Media Contact:
Erica Jaros
ejaros@imls.gov
IMLS and USCIS Come Together to Support and Welcome New Citizens
IMLS Director speaks at swearing in ceremony at National WWI Museum
Washington, DC—Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Crosby Kemper will return to his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri to take part in an upcoming naturalization ceremony for U.S. citizens.
Director Kemper’s visit will highlight the work museums and libraries do to support citizen education, encourage community conversations, and promote civic engagement. It will also call attention to the long-standing partnership between IMLS and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“Libraries and museums seek to create welcoming spaces that allow those new to our nation to feel comfortable as they find the support and care they need to prepare and become citizens,” said Director Kemper. “But they are also places where all Americans can explore our shared history and build the knowledge they need to fully participate in local and national conversations about the future of our country.”
Director Kemper’s visit is part of the IMLS250 initiative commemorating America’s 250th birthday. As part of that work, IMLS is partnering with libraries, museums, and archives across the nation to explore and commemorate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
“We plan to bring to life our theme for IMLS250... All Stories. All People. All Places by highlighting celebrations like this naturalization ceremony,” said Director Kemper. “All of these brand-new American citizens that we have the privilege to welcome in this place will now add their powerful stories to our shared history.”
The naturalization ceremony will take place at the National World War I Museum during an all-day training for adult educators, program directors, and representatives from immigrant-serving organizations.
The IMLS-USCIS partnership has been in place for more than a decade. As part of the partnership, USCIS provides learning materials tailored to librarians and museum educators on topics like citizenship education, immigration benefits, and community resources.
For more information on IMLS or IMLS250, visit www.imls.gov.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov.
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 libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.