The following is a text-only press release from the federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS). An HTML version of this release and
photos can be viewed on the agency's Web site at:
http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/052109a.shtm

IMLS Convenes Meeting to Define Global Understanding Initiative

Washington, DC-Leaders of international cultural organizations,
libraries, museums, and schools met May 15 for an all-day brainstorming
session on how museums and public libraries can advance global
understanding and increase cross-cultural communications, particularly
among youth. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which
hosted the meeting, will translate the day's dialogue into a policy
statement highlighting the partnership role that museums and libraries
can play in linking global communities.

"Museums and libraries have an exceptional capacity to anchor
communities, inspire learning, promote dialogue, and strengthen global
awareness," said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, IMLS Director. "These cultural
institutions are essential partners in their local communities and the
time is right for them to become even more powerful partners linking the
global community."

"As the U.S. enters into a new era of international collaboration and
prepares itself for a renewed role in cultural diplomacy, it is
important that federal agencies like IMLS are drawing attention to the
role that museums and libraries can play," said Mrs. Harriet Mayor
Fulbright, widow of Senator J. William Fulbright, President of the J.
William and Harriet Fulbright Center. 

Goals of the meeting were to:
* Identify common goals and challenges and inspire collaboration;
* Develop awareness and build bridges between museums and libraries and
organizations whose experience includes cross-cultural communications
and development of global understanding;
* Develop the capacity of museum and libraries to contribute to
successful cross-cultural interaction and navigation of diverse
cultures;
* Focus attention on building global awareness among young people and
library and museum professionals, and;
* Identify possible policy, practice, communication, and resource
strategies.

To provide comments on museums and libraries' roles in advancing global
understanding and cross-cultural communications, please contact IMLS
Research Officer Mary Downs at [log in to unmask]

Participants were leaders in citizen diplomacy, international exchange,
youth development, community development, and the museum and library
fields, including the following members:

Anan Ameri
Director
Arab American National Museum
Dearborn, MI

Rick J. Ashton
Chief Operating Officer
Urban Libraries Council, Chicago, IL 

Peggy A. Bulger
Director
American Folklife Center
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 

Ginnie Cooper
Chief Librarian
District of Columbia Public Library
Washington, DC 

Alejandra de la Paz
Executive Director
Cultural Institute of Mexico
Washington, DC

Vishakha Desai 
President and CEO
Asia Society
New York, NY

Betsy Devlin-Foltz
Executive Director
Longview Foundation
Silver Spring, MD 

Michael Dowling
Director
International Relations Office and 
Chapter Relations Office
American Library Association
Chicago, IL 

Charlotte Eyerman
Executive Committee Member
French Regional and
American Museums Exchange
Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
Saint Louis Art Museum
St. Louis, MO 

Harriet Mayor Fulbright
President
The J. William and Harriet Fulbright Center
Arlington, VA

Silvia Blitzer Golombek
Senior Vice President
Youth Service America
Washington, DC

Elaine Heumann Gurian 
Senior Museum Consultant
Elaine Heumann Gurian LLC
Arlington, VA 

Frank Hodsoll
President and CEO
Resource Center for Cultural Engagement
Washington, DC

Ellen Holtzman
Program Director for American Art
Henry Luce Foundation
New York, NY 

Eric S. Howard 
Executive Director
Fulbright Academy of Science and Technology
Cape Elizabeth, ME

Ron Kagan
Executive Director and CEO
Detroit Zoological Society
Royal Oak, MI 

Christine M. Kalke
Senior Analyst and International Coordinator
National Endowment for the Humanities
Washington, DC 

Candace Katz
Interim Executive Director
President's Committee on the Arts and 
the Humanities
Washington, DC 

Richard Kurin
Under Secretary 
History Art, and Culture, Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC 

Erik Ledbetter
Director
International Programs and Ethics
American Association of Museums
Washington, DC

Bob Lynch
President and CEO
Americans for the Arts
Washington, DC 

Mary Kennedy McCabe
Executive Director
Mid-America Arts Alliance
Kansas City, MO 

Peter McFarren
CEO
Inter-American Culture and Development Foundation
Washington DC 

Sharon Memis
Director
British Council USA
Washington DC 

Henry Moran
Senior Consultant 
International Programs and Global Partnerships
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Washington, DC

Peggy O'Brien
Chief
Office of Family & Public Engagement
District of Columbia Public Schools
Washington, DC 

Pennie Ojeda
Director
International Activities
National Endowment for the Arts
Washington, DC

Malcolm Richardson
Senior Partnership Officer
National Endowment for the Humanities
Washington, DC 

Stephan Roman
Regional Director
West Europe and North America
British Council
Manchester, UK

Ann Olsen Schodde
Executive Director
US Center for Citizen Diplomacy
Des Moines, IA

Kathy Dwyer Southern
President and CEO
National Children's Museum
Washington, DC 

Patrice Walker-Powell
Acting Chairman
National Endowment for the Arts
Washington, DC 

Carole M. Watson
Acting Chairman
National Endowment for the Humanities
Washington, DC 

Allen Weinstein
Visiting Professor and
Former Archivist of the United States
College of Information Studies
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 

GladysAnn Wells
Director and State Librarian
Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records
Phoenix, AZ 

Mats Widbom
Cultural Counselor
Embassy of Sweden
Washington, DC 

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 www.imls.gov.

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