IMLS Grant

Information About The IMLS Grant
Institute of Museum and Library Services

Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program

Library Leadership Development Institute and the GOAL Program

Concept

The Library Leadership Development Institute and the Grow our Own Area Librarians (GOAL) Program in the 9 county Trans-Pecos area of Texas was partially funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.  The intent of the project is to increase the number of qualified librarians in the Trans-Pecos area.

Partners

The El Paso Public Library Association, Inc. is the grant applicant.  It serves as fiscal agent and administers the grant.  The El Paso Area Libraries Consortium, Inc. (EPAL) conducts the project and People Skills, Inc. provides training.

Library Leadership Development Institute

Office: The Institute is located at 812 N. Virginia Avenue, Suite A, El Paso, Texas 79902-5300.  Phone: 915-532-5588, Fax: 915-532-5599, E-mail: imlsgrant@yahoo.com, Web site: www.your-epal.org.  Office hours are 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Mountain Time Zone on weekdays except holidays.
 
Staff: Institute staff includes
Project Manager - Ruben Castaneda
Library Advisor - Joy Marion
Secretary - Ashley Meza
Grant Evaluator - Dr. Larry Brown.

The GOAL Program

Types of GOAL Program participants

Librarian in Training Volunteer Program:  Participants agree to complete 75 hours of hands-on volunteer training in a library close to them. Each participant will be assigned a mentor that will guide them through the experience of working in a library. This is a structured learning program that will expose volunteers to the core competencies of the Library & Information Science. Participants may be students, library workers, teachers, or other area residents who show an interest in and an aptitude for a future career in Library and Information Science (LIS).
**Download Application**

The College Program:  Fifteen different individuals per semester will agree to complete university courses leading toward a Library and Information Science (LIS) degree. Of these, 3 participants, enrolled full-time, will receive $2,500 scholarships and 12 part-time participants will receive up to a $1,000 tuition and book scholarship. A participant may receive more than one scholarship but must reapply each time. Coursework may be completed on-campus or by distance education. Undergraduate participants must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. Graduate level candidates must meet their departmental GPA requirements. Participants must agree to serve for 3 years in the LIS field in the Trans-Pecos area after graduation or pay back one-half the funds received through the grant. Participants are encouraged, but not required to volunteer time in a nearby library.
**Download Application**

Mentors

Mentors – Librarian in Training Volunteer Program: The Advisor will recruit librarians in the Trans-Pecos area to serve as Mentors. Mentors will help recruit participants, provide hands-on experience, guidance and counseling, maintain work records, and assist in other ways. The Mentor will provide experience to one or more participants who are interested in learning more about the LIS field and who have agreed to volunteer 75 hours in the Mentor’s library. A Mentor may serve more than one time. Mentors will be paid by their respective employers and the portion of their salary and fringe benefits devoted to the GOAL Program will serve as part of the in-kind match for the grant.
**Download Application**

Mentors – The College Program: The Advisor will recruit librarians in the Trans-Pecos area to serve as Mentors. Mentors will help recruit participants, provide hands-on experience, guidance and counseling, submit monthly time sheets, and assist in other ways. Participants will volunteer in the Mentor’s library as time permits. Contact with participants may be face-to-face, e-mail, telephone, and other methods. Participants will have chosen the LIS field as a career and agreed to work in the Trans-Pecos area for three years after graduation. Each Mentor will be paid by their respective employer and the portion of their salary and fringe benefits devoted to the GOAL Program will serve as part of the in-kind match for the grant. A Mentor may serve more than one time. EPAL members and Mentors will assist College Bound Program participants by helping them choose a career path and university coursework. They will also help them search for a job after graduation.
**Download Application**

Training Programs

People Skills, Inc. will conduct training programs for Librarian in Training Volunteer Program participants. These will provide a unique experience applicable to any work environment. The programs will be offered at participating libraries throughout the El Paso, Trans-Pecos area. The College Program participants, librarians, and others may attend the training, but CEU’s can not be offered as per grant restrictions (this is an IMLS recruitment grant, not an IMLS continuing education grant).

Evaluation:

Bennett’s Hierarchy of evaluation will be used and includes 7 layers of measurement ranging from “Were program resources used as intended?” to “Was there an increase in the number of librarians or potential librarians in the Trans-Pecos area?”

Dissemination:

EPAL members will share information about the Institute and the GOAL program at the various meetings they attend, submit formal requests to their various associations to present workshops and seminars, submit articles for publication, and develop a DVD presentation. Information will also be included on the partners’ web pages. All required reports and other information will be submitted by staff through the Library Association. Project information will be shared with others upon request.

For More Information:

Contact information is listed above.  The GOAL Participant Application Form may be found on the EPAL web site www.your-epal.org.