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Its name is big but its mission and potential impact on rural Appalachian communities is even bigger. The University of Tennessee School of Information Sciences Information Technology Rural Librarian Master's Scholarship Program has awarded 16 full scholarships to students working in the Southern and Central Appalachia's rural libraries [broadly defined] to study at a distance in its master's degree program, thanks to a generous grant of $567,660 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Half of the scholarship recipients are from Tennessee, while three students are from Virginia, two students from Kentucky, and one student each from Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina. According to SIS Director Dr. Ed Cortez, "Improving library services in rural America is an imperative for community and economic sustainability. When people are unemployed, socially disconnected and in need of support and encouragement they often turn to their community libraries. The result of this important project means that when people in need turn to their libraries they will be greeted and served by sensitive professional librarians skilled in the newest information technologies and service delivery techniques." Eleven of the selected ITRL students are working in public library settings, three students in school libraries, and one student each in a non-profit community library and academic library. ITRL students will receive full-tuition for two years, a laptop, and an allowance for materials. More importantly, each student will receive individual formal/informal mentoring by both a professor in the school and a practicing information professional selected by them or assigned from volunteers who have agreed to serve in this capacity. Students will continue to work as paraprofessionals in their rural libraries while taking coursework at the school. The web-based curriculum will focus on information technology and rural library management, and students will study part-time at a distance in real-time, while developing tangible IT and rural library management outcomes that will directly impact change in their local communities. Dr. Bharat Mehra is the principal investigator of the grant and an assistant professor at SIS. He has worked diligently with the selection committee in identifying the top candidates who will use their ITRL experiences to extend their leadership and capacities and translate their vision for their rural libraries into a reality that makes a difference in their Appalachian communities. According to Dr. Mehra, "It was a really tough decision since I personally communicated with more than 70 people who showed interest in ITRL. Thirty-two candidates submitted their application materials, and we are very fortunate to have an excellent cohort where each person has a unique dream, passion, determination, and skills to succeed and lead their library communities in the 21st Century." The following 16 ITRL students will start their coursework in summer 2010: * Beverly Sue Chalman, Library Director, Charles Ralph Holland Memorial Library, Gainesboro, Tennessee. * Brittany Renee Fletcher, Elementary School Teacher/Media Team Member, Mountain City Elementary School Media Center, Mountain City, Tennessee. * Julie Forkner, Reference Librarian, E. G. Fisher Public Library, Athens, Tennessee. * Sally Elizabeth Gilliam, Library Assistant, Lonesome Pine Regional Library, Big Stone Gap, Virginia. * Angela Cortellino Glowcheski, Information Specialist, Lumpkin County Public Library, Chestatee Regional Library, Dahlonega, Georgia. * Richard George Haynes, Director, Harlan County Public Library System, Harlan, Kentucky. * Kevin Sean Jump, Circulation Assistant, Weeks-Townsend Memorial Library, Barbourville, Kentucky. * Lauren Long, Library Technologist, Madison County Public Library, Marshall, North Carolina. * Susan Elaine Macrellis, Library Director, East Ridge City Library, East Ridge, Tennessee. * Helen Frances Owen, Instructional Supervisor for Materials and Supplies, Teacher Resource Center, Sevier County School System, Sevierville, Tennessee. * Marilyn J. Pontius, Hancock War Memorial Branch Library, Washington County Free Library, Washington County, Maryland. * Deborah J. Ratliff, Branch Manager/Program Specialist, Goshen Public Library, Rockbridge Regional Library, Goshen, Virginia. * Christine Maness Smith, Branch Manager, C. Bascom Slemp Memorial Library, Lonesome Pine regional Library System, Big Stone Gap, Virginia. * Susan J. Williams, Resource Center/Education Coordinator, Highlander Research and Education Center, New Market, Tennessee. * Vicki Michelle Crawford Winstead, Library Media Specialist, Jackson Elementary School Library, Kingsport, Tennessee. * Amber Dawn Woodard, Library Technical Assistant, Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee. Rural Appalachian communities experience relatively low levels of information literacy, educational attainment, and a lack of access to information technologies. Library professionals embedded in these communities are in a strong position to help address and develop solutions to meet these needs. Along with co-principal investigators Drs. Kimberly Black and Vandana Singh, Dr. Mehra is designing a needs assessment study of library services and information challenges faced by rural regional libraries throughout Appalachia so that these students, upon graduation, will be groomed to address the specific circumstances experienced in their communities regarding information technology literacy and translate its myriad of benefits for their communities. Along with studying the foundational theory and practice of library and information sciences, students in the program will learn about technology planning, assessment, and analysis; database and web design, development, and usability; building digital library, Web portals, and Library 2.0 tools; and how to establish hardware and software configurations for networking systems. Students will also learn a rich suite of rural management skills, such as application of planning and service evaluation; resource building and collection development; strategic marketing and promotion; grant writing and partnership leveraging. The four partnering institutions are: Clinch-Powell Regional Library (Clinton, Tennessee: Susan Simmons: Director), Nolichucky Regional Library (Morristown, Tennessee: Don Reynolds, Director), Sevier County Public Library System (Sevierville, Tennessee: K. C. Williams, System Director), and the Watauga Regional Library (Johnson City, Tennessee: Nancy Renfro, Director). The School of Information Sciences (SIS) at the University of Tennessee is an innovative leader among library and information programs nationally, and one of four schools that make up the College of Communication and Information. School faculty instruct over 225 graduate students, are engaged in leading-edge research, and partner with organizations throughout the world to help people flourish in our dynamic information society. UT SIS is the only master's degree program in Tennessee to be fully accredited by the American Library Association. 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. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov. For more information about the SIS Information Technology Rural Librarian Master's Scholarship Program, visit our website at http://www.sis.utk.edu/rural-librarianship. __________ Joel Southern Communications Specialist School of Information Sciences College of Communication and Information University of Tennessee, Knoxville 1345 Circle Park Drive, Suite 451 Knoxville, TN 37996-0341 ____________ (865) 974-6727 jsouthern at utk dot edu www.sis.utk.edu <http://www.sis.utk.edu>