Queensborough Community College Receives Institute of Museum and Library Services Grant
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced 42 grants totaling $10,431,610 to support libraries across the nation. The grants were awarded through the FY2018 first cycle of the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.
Queensborough Community College was awarded one of these highly-competitive grants totaling $35,021 to fund the research project, “Community College Librarians and the ACRL Framework.” Susan Wengler, Assistant Professor in the Library Department at Queensborough, submitted the planning grant proposal and will act as the project’s principal investigator.
The project will explore the continuing education needs of community college librarians as related to their teaching activity and the recently adopted Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (Framework).
“The Framework document is intended for use by all academic librarians. But the design and delivery of information literacy curriculum can vary greatly by institution type,” Wengler said. “Academic librarians who teach at two-year schools face unique challenges relative to those at four-year colleges and universities. By focusing on the community college librarian experience, this study may identify gaps in the Framework’s current deployment which could then be addressed through targeted continuing education.”
Three research questions will be addressed: 1) How do community college librarians describe their understanding of the ACRL Framework? 2) How do community college librarians describe their current use of the ACRL Framework in information literacy instruction? 3) How do community college librarians describe their confidence level in incorporating the ACRL Framework into information literacy instruction?
This mixed-method study will gather data from a national survey of community college librarians as well as from interviews. Findings from this needs assessment will inform the development and implementation of training programs and online learning modules.
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program supports the recruitment and education of the next generation of librarians, faculty and library leaders. IMLS is awarding $4,660,928 of the $17.2 million requested to fund 16 projects, including “Community College Librarians and the ACRL Framework.”
IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. IMLS advances, supports, and empowers America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. The IMLS vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook (link is external) and Twitter (link is external).
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