Library Technology Guides

OCLC awarded IMLS grant to develop free online continuing education program for public library staff. OCLC has been awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to partner with the Idaho Commission for Libraries to develop a free online continuing education program for public library staff. The project will replace an outdated series and result in a new set of courses for library staff on core library services such as collection development, collection maintenance, cataloging, and delivery of programming and services that are responsive to community needs. [Full Announcement].

IMLS invests an additional $5.9M to support and improve essential library services for native communities. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) today announced grants totaling $5,908,056, for 173 awards through programs designed to support and improve essential library services of Native American, Native Alaskan, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Three of the programs that funded these awards were the Native American Library Services Basic Grants, Native American Library Enhancements Grants, and Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants. An additional project was funded through America250. America250 is the nationwide commemoration of America's 250th anniversary in 2026 led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. [Full Announcement].

IMLS announces $22.5M investment in U.S. Library and Archival Services Initiatives. The Institute of Museum and Library Service announced 85 awards totaling $22,533,904 to support libraries and archival services across the country. The FY 2024 awards were made through National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The awarded grants search on the IMLS website contains a complete list of grantees and project descriptions. [Full Announcement].

IMLS debuts new federal resource, InformationLiteracy.gov, at American Library Association Conference. The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services released InformationLiteracy.gov, a website with specialized tools and resources designed for library and museum professionals to engage diverse communities in developing critical information literacy skills. The website and resources will debut at the American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, California. [Full Announcement].

Institute of Museum and Library Services announces Acting Director. The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced the appointment of Deputy Director for Library Services Cyndee Landrum as Acting Director, effective March 21, 2024. Ms. Landrum will assume the Acting Director role following the end of current Director Crosby Kemper's four-year term. Ms. Landrum will lead the agency until a new director is nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The IMLS directorship alternates between individuals selected from the museum and library fields. [Full Announcement].

Institute of Museum and Library Services Announces Plans to Launch National Museum Survey in Early 2025. The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced that a successful pilot effort has secured the future of the National Museum Survey, set to launch in early 2025. In a summary report, IMLS highlights findings from the NMS pilot and next steps for the implementation of the first-ever annual federal survey to gather and share data about the essential work happening across the country in museums and cultural institutions. The IMLS-sponsored NMS will create the first federal, free-of-charge, and publicly available database of credible statistics on museums and related institutions, allowing for new policy approaches to more efficiently invest in the infrastructure of the nation's heritage. Data obtained through the NMS will inform policy decisions and further investment by bringing together key statistics from large, small, urban, and rural museums and related institutions to help bridge resource, technological, and distance gaps. [Full Announcement].

IMLS announces $20 Million Investment in U.S. Library and Archive Initiatives. The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced 64 awards totaling $20,363,297 to support libraries and archives across the country. The FY 2023 awards were made through National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The awarded grants search on the IMLS website contains a complete list of grantees and project descriptions. [Full Announcement].

IMLS Funding $6 Million in Museum Grants to Support African American History and Culture. Institute of Museum and Library Services announced awards totaling $6,000,000 in Museum Grants for African American History and Culture. The 34 grantees will match these awards with an additional $8,002,981 in non-federal funds. A total of 72 organizations requested grants totaling $12,719,357. [Full Announcement].

IMLS Welcomes 7 New Members to the National Museum and Library Services Board. The Institute of Museum and Library Services Director, Crosby Kemper, welcomed seven new members of the National Museum and Library Services Board. The Board advises IMLS on programs and policies to enhance museum, library, and information services throughout the nation, and its members are selected based on their expertise and commitment to libraries and museums. [Full Announcement].

IMLS Awards $180 Million to Support Communities Through Library Services in All U.S. States and Territories. In support of the intrinsic role that libraries play in promoting informed, healthy, vibrant communities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services announced it has awarded $180 million in annual grants to each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States. These grants represent the largest source of federal funding support for library services. With this investment the agency's Grants to States program leverages state and local funding to support impactful library services across the nation. [Full Announcement].

Director Kemper welcomes 11 new members to the National Museum and Library Services board. Crosby Kemper, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services is pleased to welcome 11 new members of the National Museum and Library Services Board. [Full Announcement].

IMLS announces $21 million investment in U.S. library and archive initiatives. The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced 71 awards totaling $21,189,566 to support libraries and archives across the country. The FY 2022 awards were made through National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The awarded grants search on the IMLS website contains a complete list of grantees and project descriptions. [Full Announcement].

IMLS releases 2020 data on American public libraries. The Institute of Museum and Library Services released the latest data from its 2020 Public Libraries Survey. The Public Libraries Survey examines key indicators of public library use, financial health, staffing, and resources. Explore the FY 2020 data and documentation. [Full Announcement].

New Museums for Digital Learning site for K-12 educators launches. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is pleased to announce the launch of a new online resource center featuring dynamic digital museum content for K-12 educators searchable by subject and grade. Teachers across the country can now find resources that feature engaging activities from a growing number of museums all aligned with national education standards. [Full Announcement].

COVID-19 Research Partnership to Inform Safe Handling of Collections, Reopening Practices for Libraries, Museums. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, together with OCLC, Inc. and Battelle, announced a new collaboration to support the nation’s libraries and museums as they consider safe reopening practices in light of COVID-19. [Full Announcement].

Crosby Kemper III Named Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Crosby Kemper III takes the helm of the Institute of Museum and Library Services as its sixth director today, following his commission by the White House on January 24 and confirmation by the United States Senate on January 10. IMLS, an independent government agency, is the primary source of federal support for the nation's museums and libraries. [Full Announcement].

PALCI and PALNI receive IMLS grant to develop the Hyku open source institutional repository. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded $172,172 to the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI) in partnership with the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) for Scaling Up a Collaborative Consortial Institutional Repository as part of the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program. IMLS received 138 preliminary proposals requesting more than $33 million in funding, and selected 36 applicants to receive awards during this grant cycle. With this award, the partners will develop and pilot an affordable, open-source, and collaborativeinstitutional repository solution based on the Hyku software. [Full Announcement].

IMLS announces new Deputy Director of Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services has appointed Cynthia Landrum as the agency's new Deputy Director of the Office of Library Services. Landrum, a leader in the field with two decades of experience in public libraries, comes to IMLS from Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, where she served as CEO-Director. [Full Announcement].

Big opportunities for small libraries: IMLS launches new special initiative. The Institute of Museum and Library Services has launched a new special initiative, Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries (APP), and is accepting grant applications now through February 25, 2019. This new funding opportunity is designed specifically to strengthen the ability of small and rural libraries, archives, and related organizations to serve their communities, and awards sizes range from $10,000 to $50,000. [Full Announcement].

WGBH Awarded Grant by Institute of Museum and Library Services for Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship. WGBH Educational Foundation is pleased to announce that the Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded WGBH a $229,772 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant to launch the Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship. The fellowship will fund 10 graduate students from across the United States to digitize at-risk audiovisual materials at public media organizations near their universities. The digitized content will ultimately be incorporated into the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB), a collaboration between Boston public media station WGBH and the Library of Congress working to digitize and preserve thousands of broadcasts and previously inaccessible programs from public radio and public television’s more than 60-year legacy. [Full Announcement].