An interesting contrast to the scale of support for research shown by
MLA!

-----Original Message-----
From: Open Lib/Info Sci Education Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Eileen Maxwell
Sent: 05 October 2005 20:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: IMLS Announces Cooperative Agreement with Library Research
Center and Pew Internet & American Life Project for National Study


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2005

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]

Nearly Half a Million Dollars for University of Illinois and Pew
Research Center Internet Investigation

Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services funds national study of
how effectively public libraries provide government information to
Americans with limited Internet access

Washington, D.C.-The federal Institute of Museum and Library Services
announced a cooperative agreement today with the University of Illinois
Library Research Center (LRC) to investigate, in partnership with the
Pew Internet & American Life Project, how effectively public libraries
and community technology centers provide government information to
people with limited access to the Internet. The agency awarded $495,053
for the national study; findings and recommendations for improving
services to the public are expected in October 2007.

"A number of national studies have examined the demographic and
geographic factors affecting Internet behavior and use, most notably the
Pew Internet & American Life surveys," said Mary Chute, director of the
agency. "But little is known about how people with limited access to the
Internet find government information, what kinds of assistance are
available to them, and how information services to them can be
improved." This project will fill in these gaps through a national
telephone survey of users, surveys of libraries and community technology
centers, and case studies of exemplary organizations that provide access
to government information and related training and services.

The LRC, established in 1961, conducts research about libraries and
librarians' issues. Based at the Graduate School of Library and
Information Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, the
LRC specializes in social science approaches to data collection and
analysis. Among its recent clients are the Mellon Foundation, the
National Science Foundation, and the American Library Association.

The Pew Internet & American Life Project is a non-profit research center
supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The Project is exploring the
impact of the Internet on families, communities, work and home, daily
life, education, health care, and civic and political life. The Project
aims to be an authoritative source on the evolution of the Internet
through collection of data and analysis of real-world developments as
they affect the virtual world.

In January 2005, a report by the General Services Administration
recommended that the Institute of Museum and Library Services initiate a
study of the methods of effectively delivering government services
online. The Institute issued a request for proposals on May 20 and
received five applications, which were sent to a panel of reviewers. The
study will be led by Leigh Estabrook, former dean of the University of
Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science and current
director of the LRC. She will work in collaboration with Lee Rainie,
director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal
grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of
learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities. The
Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by
supporting the 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries in America. The
Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit
of libraries and museums. To learn more about the Institute, please
visit http://www.imls.gov.



Eileen Maxwell
Public Affairs Officer
Institute of Museum and Library Services
1800 M Street, NW
9th Floor
Washington, DC  20036-5802
202-653-4632
202-653-4600(fax)
[log in to unmask]

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