FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2005

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Museums and Libraries: Engaging America's Youth

WASHINGTON, DC - Calling museums and libraries “essential to helping America’s youth succeed in school and in life,” Mary L. Chute, Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services launched a new initiative to focus on Museums and Libraries Engaging America’s Youth at the sixth meeting of the National and Library Services Board. Special guests Robert Flores, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and Karen Pittman, Executive Director of the Forum for Youth Investment, underscored the importance of creating communities where children have opportunities to learn and belong.

The Experts
Youth development experts and public policy makers increasingly recognize the importance of community institutions in formal learning as well as the informal learning that can take place after and out of school.

Mr. Flores invited museums and libraries to work with one another while highlighting the recently-released “Community Guide to Helping America’s Youth” (www.helpingamericasyouth.gov). The guide helps communities assess their needs and resources, build partnerships, and find program designs that can be replicated. It identifies the steps involved for building strong support for youth. “An environment in which books and learning are important to our youth will foster excitement and a brighter outlook for tomorrow,” said Flores. “All community systems must operate at optimal levels to support youth. Museums and libraries can be the impetus our young people need to make positive life choices.”

Ms. Pittman noted that “young people don’t grow up in programs but in families and communities.” She pointed out that young people spend only about one-third of their time in schools and talked about the importance of filling out of school time productively. It is important that all community settings take what is known about young people and how they develop and apply it to their work. She shared the Forum for Youth Investment’s Core Assumptions about Youth, which summarizes key research to inform communities about what they need to ensure that all children and youth achieve their full potential (www.forumforyouthinvestment.org). She asked, “How can libraries and museums create community settings that are more supportive of youth?”

The Role of Museums and Libraries
Libraries and museums that make serving youth central to their mission can help young people acquire twenty-first century skills like increasing global awareness, building information literacy and increasing self-reliance. They can help young people learn about and express cultural traditions and connect to history, art, culture and science both online and in their communities. Libraries and museums can provide opportunities for civic engagement that involve family, schools and community partners.

Libraries and museums that engage young people also benefit; youth bring vitality and help cultural institutions stay relevant and build lasting community relationships. By working with young people both in and out of school, libraries and museums can make a difference in the lives of America’s youth and in the quality of community life.

The Initiative
In the coming year the Institute will place a spotlight on the role of Museums and Libraries Engaging America’s Youth. This initiative will build upon past support in this area, which has included research, convenings, publications, and over $240 million in grants over the past six years. The initiative will focus primarily on young people aged 9 – 19. It will examine what works, share best practices, encourage more effective programming, and build bridges among libraries, museums, and public policy makers.

During the next year the Institute will analyze its past grant-making, develop case studies to explore best practices, provide monthly updates with project profiles, resources and tips on its web site, and encourage the development of new models through its National Leadership Grant program. Next fall the Institute will convene a national conference and publish the results of its analyses and case studies.

The Institute invites other federal agencies and a wide range of non-governmental organizations representing public policy and youth development to become partners and highlight how libraries and museums can help connect young people to information and ideas, support families and schools, and stimulate learning for life.

Resources, links, and updates on the Institute’s Museums and Libraries Engaging America’s Youth initiative are available at http://www.imls.gov/youth.

View Museums and Libraries Engaging in America's Youth (PowerPoint Presentation)