Building upon past support that has included over $240 million in grants, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) launched, in November 2005, Museums and Libraries Engaging America’s Youth initiative. It focuses primarily on young people aged 9 – 19 and is analyzing past Institute grant-making initiatives, examining what works and developing case studies to explore best practices.
In August 2006, South Carolina’s federally funded statewide summer reading program was selected for case study development. The South Carolina State Library asked two of the state’s youth services librarians to serve as its representatives, Kristin Whitworth, Teen Librarian with the Greenville County Library System and Cathy Pruett, Youth Services Librarian with the Marion County Library. The two participated in a November 2006 IMLS workshop where researchers and policy makers joined with practitioners to learn how to best support efforts being undertaken at the local community level.
“It was overwhelmingly awesome to be at the same table with someone from the U.S. Department of Education, the Corporation from Public Broadcasting and the Director of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform,” said Whitworth. “I am very proud of what I have accomplished at the Greenville County Library System (GCLS). My presentation highlighted my teen advisory board and how their input helped make registration in teen summer reading at GCLS increase from 704 in 2005 to 1,299 in 2006. I also shared the 'Food Fear Factor' program, which the teen board helped design and produce. I felt that this spoke more directly to the workshop’s theme of Engaging America’s Youth.”
Pruett observed that one prevailing discussion focused on whether it was better to have a broad but shallow reach with one’s programming, or whether it was better to impact fewer students, but in a more profound way. “I believe we all must start from where we are,” said Pruett. “I tried to point out the library here (in Marion) is really the technology leader in the county and that students and adults both come to us for equipment they cannot afford and information they need our help to master. I also mentioned South Carolina's Library 2.0 initiative and how we are aware of the need to go beyond print and be available in many formats.”
When Jane Connor, the South Carolina State Library’s Youth Services Consultant, asked Pruett and Whitworth to share their impressions and experiences, Whitworth commented, “One thing we heard over and over was, ‘What can IMLS do to help you?’ Whitworth’s answer, “…create grants that provide funding for paid internships for young people that will allow them to get involved in their local libraries/museums/non-profit organizations.” Pruett’s response, “I believe that, as in the equitable funding in education lawsuit, we might better distribute future monies based upon a county's economic need.”
The South Carolina State Library is appreciative of the fine representation provided by Pruett and Whitworth. “It is because of librarians such as these ladies that any State Library is ever able to make a positive impact with any statewide program or project, “ said Guynell Williams, Federal Grant Coordinator for the South Carolina State Library. Judy Koke, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Learning Innovation and November workshop facilitator remarked, “The researchers and policy makers at the meeting were continually impressed and awed by the level of work being done in the community.”
Resources, links, and updates on the Institute’s Museums and Libraries Engaging America’s Youth initiative are available at http://www.imls.gov/youth. Published results of the Institute’s analyses and case studies are expected later this fall.
