New York, NY – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $494,223 in new federal funding for Brooklyn Public Library. The funding was allocated through the Institute of Museum and Library Services’s Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. Specifically, Brooklyn Public Library will use the funding to create an internship program for 180 high school students in the field of library and information services. The program will be composed of a two-month summer program and a nine-month peer-leadership program, and will include educational workshops.
“Libraries like Brooklyn Public Library are vital to our democratic society because they provide citizens with access to literature, computers and other educational resources,” said U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer. “I am thrilled that the Institute of Museum and Library Services has provided over 59 branches of the Brooklyn Public Library with funding to launch an internship program for over 180 students in the field of library and information services. I look forward to seeing the future successes of the librarian internship program in my home borough of Brooklyn!”
“The lives of New York’s children are richer because of educational programs funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Brooklyn Public Library’s internship program will help expand new learning opportunities for students in the community, so they can grow up and reach their potential no matter what their background is or where in the city they live. I will continue to fight for federal funding like this that helps our children grow and develop.”
“The Librarians of Tomorrow internship program presents a terrific opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience at the library,” said Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson. “We thank the Institute of Museum and Library Services for helping to ensure that the librarians of tomorrow are as diverse as the communities they serve.”
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent, federal agency and the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. The IMLS’s mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. The agency’s grant-making, policy development, and research helps libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive.