ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 12, Number 104 December 9, 2003 In This Issue: IMLS 21st Century Librarian Grant The following is a press release from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services IMLS INVITES PROPOSALS FOR LIBRARIANS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY AWARDS: Grants help recruit and educate librarians and strengthen graduate schools of library and information science Call: 202/606-8339 Eileen Maxwell emaxwell@imls.gov or Mamie Bittner mbittner@imls.gov (APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2004) WASHINGTON, DC - The Institute of Museum and Library Services has issued new guidelines for its Librarians for the 21st Century program (posted on the IMLS Web site at http://www.imls.gov/grants/appl/index.htm#21cent). The program was initiated in 2003 with an appropriation of $10 million. The President has requested $20 million for this program for FY 2004. With the increase in appropriations, IMLS has been able to add additional priorities for funding for Librarians for the 21st Century in 2004. In addition to scholarships for masters and doctoral-level students, IMLS has established a new priority to build the institutional capacity of graduate schools of library and information science through curriculum development in critical areas including digital library science, research methods, and leadership. The award amounts range from $50,000 to $1 million. One-to-one cost sharing for requests other than for student support and research projects is required. The deadline for applications is JANUARY 15, 2004. Awards will be announced in mid-July. The priorities for funding in the Librarians for the 21st Century program for 2004 (not listed in order of priority) are: Priority #1 Master's Level Programs: * Educate the next generation of librarians. In particular, increase the number of students enrolled in nationally accredited graduate library programs preparing for careers of service in libraries. Priority #2 Doctoral Programs: * Develop faculty to educate the next generation of library professionals. In particular, increase the number of students enrolled in doctoral programs that will prepare faculty to teach master's students who will work in school, public and academic libraries. * Develop the next generation of library leaders. In particular, increase the number of students enrolled in doctoral programs that will prepare them to assume positions as library managers and administrators. Priority #3 Pre-Professional Programs: * Recruit future librarians. In particular, attract promising high school and college students to consider careers in librarianship through recruitment strategies that are cost-effective and measurable. One large-scale national project may be supported. Priority #4 Research * Provide the library community with information needed to support successful recruitment and education of the next generation of librarians. In particular, through funded research, establish baseline data on professional demographics and job availability, and evaluate current programs in library education for their capacity to meet the identified needs Priority #5 Programs to Build Institutional Capacity * Develop or enhance curricula within graduate schools of library and information science. In particular, develop new courses and programs in critical areas such as leadership, research methods, and digital librarianship; proposals may include requests for faculty salaries as well as student support. Contact Program Officer Stephanie Clark at sclark@imls.gov for more information on the 21st Century Librarians program. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent Federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners. The Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. The Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit of libraries and museums. To learn more about the Institute, please log onto: http://www.imls.gov. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Camille Bowman, Don Essex, Patrice McDermott and Miriam Nisbet. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Carrie Lowe, Kathy Mitchell, Carrie Russell. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.