IMLS’s Role in Developing Competences in the Digital Age Martha Crawley Institute of Museum and Library Services Libraries in the Digital Age May 27, 2004

The Institute of Museum and Library Services A Federal agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums to serve their communities.

Congress established IMLS through the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996 Reauthorized on September 25, 2003 IMLS administers the Library Services and Technology Act for library programs and the Museum Services Act for museum programs

Digitization in the U.S. No single digital library plan for the United States IMLS statutory requirement State libraries - IMLS formula grants Other Federal agencies Library of Congress

IMLS Develops Competences in the Digital Age by: I. Bringing people together II. Encouraging interoperability and promoting standards III. Leveraging the power of collaboration IV. Sponsoring research and demonstration V. Supporting the education of library and museum professionals

I. Bringing people together 2001 Digital Library Forum 2003 Workshop on Opportunities for Applied Research on the Creation, Management, Preservation, and Use of Digital Content 2002, 2003 Joint Meeting NSF and IMLS PIs

Annual Webwise Conferences 2004 Conference, Chicago, IL org/issues/issue9_5/ includes webcast

II. Encouraging interoperability and promoting standards Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Collections – html

IMLS National Leadership Grant Guidelines Guidance for Digital Projects Specifications for Projects Involving Digitization

New NLG Categories for 2005 for Libraries and Museums Advancing Learning Communities Building Digital Resources Research and Demonstration

III. Leveraging the power of collaboration The Colorado Digitization Program University of Southern Mississippi Historymakers/Carnegie Mellon University

IV. Sponsoring research and demonstration Rutgers University, School of Communication, Information and Library Studies Impact of School Libraries on Student Learning University of Pittsburgh, Sara Fine Institute National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online Information University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Digital Collections and Content

V. Supporting the education of library and museum professionals Librarians for the 21 st Century New for 2005: 21st Century Museum Professionals

Other Programs Native American Library Services NEW for 2005: Native American Museum Services

IMLS provides educational tools Project Planning Tutorial

Conclusion “Today, global prosperity and individual productivity depend upon the ability to learn constantly, to adapt to change readily, and to evaluate information critically. In this information rich world, we must remain committed to fair and equitable access, and we must create and facilitate ways to transform information into knowledge.“ Dr. Robert S. Martin, IMLS Director, at UNESCO Symposium, Geneva, December 9, 2003

Institute of Museum and Library Services Web site Visit the New Digital Corner Subscribe on-line to Primary Source, IMLS’s electronic newsletter