The following is a text-only press release from the federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS). An HTML version of this release can
be read on the agency's Web site at
http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/042108.shtm.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2008
IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]
Plan Projects for Accountability with Shaping Outcomes Course
WASHINGTON, DC--Museum and library professionals are encouraged to
participate in Shaping Outcomes, a low-cost online course on
outcomes-based planning and evaluation (OBPE). The instructor-mediated
course, which will help participants improve program designs and
evaluations, was developed in 2007 through a cooperative agreement
between the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Indiana
University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Participants in Shaping Outcomes work at their own pace through five
interactive modules over approximately four weeks. The best time to take
the course is prior to applying for IMLS grants because it helps
applicants refine project purposes and evaluation plans. Upon completing
the course, museum and library professionals will be able to:
* Communicate program benefits to the community
* Determine which programs to expand, support, or replicate
* Promote partnerships and collaboration
* Attract new funding sources
Show the human impact of museum and library programs
* Articulate the purpose of their program clearly and open channels
for healthy discussion of key issues
* Produce grant proposals with data showing what a difference their
institutions are making in the community
* Measure effectiveness of current programs
IMLS is funding a number of Shaping Outcome scholarships for museum and
library professionals serving economically challenged populations.
Assistance is based characteristics of the parent institution and the
individual's commitment as reflected in a project proposal. People
interested in this option should email Shaping Outcomes staff. Without
the scholarship, the course costs $150 per person.
"We have found OBPE incredibly helpful in designing and evaluating our
programs," said Jane Pickering, Deputy Director and Assistant Director
for Public Programs at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. "It
provided a framework for us to think about what we were doing and why,
and, in particular, to identify the all important 'outcomes' as well as
the 'outputs' that we had been measuring. It enabled us to ask the right
questions of our audiences and refine our program to better serve their
needs." Pickering's remarks, and others who have taken the course, can
be found under the testimonial section of the Shaping Outcomes Web site.
For educators and librarians, "continuing education" units may be
available. To learn more or to register for the course, please explore
the Web site www.shapingoutcomes.org, or contact the project manager by
email at [log in to unmask] or through postal mail at:
Shaping Outcomes Continuing Education
755 W. Michigan St., UL 3100
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Voice: 317-278-2385
Fax: (317) 278-1807 (Call first)
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 122,000 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.
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