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Maryland’s iSchool Receives IMLS Grant to Fund E-Government Scholarship Program
College Park, Md. (July 9, 2012)--The University of Maryland’s College of Information Studies, Maryland’s iSchool, and the American Library Association Office of Government Relations have been awarded a grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The grant award of $499,977 with a matching amount of $68,056 will fund 15 scholarships for master of library science (MLS) students with a specialization in e-government. This unique, cohort-based program prepares students for careers in librarianship and other information sciences as specialists in digital government information and e-government services. Students will begin the program in the fall of 2013 and graduate in the summer of 2015.
This grant-funded program strengthens the successful iSchool e-government MLS specialization that was funded by a previous IMLS-awarded Digital Government Librarian Scholarship grant. The program is set to graduate its first cohort in July 2012. John Carlo Bertot, co-director of the Information Policy and Access Center (iPAC) and director of the MLS program, at the University of Maryland, said, “As governments continue the migration of their information and services to online formats, there is an increased need for librarians who understand the often complex government information networks and can help users satisfy their e-government needs.”
“Many members of the public face significant challenges to accessing and using e-government, due to limited technology access, limited digital literacy, or barriers within the design of e-government,” added iPAC co-director and e-government specialization coordinator Paul Jaeger. “Students who graduate from this program will be prepared to teach patrons how to overcome such challenges and become active users of e-government."
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) invests in the nation’s information infrastructure by funding projects that foster the development of a new generation of faculty, librarians and archivists preparing library leaders, and strengthening schools of library and information science. LB21 grants assist the library profession in preparing to meet the challenges of the 21st century by supporting programs that address the education and training needs of the professionals who help build, maintain and provide public access to the world’s wide-ranging information systems and sources.
More information can found at http://www.imls.gov/applicants/lb21_guidelines_2012.aspx
About Maryland’s iSchool
Building upon our strong foundation in library science and information studies, the iSchool has grown into an education and research powerhouse in human-computer interaction, digital libraries, cloud computing, information access, e-government and social media. Our tight-knit learning community is driven by the pursuit of big ideas and new discoveries, to imagine how we can empower citizens, inspire communities, energize economies and sustain democracies. More information is available at http://ischool.umd.edu/.
About iPAC
The Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC) conducts research on the processes, practices, policies, and social issues that govern access to information in our increasingly digital information society. In particular, iPAC research focuses on policies and/or technologies that lead to equitable and inclusive information access, a digitally literate population, an informed and engaged public, or access Internet- enabled resources and technologies. More information regarding iPAC is available at http://ipac.umd.edu.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
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. Through grant making, policy development, and research, we help communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning. To learn more about IMLS, please visit www.imls.gov.
About the American Library Association
Founded on October 6, 1876 during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the American Library Association was created to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. Our current strategic plan, ALA Ahead to 2015, calls for continued work in the areas of Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession, Diversity, Education and Lifelong Learning, Equitable Access to Information and Library Services, Intellectual Freedom, Literacy, Organizational Excellence and Transforming Libraries.
Contact
John Carlo Bertot
Co-director, Information Policy & Access Center
University of Maryland
Phone: 301.405.3267
Paul T. Jaeger
Co-director, Information Policy & Access Center
University of Maryland
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Phone: 301.405.1741