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July 26, 2004

Randy Nehrt
Pat McGuckin

White Announces State Library Gets Grant to Implement
International Library Leadership Program

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that the Illinois State Library has received a $500,000 federal grant to develop and implement an international library leadership program that will bring together Illinois librarians and librarians representing 76 countries.

White said the State Library will partner with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Mortenson Center for International Library Programs to bring together Illinois librarians who have participated in the State Library's Synergy Library Leadership program and a group of librarians from among the 76 countries with which the Mortenson Center works. For two years the Illinois librarians will share knowledge and information aimed at developing library leaders in other countries. In a second phase, the State Library will work with the Mortenson Center to extend the training program to a group of mid-career librarians from Mexico. The two parties will also exchange cultural information to help assist Illinois librarians in serving the growing Mexican-American population in Illinois.

"I am proud that talented librarians from Illinois will use their skills and knowledge to help develop library leaders all over the world," White said. "Illinois librarians are truly part of a global information community, and this innovative program will help librarians everywhere to do an even better job of imparting the information their patrons need.

"The State Library has had a long and rewarding partnership with the Mortensen Center in bringing together Illinois librarians and librarians in other countries to exchange ideas and information. We are honored to work again with the Mortensen Center to develop new library leaders in every corner of the globe."

White said the Synergy Illinois Library Leadership Initiative, now in its third year, brings together a select group of Illinois librarians who participate in three intensive three-day seminars aimed at recruiting and nurturing future Illinois library leaders. Nearly 100 librarians have taken part in Synergy seminars so far, and they will meet with the foreign librarians to share ideas and information aimed at developing library leaders in other nations. The grant is being awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.