OCLC has received grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to advance and sustain professional development and continuing education for information workers across the United States.
The grants will support continued work of the Coalition to Advance Learning in Archives, Libraries, and Museums to produce strategies for effective staff learning programs, and will identify new opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration among archives, library and museum organizations.
The Coalition was first convened in Arlington, Virginia, in March 2014, through an initial IMLS investment of $289,000, which supports work through March 2015. The Gates Foundation grant of $266,000, and supplemental funding from IMLS of $149,000, will bolster Coalition activities and extend them through October 2015.
“At the time when it is most needed, the financial viability of continuing education and professional development is challenged by dwindling federal, state and local resources,” said Chrystie Hill, Director, OCLC Community Relations. “With the support of our partners at the Gates Foundation and IMLS, the Coalition will work to ensure that staff in libraries, archives and museums are equipped to lead learning initiatives in their local communities throughout the United States.”
The Coalition is now working to publish a joint strategy that will support the shared vision of cross-sector collaboration, and document a plan for well-coordinated, sustainable and effective continuing education and professional development for the field.
More information about the Coalition can be found at http://coalitiontoadvancelearning.org, and up-to-date news will be shared via the Coalition’s Twitter feed at @LAMCoalition.
