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 viewed on the agency's Web site:
http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/110410.shtm. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2010

Press Contacts
202-653-4630
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask] 

202-585-0252
Jennifer Mandel, [log in to unmask] 

IMLS Holds 21st Century Skills Workshop at the San Francisco Public
Library

IMLS's Making the Learning Connection Campaign Brings Together Leading
Local Institutions  

Washington, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is
holding a workshop at the San Francisco Public Library on November 4 as
part of a national campaign aimed at engaging museums, libraries, and
civic leaders in meeting the 21st century learning needs of their
communities. Additional hosts include the Exploratorium and the San
Francisco Arts Commission. 

The national campaign, Making the Learning Connection, is intended to
assist communities as they build their capacity for helping individuals
of all ages acquire critical 21st century skills such as critical
thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, communication
and collaboration. The campaign includes an eight-city workshop tour, a
national contest, new online tools and resources, and a series of
interactive webinars.

The eight-city tour kicked off on June 21 at the Walters Art Museum in
Baltimore and continued with a workshop at the Richmond County Public
Library in Columbia, SC on August 20. The tour provides an opportunity
for museum, library, and other community leaders to discuss the 21st
century learning landscape of their city and explore strategies for
furthering 21st century learning goals.

"Libraries and museums are keenly focused on the challenges their
communities face and will create powerful foundations for implementing
and sustaining a community-wide vision for 21st century skills," said
Marsha L. Semmel, IMLS acting director. "At IMLS, we are pleased to
support institutions across the country that are focused on helping
learners of all ages acquire critical 21st century skills."

The Making the Learning Connection campaign is part of IMLS's continuing
initiative to engage libraries and museums, community stakeholders and
policymakers to meet the educational, economic, civic, and cultural
needs of communities. This campaign builds upon the release of Museums,
Libraries and 21st Century Skills
(http://www.imls.gov/pdf/21stCenturySkills.pdf), which provides an
online self-assessment for libraries and museums to encourage a
strategic approach to 21st century learning and a report for library and
museum practitioners and policymakers.

Workshop participants leave each session with a better understanding of
the role museums and libraries play in the learning landscape.
Participants will also begin drafting a map that documents some of the
work currently being done in the community around 21st century skills.


In the coming months, IMLS will announce the other workshop tour stops,
dates for webinars, and contest details.

To learn more about 21st century skills, please listen to Semmel's
podcast: http://www.imls.gov/resources/podcasts_Aug10.shtm 

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.
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 http://www.imls.gov. 

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