News Releases

June 22, 2007

Grant to Benefit Future Library Media Specialists

The Institute of Museum and Library Science announced today that Mansfield University Pennsylvania in partnership with Antioch University Seattle has received a $1 million grant to increase the number of school library media specialists by awarding 72 scholarships for master's degree programs to highly qualified teachers, particularly teachers from underrepresented groups. Of these scholarships, 45 totaling $320,000 will be awarded to Antioch University Seattle students who wish to pursue a Washington state school library endorsement through Antioch's master's degree program in education.

Mansfield and Antioch universities will collaborate with the Tacoma School District to offer this program onsite in Tacoma. In addition, the grant provides funds for a unique program to train up to 60 principals in library advocacy, as well as workshops for improving collaboration with and leadership skills of school library media specialists.

Since 2002, when First Lady Laura Bush announced support of a multi-million-dollar initiative to recruit new librarians, the Institute has funded 2,913 master's degree students and 178 doctoral students. The program is designed to address the shortage of school library media specialists, library school faculty and librarians working in underserved communities. The program also aims to prepare for an anticipated shortage of library leaders, many of whom are expected to retire in the next 20 years.

This collaboration demonstrates how cooperation between two universities – one a rural state university in Pennsylvania and one a private, urban satellite university in Washington – can result in a new delivery model for library education. Each university brings to the table its distinctive strengths and resources. Antioch Seattle excels in developing programs to recruit and retain people of color, in its ability to work with local urban school districts and in presenting opportunities to expand this model to other Antioch campuses in California, Ohio and New Hampshire. Mansfield offers its nationally recognized and accredited online School Library & Information Technologies graduate program, experience administering previous IMLS grants and its model advocacy program for principals.

This grant award is the result of three years of dedication by Dr. Christie Kaaland, Antioch Seattle's Library Media program coordinator, and Dr. Larry Nesbit of Mansfield University.

For more information about admission requirements and enrollment dates for the Library Media program in Tacoma, contact Kaaland at ckaaland@antiochseattle.edu or phone 206-268-4621.

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