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/2007/121707a.shtm.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2007
IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]
IMLS Issues Groundbreaking Study on Youth Programs in Museums and
Libraries
WASHINGTON, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services is proud to
announce the release of Museums and Libraries Engaging America's Youth:
Final Report of a Study of IMLS Youth Programs, 1998-2003. The study,
which is part of IMLS's initiative, Museums and Libraries Engaging
America's Youth, examined Institute-funded programs for youth aged 9-19
and surveyed nearly 400 museum and library programs about their goals,
strategies, impact, and outcomes.
The year-long study was conducted for IMLS by the Institute for Learning
Innovation (ILI), a nonprofit learning research organization based in
Edgewater, MD, that focuses on understanding informal learning.
Workshops were held at IMLS offices with a Youth Action Committee (see
http://www.imls.gov/about/youth_build.shtm) and representatives of
select grants to develop a set of case studies to illustrate effective
practices. Companion publications in the Nine to Nineteen: Youth in
Museums and Libraries series include a practitioners' guide and a policy
brief set for release in 2008.
"Young people respond to appropriate structure, positive relationships,
and a sense of accomplishment - and they need more than schools alone
can offer. Libraries and museums help fill the gaps through
complementary leadership, rich resources, and effective programs," said
Anne-Imelda Radice, PhD, Director of IMLS.
Museums and libraries bring unique assets to youth development,
according to the study. They include dedicated, knowledgeable staff;
authentic objects, artifacts, and information resources; opportunities
for personalized, hands-on learning; support for cognitive and social
development; and experiences to help parents, families, and caregivers
make learning fun and rewarding. According to the study, the most
effective youth programs:
* include long-term, trusting, supportive relationships between
and among youth,
staff, and other adults;
* partner with community-based organizations and other cultural
institutions;
* substantively involve youth in program design and decision
making; and,
* regularly assess or evaluate, using what's learned to improve
the program and
strengthen other youth development efforts.
IMLS has a long-standing commitment to funding grants and sponsoring
research on the subject of how both preschool and school-age children
learn, and how museums and libraries support such learning. Grants are
awarded through two programs: discretionary and state programs. Between
1998 and 2003, through its discretionary grant programs, IMLS funded an
estimated $25 million in grants that engaged youth aged 9-19 in
productive educational activities that improved their skills and
relationships. For the same period, through its state program, IMLS
funded an estimated $214 million in programs to support youth services.
To read the complete study, please go to
http://www.imls.gov/pdf/YouthReport.pdf.
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 http://www.imls.gov.
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