Based on an IMLS News Release
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is encouraging community leaders to apply for the Preserve America community designation, which recognizes a community’s efforts to care for and share its cultural and natural heritage. The designation also makes the community eligible for special federal funding. Preserve America is a White House initiative conducted in cooperation with the IMLS and other federal agencies. The last two 2008 application periods are September 1 and December 1. Applications forms are available here.
Through participation in Preserve America, communities share knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthen local identities and local pride, increase neighborhood participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and support economic vitality.
Once a community receives the Preserve America designation, it is eligible to apply for Preserve America grants, which may be used for research and documentation, education and interpretation, planning, marketing, or training. These grants, which must be matched by the community, cannot be used for construction or repair projects. Last year, the government awarded nearly $5 million in federal funding for Preserve America grants. In 2008, $7.5 million has been made available for the grants, which range from $20,000 to $150,000.
To read more about Preserve America grants, including additional benefits for participating communities and eligibility requirements for designation, visit www.preserveamerica.gov.
PRESENTATION PROPOSALS INVITED FOR ACADEMIC & PUBLIC LIBRARY COLLABORATION PROGRAM
The College Libraries Section of Association of College and Research Libraries is currently inviting public and academic libraries to submit a presentation proposal for a program tentatively scheduled for Sunday, July 12, 2009 from 10:30 until noon at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago. The title of the program is Our Town, Common Ground: Academic Libraries’ Collaboration with Public Libraries. This session is co-sponsored in name only by the Public Library Association (PLA) and the Community and Junior College Libraries Section (CJCLS).
The purpose of the program is to provide real-world examples of academic and public libraries cooperating with one another. Experiences and reflections may be presented by individual librarians or co-presenters who represent academic and/or public libraries. Examples of cooperative endeavors include but are not limited to shared systems, buildings, or programming; cooperative digitization projects; services for distance learners; and consortial relationships. The collaborations may be short-term endeavors or permanent partnerships.
Four presentations of 15 minutes each will be selected through a blind review process. This will permit time for dialog between the presenters and questions from the audience within the 90 minutes allocated for our meeting. This presentation may be recorded as a Web cast, and made available on the ALA Website.
If you are interested in presenting, please send a proposal of 500 words or less to Ruth Connell at ruth.connell@valpo.edu by October 1, 2008. Please send questions to the same e-mail address. Notification of acceptance will be made by November 1, 2008.
DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Indiana’s Librarians Leading in Diversity (LLID) Master of Library Science Fellowship Application is now accepting applications. Ten student scholarships promoting diversity in Indiana libraries will be awarded to successful applicants this fall.
Go to the LLID webpage for more information about the fellowship. Candidates must apply to the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science (IU SLIS) by September 15, 2008 to be considered. The Fellowship Application process closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2008.
FIND RECENT ONLINE NEWS ABOUT EDUCATION, TAXES, THE STATE’S ECONOMY, AND MUCH MORE IN THE INDIANA ECONOMIC DIGEST