Civic/Community Engagement
Libraries and museums build the civic strength of their communities and providing opportunities for public engagement.
Search the Awarded Grants database for grants to programs that strengthen civic/community engagement (issue areas have only been assigned to grants awarded since FY 2009)
National Initiative: National Medal for Museum and Library Services
The National Medal honors outstanding institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Selected institutions demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach.
Partnership: StoryCorps
Each year, select museums and libraries receive the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for these institutions. Beginning with the 2009 winners, personal stories demonstrating the ongoing impact of these award-winning institutions are being documented through a cooperative agreement between IMLS and StoryCorps.
Civic/community engagement content on the IMLS Web site:
September 28, 2012 09:32 AM
This past weekend, we had the opportunity to attend the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival with thousands of book lovers, poets, and authors, celebrating books that have shaped America. The new National Student Poets Program debuted at the National Book Festival with five outstanding high school poets.
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September 6, 2012 10:01 AM
Patricia Lannes and Kitty Bateman describe Queensborough Community College's Cultures & Literacies Through Art for the 21st Century (CALTA21), which builds partnerships between museums and institutions that teach English as a second language as a means of making art museums more accessible to immigrants.
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August 22, 2012 11:25 AM
Reductions in local post office hours may provide new opportunities for public libraries.
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August 7, 2012 01:33 PM
Art Beyond Sight and the Museum of Science, Boston, are using an IMLS National Leadership Grant to help museums pilot tools for becoming more accessible to people with disabilities.
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July 18, 2012 12:41 PM
We know that more than 80 percent of children in poverty are not reading at grade level by the third grade, and many other children are falling behind as well; libraries and museums are taking up the challenge to improve learning outcomes for young children.
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