Fast Fact Sheet: Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (2012)

Vital Statistics

Number of awards made: 32
Number of applicants: 106

Total amount awarded: $10,356,498
Total matching amount: $6,650,021
Total amount requested: $37,815,498

Program Statement

The multifaceted grant program supports tuition assistance, curriculum development, service expectations, job placement, recruitment of non-traditional library students, and support for doctoral candidates to teach library science and research.

First Lady Laura Bush announced the President’s multimillion dollar support of an initiative to help bolster the library profession in 2002. Since 2003, IMLS has awarded more than $160 million in grants to fund the education of 3,463 master’s degree students, 178 doctoral students, 3,143 preprofessional students, and 30,466 continuing education students. The program has also funded studies of library and archives workforce trends; the development of library and information science graduate curricula; research by new, untenured LIS faculty at a critical point in their careers; and the continuing professional development of librarians and library workers. Program funds have promoted the deployment of distance education, provided graduate education to library staff working in the nation’s most rural and inner city neighborhoods, and increased the number of certified school library media specialists.

Quote

"The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program continues to support the professional development and education of librarians. This is especially important now as libraries continue to change to better meet the needs of their users. The list of projects funded by this program just this year demonstrates the myriad ways in which they do that. From Geographic Information Systems and early childhood literacy, to preservation of the cultural record and data analysis, to e-government and information literacy of college students, this year's grant recipients are ensuring that the skills of their staffs keep up with advances in technology."

- Susan Hildreth, Director of the Institute

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.