LSU School of Library and Information Science Receives Grant for Recruitment and Education of Librarians
The LSU School of Library and Information Science was recently awarded a $763,901 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS, to recruit and educate 30 new librarians for employment in Southern Louisiana libraries that continue to experience staffing shortages due to damage caused to communities by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
According to Alma Dawson, director of the “Project Recovery” program at LSU, the grant is designed to be an active collaboration between the LSU School of Library and Information Science and its partner libraries and organizations.
These include the State Library of Louisiana, the New Orleans Public Library, Calcasieu Parish Public Library, Terrebonne Parish Public Library, New Orleans Recovery School District, Algiers Charter School Association, Jefferson Parish School System and Southern University at New Orleans.
Students recruited under this initiative will receive IMLS-funded scholarships to earn master’s degrees in librarianship focusing primarily on academic, public and school libraries. As part of their education and early-career development, the students will participate in projects identified by partner libraries affected by the storms and will benefit from mentoring and subsidized memberships in the Louisiana Library Association and national professional organizations.
The program includes a variety of experiential learning opportunities including internships. The first group of students will begin their course of study in the spring 2010 semester, and the second group will be admitted in the fall 2010 semester. The grant extends from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. In 2009, IMLS awarded $20. 4 million to 33 institutions through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.
To learn more about “Project Recovery,” contact Alma Dawson, project director, at 225-578-1463, visit the project website at http://slis.lsu.edu/projectrecovery/ or e-mail projectrecovery@lsu.edu”.
