FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2009

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

IMLS Awards Over $2.7 Million to Native American
and Native Hawaiian Libraries
For Enhancements to Library Services

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced today the 17 Native American tribal communities and Alaska Native villages that are this year’s recipients of $2,219,312 in Native American Library Services Enhancement grants. The Institute is also pleased to report that Alu Like, Inc. is the recipient of the Native Hawaiian Library Services grant totaling $531,000. Click here to see a full list of Enhancement grant recipients.

“To make a difference in the lives of their patrons, libraries must continually improve the breadth of their services and the skills of their employees,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, Director, IMLS. “These awardees have accepted this challenge, and will no doubt continue to be important places for education, interaction, and innovation in their communities.”

This year, grantees will tackle a wide range of projects, including:

• The “We Are All Family” project by the Makah Cultural and Research Center (MCRC), on behalf of the Makah Indian Tribe, will enhance access to family genealogy and ancestral history information for Makah community members.
• The Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) program at the Pueblo of Pojoaque Public Library will focus on literacy skills for young children and their parents.
• The enhancement of the NHL digital libraries to meet the needs and interests of Native Hawaiians, and the continuation of the Motheread workshops, which focus on language and literacy development with parents and their children at Alu Like, Inc. To learn more about Alu Like, Inc.’s proposed activities, click here.

The next deadline for Native American Library Services Enhancement Grant applications is May 3, 2010. The next deadline for Native Hawaiian Library Services grant applications is May 17, 2010. Please contact Senior Program Officer Alison Freese at 202-653-4665 or afreese@imls.gov with any questions.

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 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.