Houston: Houston Public Library was recently awarded a $435,200 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as part of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The Library is one of 35 recipients nationwide who received this grant, of which only two are located in Texas. The Houston Public Library is the only public library to be awarded a grant through this program.
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grants are designed to help offset a current shortage of school library media specialists, library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved communities, as well as looming shortage of library directors and other senior librarians, many of whom are expected to retire in the next 20 years. The Houston Public Library's Fountain of Youth project will ensure that the Library addresses the challenge of offering outstanding youth services to Houston's youngest readers by providing project participants with scholarships to enroll in the University of North Texas' Master of Library Science (MLS) online degree program. In addition, participants will attend specialized trainings related to youth services and receive ongoing mentoring from designated Library staff.
The Houston Public Library is seeking five exceptional applicants to award its Fountain of Youth Project Scholarships. The following are some requirements the Library is looking for in qualified applicants:
Applicants must love children, books and libraries and have a strong commitment to provide exceptional services to the library's youngest customers. A Bachelor's Degree is required.
Bilingual applicants in Spanish, Chinese or Vietnamese will be given special consideration for this program.
Houston Public Library Is Seeking Five Exceptional Applicants For Its Fountain of Youth Project Scholarship Award Scholarship Application Deadline is Monday, October 2, 2006
Applicants selected for the scholarship will receive the following:
To be considered for a scholarship, all applicants must complete and submit application. Applications are available to download at www.houstonlibrary.org.
Applications must be postmarked by Monday, October 2, 2006 and sent to:
Rose V. Treviño, IMLS Project Director Houston Public Library 500 McKinney Houston, TX 77002
For more information, please contact Rose Treviño at Rose.Trevino@cityofhouston.net
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 15,000 museums. Its mission is to grow and sustain a “Nation of Learners” because life-long learning is essential to a democratic society and individual success. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.
For more information, please call the Houston Public Library at 832.393.1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.