ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 15, Number 66
Date: June 29, 2006

At the ALA's 2006 Annual Conference in New Orleans, First Lady Laura Bush announced more than $20 million in librarian recruitment and education grants from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The announcement came during the First Lady's keynote address at a national town hall meeting addressing the critical role school libraries play in restoring learning and reuniting communities in times of crisis. The town hall - School Libraries Work: Rebuilding for Learning - was hosted by ALA, AASL, and Scholastic.

Mrs. Bush announced $20,869,145 in grants from the IMLS. The grants are designed to help offset a current shortage of school library media specialists, library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved communities, as well a looming shortage of library directors and other senior librarians, many of whom are expected to retire in the next 20 years. 

Click here for a list of grant recipients organized by state: http://www.imls.gov/news/2006/062806_list.shtm.

"Restoring libraries on the Gulf Coast will be a long-term endeavor, requiring well-trained librarians for years to come," said Mrs. Bush. "And the work of recruiting and educating the next generation of librarians here on the Gulf Coast and throughout our country must start now."

Click here to read the First Lady's full remarks: http://www.imls.gov/news/speeches/062606.shtm.

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