants on the day of the production.

About the Partnership for a Nation of Learners
The Partnership for a Nation of Learners is a Corporation for Public Broadcasting - Institute of Museum and Library Services leadership initiative. Our shared mission is to serve America's communities by encouraging and enabling museums, public broadcasters, and libraries to work together to address locally identified lifelong learning needs and opportunities. Working together, these organizations can be catalysts for vibrant, energized communities and build a foundation for an educated and informed citizenry. Visit http://www.partnershipforlearners.org for information about funding, a tutorial on partnership and more.

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,000 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related on-line services. Visit the CPB Web site at: http://www.cpb.org.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to grow and sustain a “Nation of Learners” because life-long learning is essential to a democratic society and individual success. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.