Laura Bush grant will help provide funding for scholarships
GPLS News, October 2009
Lyn Hopper, assistant state librarian for library development: "This grant will help GPLS strengthen community support for public libraries in Georgia, address Georgia's shortage of librarians and provide a model for other states."
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded Georgia Public Library Service a 2009 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant for $680,327. According to Lyn Hopper, assistant state librarian for library development, the money will be used to fund the GPLS "Librarians Build Communities" program, which will provide the scholarships needed to prepare 45 students to be public librarians and provide them with expertise in community building.
"This grant will help GPLS strengthen community support for public libraries in Georgia, address Georgia's shortage of librarians and provide a model for other states," Hopper said.
She explained that GPLS will collaborate with the Valdosta State University (VSU) Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program. Each qualifying student will receive a full in-state tuition scholarship to the program, which requires 39 semester hours for graduation. The first students are expected to enter the program in the fall 2010 semester and complete their course work within the three-year grant period. Subsequent groups will begin studies in spring and fall semesters of 2011. Students will be required to maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in order to receive continued funding.
VSU is prepared to offer curriculum content to meet the program's instructional needs by recruiting part-time faculty with expertise in public libraries and community building. GPLS will assist the effort by offering an advanced public library seminar with a focus on community building during years two and three of the grant period. "GPLS will also compile pre- and post-assessment information geared toward measuring changes in community-building attitudes, knowledge and skills as a result of the program," Hopper said.
Applications will be reviewed and participants selected by a committee that will include representatives from GPLS, VSU and the Georgia public library community. Students will be selected based on potential for successful graduate study, interest in public library community building, and commitment to work in a Georgia public library for at least three years following graduation.
The total project budget is $844,647, with $164,320 in matching funds coming from GPLS and VSU. Approx-imately 77 percent of the grant funds will be for direct student support.
Since its inception in 2002, the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program has funded the education and training of 3,220 master's students; 186 doctoral students; 1,256 preprofessionals; and 26,206 continuing education students across the country. The program also supports grants for research related to library education and library staffing needs, curriculum development and continuing education and training.