[OPLINLIST] KSU-SLIS Receives $392,245 IMLS Grant Award

[CAROLYN S BRODIE]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2003

KENT STATE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE=20
RECEIVES $392,245 IMLS GRANT

The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at Kent State=20
University is pleased to announce the receipt of a $392,245 grant from=20
the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as part of its=20
"Recruiting and Educating Librarians for the 21st Century" program.  =20
The School is the only Ohio recipient and is one of only twenty-seven=20
institutions nationwide to receive an award. Dr. Greg Byerly and Dr.=20
Carolyn S. Brodie are recipients of the grant award.

The grant, =93New Librarians, New Leaders: Educating the Next Generation=20
of School Library Media Specialists and Young Adult Librarians,=94 will=20
provide for the recruitment and education of sixteen graduate library=20
school students.  Eight students seeking to become school library media=20
specialists and eight students interested in becoming young adult=20
librarians in public libraries will become part of a special youth=20
services cohort as a part of this project. =20

Students will receive full tuition scholarships and will be able to=20
complete their degree either at Kent, Columbus, or at one of three=20
external sites in Ohio over a 2 1/2 year period beginning next fall. =20
Students will also participate in state professional organizations and=20
conferences and will attend one national conference.

One unique aspect of this project is the creation of a cohort of youth=20
services librarians who will be trained to work with their counterpart,=20
whether in the school or public library.  Another unique aspect of this=20
project is the development of these individuals as leaders in=20
librarianship and collaboration. Since this project has a statewide=20
scope, instead of educating librarians for a specific library or=20
community, the impact will be broad and benefit a large number of=20
libraries and library patrons in Ohio.
=09=20
Four state library entities will partner with the School in this=20
project:  The State Library of Ohio, INFOhio, the Ohio Library Council,=20
and the Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA).  These=20
partners will work with the School to implement a multi-faceted=20
approach to recruit potential students and then inculcate them into the=20
library profession.  Recruitment will be statewide and will give=20
special attention to minorities and those interested in serving in=20
disadvantaged areas. =20

Further information about the program will be announced in early 2004=20
and will be posted on the School=92s web site (www.slis.kent.edu).

The grant awards were released today and are listed at www.imls.gov.

   =20


----------------------------------------
 Carolyn S. Brodie, MSE, MLS,=20
MEd, PhD
 Professor
 School of Library and Information=20
 Science
 Kent=20
State University
 Kent, OH  44242-0001
 Phone:  330-672-0012; Fax: =20
330-672-7965