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44–215 PDF 2008

EXAMINING THE ROLE OF MUSEUMS AND

LIBRARIES IN STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES

HEARING

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTHY 

FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES 

COMMITTEE ON 

EDUCATION AND LABOR

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

HEARING HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC, SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

Serial No. 110–109

Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor

(

Available on the Internet: 

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/house/education/index.html 

(II)

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR 

GEORGE MILLER, California, Chairman

Dale E. Kildee, Michigan, Vice Chairman 

Donald M. Payne, New Jersey 

Robert E. Andrews, New Jersey 

Robert C. ‘‘Bobby’’ Scott, Virginia 

Lynn C. Woolsey, California 

Rube ́n Hinojosa, Texas 

Carolyn McCarthy, New York 

John F. Tierney, Massachusetts 

Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio 

David Wu, Oregon 

Rush D. Holt, New Jersey 

Susan A. Davis, California 

Danny K. Davis, Illinois 

Rau ́l M. Grijalva, Arizona 

Timothy H. Bishop, New York 

Linda T. Sa ́nchez, California 

John P. Sarbanes, Maryland 

Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania 

David Loebsack, Iowa 

Mazie Hirono, Hawaii 

Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania 

John A. Yarmuth, Kentucky 

Phil Hare, Illinois 

Yvette D. Clarke, New York 

Joe Courtney, Connecticut 

Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire 

Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon, California, 

Senior Republican Member 

Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin 

Peter Hoekstra, Michigan 

Michael N. Castle, Delaware 

Mark E. Souder, Indiana 

Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan 

Judy Biggert, Illinois 

Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania 

Ric Keller, Florida 

Joe Wilson, South Carolina 

John Kline, Minnesota 

Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington 

Kenny Marchant, Texas 

Tom Price, Georgia 

Luis G. Fortun ̃ o, Puerto Rico 

Charles W. Boustany, Jr., Louisiana 

Virginia Foxx, North Carolina 

John R. ‘‘Randy’’ Kuhl, Jr., New York 

Rob Bishop, Utah 

David Davis, Tennessee 

Timothy Walberg, Michigan 

[Vacancy]

Mark Zuckerman, Staff Director 

Sally Stroup, Republican Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTHY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES 

CAROLYN McCARTHY, New York, Chairwoman

Yvette D. Clarke, New York 

Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire 

Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio 

Rau ́l M. Grijalva, Arizona 

John P. Sarbanes, Maryland 

Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania 

John A. Yarmuth, Kentucky 

Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania, 

Ranking Minority Member 

Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon, California 

Kenny Marchant, Texas 

Luis G. Fortun ̃ o, Puerto Rico 

David Davis, Tennessee 

[Vacancy] 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

Hearing held on September 11, 2008 ..................................................................... 1

Statement of Members: 

Altmire, Hon. Jason, a Representative in Congress from the State of 

Pennsylvania, prepared statement of .......................................................... 51

Davis, Hon. Danny K., a Representative in Congress from the State 

of Illinois, prepared statement of ................................................................ 51

Davis, Hon. David, a Representative in Congress from the State of Tennessee, prepared statement of ..................................................................... 57

McCarthy, Hon. Carolyn, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities ................................................................................... 1

Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 2

Additional submissions: 

Prepared statement of the American Library Association ............. 69

Prepared statement of Ford W. Bell, DVM, president, American 

Association of Museums ................................................................. 74

Platts, Hon. Todd Russell, Senior Republican Member, Subcommittee 

on Healthy Families and Communities, prepared statement of ............... 4

Statement of Witnesses: 

Jolly, Dr. Eric J., president, Science Museum of Minnesota ........................ 30

Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 32

Additional submissions: 

Answers to questions submitted ....................................................... 58

‘‘Engagement, Capacity and Continuity: An Overview of a Trilogy 

for Student Success’’ ....................................................................... 76

‘‘Family Learning in Museums: Perspectives on a Decade of Research,’’ by Kirsten M. Ellenbogen, K.M., et al ............................ 79

‘‘Scientific Literacy—It’s Not Just for Scientists,’’ by Dr. Jolly, 

St. Pioneer Press, August 17, 2008 ............................................... 86

Memo: ‘‘Report on Findings of Research,’’ dated March 7, 2001 .... 87

‘‘Learning Outside of Schools,’’ by Kirsten Ellenbogen, Ph.D., 

Science Museum of Minnesota ...................................................... 92

LeBlanc, Suzanne, Long Island Children’s Museum ..................................... 13

Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 15

Additional submissions: 

‘‘Quick Response Memo, Be Together, Learn Together,’’ dated 

July 28, 2008, Internet address ..................................................... 93

‘‘Child’s Play,’’ by Heidi Waleson ...................................................... 93

Letter of support from Louise Skolnik, DSW, director, Health 

& Human Services, Nassau County, NY ...................................... 97

‘‘The Slender Golden Threat, 100 Years Strong,’’ by Suzanne 

LeBlanc ............................................................................................ 98

Diagrams of Supervised Visitation Room ........................................ 104

The Big Chair: Storytelling chair for Supervised Visitation Room 106

Kick Start: Long Island Children’s Museum ................................... 106

‘‘Be Together, Learn Together: A Partnership of the Long Island 

Children’s Museum,’’ the Nassau County Department of 

Health and Human Services and Nassau County Family 

Court ................................................................................................ 107

‘‘Suozzi Unveils ‘No Wrong Door’ for Nassau County Residents,’’ 

dated November 29, 2004 .............................................................. 114

Nunez, Anna, Arizona Health Science Library librarian, University of 

Arizona ........................................................................................................... 26

Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 28

Page

IV

Statement of Witnesses—Continued

Nunez, Anna, Arizona Health Science Library librarian, University of 

Arizona—Continued

Additional submissions: 

Answers to questions submitted ....................................................... 63

‘‘Turning the Page: UA Program Helping Minority Students Put 

New Faces on Librarians,’’ Arizona Daily Wildcat ...................... 115

Knowledge River Impact Study, December 22, 2006 ...................... 116

‘‘WE Search Progress: Final, Appendix 2,’’ by Aaron J. Valdivia, 

et al .................................................................................................. 130

‘‘UA Pushes for More Minority Librarians,’’ Tucson Citizen, January 4, 2007 .................................................................................... 134

Radice, Anne-Imelda M., director, Institute of Museum and Library Services .................................................................................................................. 7

Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 8

Additional submissions: 

Answers to questions submitted ....................................................... 64

‘‘Charting the Landscape, Mapping New Paths: Museums, Libraries, and K-12 Learning,’’ August 2004, Internet address ..... 135

‘‘InterConnections: The IMLS National Study on the Use of Libraries, Museums and the Internet,’’ February 2008, Internet 

address ............................................................................................ 135

‘‘True Needs True Partners,’’ 2002 survey highlights, Internet 

address ............................................................................................ 135

‘‘Nine to Nineteen, Youth in Museums and Libraries: A Practitioner’s Guide,’’ April 2008, Internet address .............................. 136

Zales, Mary Clare, commissioner for libraries, State of Pennsylvania ........ 19

Prepared statement of ............................................................................... 21

Additional submissions: 

Answers to questions submitted ....................................................... 67

‘‘New Report: Libraries Improve Technology Access for Communities Nationwide,’’ September 2, 2008 ......................................... 136

‘‘School Libraries Work!’’ Research Foundation paper, Internet 

address ............................................................................................ 147

(1)

EXAMINING THE ROLE OF

MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES IN 

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES 

Thursday, September 11, 2008

U.S. House of Representatives 

Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities 

Committee on Education and Labor 

Washington, DC

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 9:29 a.m., in room 

2175, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Carolyn McCarthy 

[chairwoman of the subcommittee] presiding. 

Present: Representatives McCarthy, Clarke, Kucinich, Grijalva, 

Sarbanes, Platts, and Davis. 

Staff present: Tylease Alli, Hearing Clerk; Adrienne Dunbar, 

Education Policy Advisor; ; David Hartzler, Systems Administrator; 

Fred Jones, Staff Assistant, Education; Jessica Kahanek, Press Assistant; Deborah Koolbeck, Policy Advisor, Subcommittee on 

Healthy Families and Communities; Rachel Racusen, Communications Director; Margaret Young, Staff Assistant, Education; Stephanie Arras, Minority Legislative Assistant; Cameron Coursen, Minority Assistant Communications Director; Chad Miller, Minority 

Professional Staff; Susan Ross, Minority Director of Education and 

Human Services Policy; Linda Stevens, Minority Chief Clerk/Assistant to the General Counsel; and Sally Stroup, Minority Staff 

Director. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY [presiding]. A quorum is present. The 

hearing of the subcommittee will come to order. Pursuant to committee rule 12-A, any member may submit an opening statement 

in writing, which will be made part of the permanent record. 

Before we begin, I would like everyone to take a moment to ensure their cellphones and BlackBerrys are on ‘‘silent.’’

I now recognize myself, followed by the congressman, Mr. Davis, 

from Tennessee, for an opening statement. I want to begin this 

hearing by recognizing this important day in American history. 

September 11, 2001 changed the life of each citizen, and the 

course of our nation. We have not forgotten, nor will we forget, the 

lives lost on that day. We extend our deep gratitude to the firstresponders, who sacrificed their health and their lives to help the 

victims that day. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends who 

lost loved ones in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. 

2

Please join me for a moment of silence in the remembrance of our 

fallen citizens. [Pause.] 

Thank you. 

I would like to welcome everyone to this hearing—as another 

school year gets underway—this hearing is of particular importance. Libraries and museums contribute to the health and the welfare of the community, year-round. 

This summer, many of us visited a museum while on vacation, 

or spent more time in our local library with our children, getting 

books or participating in programs. This fall, many teachers will 

engage in museum-based professional development, and students 

will attend museum programs and libraries that are filled with 

both teachers and students, busy with schoolwork and research. 

I wanted to hold this hearing now because it is a good time for 

members of Congress to examine the role that both libraries and 

museums play in strengthening our communities. Libraries not 

only provide a vast amount of knowledge, ready, available to the 

community, for free, but they also serve as locations for groups to 

meet and for people to connect to the Internet. 

Community members can also attend workshops and programs 

addressing everything from cake decorating to workforce development and professional education. Libraries are safe places for our 

children to go after school and on the weekends, and serve as a 

place where generations can gather and learn form each other. 

Museums serve the community in similar ways. Museums are diverse in their subject and form, and contribute to communities by 

collecting, interpreting, and preserving items and ideas important 

to this country and to the world. Museums engage visitors and they 

ignite the imagination of the young and the old alike. 

Part of the challenge of a museum is to store and preserve its 

collection for future generations to explore firsthand the world of 

today, and of our past. As with all institutions, libraries and museums evolve over time; for example, what was once card catalogs are 

now computer databases, searchable from home, on the Internet. 

The needs of our communities are also changing. And, thus, the 

role of libraries and museums must change to serve and strengthen 

the community in which it resides. In fact, many libraries and museums have seen communities expand through the use of the Internet. Thus, libraries and museum need to be innovative in the ways 

of serving the community in which a library or a museum resides 

as a fellow citizen and community member. 

Today, we will learn of innovation, creative activities undertaken 

by libraries and museums to serve communities, as well as to participate in addressing community needs and challenges. 

I now would like to recognize Mr. Davis, for his opening statement.

Prepared Statement of Hon. Carolyn McCarthy, Chairwoman, 

Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities 

I want to begin this hearing by recognizing this important day in American history. September 11, 2001, changed the life of each citizen and the course of our nation. We have not forgotten nor will we forget the lives lost on that day. We extend 

our deep gratitude to the first responders who sacrificed their health and their lives 

to help the victims that day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and 

friends who lost loved ones in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. Please 

join me for a moment of silence in remembrance of our fallen citizens. 

3

Thank you. 

I’d like to welcome everyone to this hearing. As another school year gets underway and, this hearing is of particular importance. Libraries and museums contribute to the health and welfare of a community year round. 

This summer, many of us visited a museum while on vacation or spent more time 

in our local library with our children getting books or participating in programs, 

This fall, many teachers will engage in museum-based professional development and 

students will attend museum programs and libraries that are filled with both teachers and students busy with school work and research. 

I wanted to hold this hearing now because it is a good time for Members of Congress to examine the role that both libraries and museums play in strengthening 

our communities. 

Libraries not only provide vast amount of knowledge readily available to the community for free, but they also serve as locations for groups to meet and for people 

to connect to the internet. Community members can also attend workshops and programs addressing everything from cake decorating to workforce development and 

professional education. 

Libraries are safe places for kids to go after school and on the weekends, and 

serve as a place where generations can gather and learn from each other. 

Museums serve the community in similar ways. Museums are diverse in subject 

and form, and contribute to communities by collecting, interpreting, and preserving 

items and ideas important to this country and the world. Museums engage visitors 

and ignite the imagination of young and old alike. Part of the charge of a museum 

is to store and preserve its collection for future generations to explore first-hand the 

world of today, and of our past. As with all institutions, libraries and museums 

evolve over time. 

For example, what were once card catalogues are now computer databases searchable from home on the Internet. The needs of our communities are also changing, 

and thus the role of libraries and museums must change to serve and strengthen 

the community in which it resides. In fact, many libraries and museums have seen 

communities expand through the use of the internet. Thus, libraries and museum 

need to be innovative in the ways of serving the community in which a library or 

a museum resides as a fellow citizen and community member. 

Today we will learn of innovative, creative activities undertaken by libraries and 

museums to serve communities as well as to participate in addressing community 

needs and challenges. 

Mr. DAVIS. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 

Good morning. 

And let me extend a warm welcome to our distinguished panel 

of witnesses. Welcome. 

Before we begin, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the 

somber anniversary being marked today. Seven years ago, our nation was forever changed by the murderous acts of a band of terrorists, determined to undermine our very way of life. 

I am proud of how our nation responded, with selfless acts of patriotism and courage, and a determination to maintain our freedom, and to defeat those who attack our citizens and our values. 

As we take this opportunity today to look at institutions that 

strengthen our communities, we must all remember that those 

strong communities have stood in the face of terrorism, and maintained the power of the American spirit. 

We are here early this morning to discuss the tremendous roles 

that museums and libraries play in strengthening our nation’s local 

communities. I particularly look forward to hearing from the Institute of Museums and Library Services, who will discuss their support of IMLS programs, and how they assist various museums and 

libraries with achieving their missions and goals. 

Our nation’s museums and libraries have, historically, played a 

vital role in helping society experience, explore, discover, and make 

4

sense of an ever-changing world. Today, their role is more essential 

than ever. 

Through building technology infrastructure and strengthening 

community relationships, museums and libraries can offer the public unprecedented access and expertise in transforming information 

overload into knowledge. 

In many communities across America, the local library is the 

only place people of all ages and backgrounds can find and freely 

use the diverse set of resources, with the expert guidance of librarians. And far too often, the hometown library serves as the only 

public access to the Internet. 

Not to be left out, the treasures of our nation’s museums enable 

people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artifacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for our society. 

As you know, Madam Chairwoman, I am sitting in today for Mr. 

Platts. I would like to ask unanimous consent to submit his opening statement for the record. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Granted. 

[The statement of Mr. Platts follows:]

Prepared Statement of Hon. Todd Russell Platts, a Representative in 

Congress From the State of Pennsylvania 

Good morning. Welcome to our hearing on ‘‘Strengthening Community Museums 

and Libraries.’’

Almost five years ago, Congress reauthorized the Museum and Library Services 

Act. This legislation provides federal support for museums and libraries across the 

country. I believe this law made positive improvements to federal programs for libraries and museums by ensuring coordination between library and museum programs, as well as consolidating smaller programs to increase government efficiency. 

I am pleased that we are holding this hearing today to learn more about how the 

legislation has impacted the Institute of Museums and Libraries. Both libraries and 

museums provide substantial benefits to the communities in which they reside. Libraries are especially valuable in rural communities in which individuals have less 

access to research resources. In addition, libraries provide disabled individuals with 

specialized materials and resources that they may not be able to access elsewhere. 

Museums ensure that citizens stay connected to their communities by providing opportunities for families to engage in history. I am honored to represent Gettysburg 

National Military Park, which just opened a new museum featuring artifacts and 

stories from the Civil War. 

I look forward to hearing testimony regarding the innovative ways by which community libraries and museums have provided resources to families across the nation. I also look forward to hearing from Ms. Mary Clare Zales regarding the many 

library programs across my home state of Pennsylvania. 

Finally, I would like to thank our distinguished panel for joining us today and 

providing us with their insight and first hand experiences with library and museum 

programs. With that, I yield back to Chairwoman McCarthy. 

Mr. DAVIS. Once again, I would like to thank the witnesses for 

being here to discuss this important topic. I look forward to your 

testimony. 

Thank you, Madam Chairwoman McCarthy. And I yield back. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you, Mr. Davis. 

Without objection, all members will have 14 days to submit additional materials or questions for the hearing record. 

I would like to introduce our witnesses. Today, we will hear from 

a panel of witnesses. 

Your testimonies will proceed in the order that I introduce you. 

5

I would like to introduce our first witness, Dr. Radice—great. 

Let me explain something. I just got hearing aids on Monday, so 

I have got a terrible feedback going into my ears. So I am having 

problems adjusting to the mic, and to my ears. 

She has been the director of the Institute of Museum and Library 

Services, better known as IMLS, since 2005. She comes to IMLS as 

a distinguished art and architectural historian, museum professional and administrator. Immediately prior to directing IMLS, she 

served as acting assistant chairman for programs of the National 

Endowment for the Humanities. 

Among her many other positions, she has served as the first director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the only museum in the world exclusively dedicated to displaying works by 

women of all periods and nationalities. Today, she will give us an 

overview of the mission and the programs of IMLS, sharing with 

us how IMLS connects people to information and ideas. 

I am proud to introduce our next witness, a constituent of mine, 

from Long Island, Ms. LeBlanc. She is the director of the Long Island Children’s Museum, located in Nassau County. Before coming 

to Nassau County, she served as executive director of the Discovery 

Children’s Museum in Las Vegas. 

Throughout her career she has been a strong advocate for the importance of the arts in the lives of children and families. She is 

among the 50 most influential businesswomen on Long Island. 

Today, she will tell us about IMLS, a funded program, where the 

Long Island Children’s Museum has been working with the Nassau 

County Department of Social Services and Family Court. 

Welcome. 

Our next witness is Ms. Mary Clare Zales. She was appointed by 

the governor of Pennsylvania in 2004 to serve as the deputy secretary for libraries at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

In this position, she provides leadership and a vision to school, 

public and the academic libraries, in meeting the information, education and enrichment needs of all Pennsylvanians. 

As deputy, she oversees the state library of Pennsylvania, one of 

four major research libraries of the state. The state library has recently completed a refocus of its mission, placing an emphasis on 

its historical collections, and becoming the designated library for 

Pennsylvania-related materials and resources. Today, she will discuss the activities of libraries to strengthen both rural and urban 

communities across Pennsylvania. 

Next, I will yield to my colleague, Congressman Grijalva, to introduce the next witness. 

Mr. GRIJALVA. Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and let me, 

at the outset, extend my apologies to the witnesses, and to yourself, 

Madam Chair, for having to leave this meeting. I am chairing a 

subcommittee meeting that won’t be as enlightening and as informative as this one. But I need to be there. 

Let me just say that it is an honor for me to introduce our next 

witness, who is a dear friend of mine and my family’s, and a strong 

community advocate on behalf of neighborhoods, fighting the issue 

of health disparities, and making education and library services accessible to all. 

6

Annabelle Nunez is from my hometown of Tucson, and my neighborhood. I have to be particularly gracious. She is also the president of our neighborhood association. 

She is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the School of 

Information Resources and Library Science, Knowledge River program—a graduate of that first cohort of students that went 

through that program. Well, she was a student in the program, and 

she was actively involved in the recruitment and retention activities for Knowledge River students, served as a peer advisor to other 

Knowledge River students. 

She continues to work with that—mentoring Knowledge River interns. She is a co-advisor and program manager to Knowledge 

River Student Mentors, who work with Native American and 

Latino youths in a teen-community health-information institute to 

explore health-sciences librarianship, and provide community 

health services. 

I think Annabelle’s experiences—work—is a shining example of 

the benefits of investing in our libraries, and working on programs 

that expand diversity and increase the professional capacity of our 

libraries. Our community advocacy has increased in different avenues because of her work in Knowledge River. 

She currently works at the University of Arizona, Arizona Health 

Sciences Library, where she works to reduce cultural and financial 

barriers to a good health and preventive care among Latinos. 

I am very proud of her work in our community. I am very proud 

of the work that the University of Arizona is doing with Knowledge 

River. 

And thank you, Madam Chair, for this opportunity to introduce 

a constituent, and a friend, to this hearing. And please accept my 

apology for having to leave the meeting early. Thank you very 

much. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. You are quite welcome. Thank you. 

Our next witness, Dr. Eric Jolly, comes to us from the Science 

Museum of Minnesota, where he serves as the first Native American president of that institution. He is also known nationally and 

internationally for his contributions to mathematics and science 

education, and is a published author in these areas. 

Dr. Jolly also serves on numerous advisory boards, including 

those for the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Task Force 

on Technology and Disability. 

Today, he will share with us the work of the Science Museum of 

Minnesota to strengthen not only the local community, but the 

state of Minnesota and the nation. 

I want to thank you all for being here. Please do not take as an 

insult that we don’t have a lot of members here. As many of you 

know, there is a memorial service going on at the Pentagon, and 

most of our colleagues are there. 

For those of you who have not testified before the subcommittee, 

let me please explain our lighting system. In front of you, there is 

a lighting system that will be green, yellow and red. Members and 

panelists will have 5 minutes. That will be either questionings or 

explaining the answers. 

7

When you see the yellow light, please start to look to winding 

down your testimony. We will probably be a little more flexible; I 

am, on this committee. We will give you an extra minute or so. But 

we do want to hear from your testimony. 

I already did that. 

Please be certain, as you testify, to turn on the mics so that everybody in the audience can hear you. 

We now will hear from our first witness. 

STATEMENT OF ANNE–IMELDA M. RADICE, DIRECTOR, 

INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES (IMLS) 

Ms. RADICE. Madam Chairwoman and members of the subcommittee, American libraries and museums are institutions trusted by our local, national and international communities. They are 

depositories of great treasures, knowledge and centers of learning 

that engage communities and give stability to our culture. 

Today, we pause, and we reflect about horrible events 7 years 

ago. However, museums and libraries were some of the first institutions that began a process to heal, contextualize and provide forums for dialogue to help us reunite with the world. 

Whether through the simple and beautiful connections made between the Louisiana Children’s Museum and that of New York, or 

providing places to just be together, these community institutions 

engage. They continue, now, to use knowledge and community 

interaction to battle prejudice and ignorance. 

I am proud to serve as the director of the Institute of Museum 

and Library Services, the primary source of federal leadership and 

funding for almost 18,000 museums, which range from zoos and 

aquaria to those that serve art, history and science, and of the over 

122,000 libraries. 

Through grants, convenings, research and real partnerships with 

other private organizations and federal agencies, such as the Arts 

Endowment for the Big Read, or the Humanities Endowment for 

Picturing America, just to name two of the over 20 real partnerships we have; through innovative initiatives, a lively Web site, activities of an engaged board, our national medal recognition of the 

best of the best, we have been, and we are strategic in how we expend taxpayer dollars; we expand capacity. 

Our administrative operations emphasize accountability and 

transparency. We expect that of our grantees, and we have to set 

the example. And during my tenure, I am very proud to say we 

have clean audits. We have received clean audits. 

We encourage learning and innovation. An excellent example is 

a grant we announced this week to Southern New Hampshire University to establish a digital repository that will provide open 

worldwide access to the University’s research. 

The first collection to be digitized will be about building better 

practices and policies that serve low-income and marginalized communities around the globe. Further, it will provide a replicable 

model for other institutions, which expand the positives of this 

project exponentially. 

We prepare library and museum professionals for the future. A 

good example is a grant we just announced for SUNY’s Cooperstown Graduate Program. An institute will be created to train the 

8

next generation of museum professionals to be cultural entrepreneurs. 

Coursework will be designed to spark innovation and creativity 

in the planning and execution of all aspects of museum work, and 

to refine leadership abilities. 

Our agency, through strategic leadership, is fostering innovators 

and innovations to help change the way libraries and museums 

meet the new challenges in the world. We seek big ideas, and we 

help those who take leadership roles in their communities and in 

their professions. 

IMLS helps to sustain cultural heritage. When I took office, I 

acted swiftly to address the significant and alarming trends in the 

lack of preservation of America’s collections. We began a seminal 

initiative called ‘‘Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action.’’

Well, we called, and American institutions have acted. We were 

on the ground following the Iowa floods, with help, within 1 day, 

with partners such as Heritage Preservation and the American Institute for Conservation. And we continue to be there for the Gulf 

States. 

One part of this program is a conservation bookshelf; a set of essential collections, care books and other resources that we have, so 

far, distributed to over 2,000 institutions nationwide. And I know 

that they have helped even proactively prepare for the most recent, 

and continuing, weather changes and challenges. 

And that is what we hear in our ‘‘Thank You’’ letters. One letter 

came recently from Jacksonville, Florida, from the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society. They said to us, ‘‘We were able to ascertain quickly what we needed to do to prepare for Tropical Storm 

Fay. 

‘‘There was substantial flooding, as well as a major tree fall, debris and a couple of displaced alligators. But we came through this 

with our structures and collections intact.’’

Madam Chairwoman, our goals are ambitious, but appropriately 

so. And I look forward to answering your questions. 

[The statement of Ms. Radice follows:]

Prepared Statement of Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director, Institute of 

Museum and Library Services 

Madame Chairwoman and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this subcommittee today to report on the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the ways in which it helps museums and libraries 

strengthen communities. 

My name is Anne-Imelda Radice and it has been my privilege to serve as the Director of IMLS since May of 2006. Previous federal positions I have held include 

Acting Assistant Chairman for Programs at the National Endowment for the Humanities, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the United States Department of Education, Acting Chairman and Senior Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment 

for the Arts, Chief of the Creative Arts Division of the United States Information 

Agency, Curator and Architectural Historian for the Architect of the Capitol, and 

Assistant Curator at the National Gallery of Art. I was also the first Director of the 

National Museum of Women in the Arts from 1983 until 1989. 

The Mission and Goals of the Institute of Museum and Library Services 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal 

support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The impact of our 

funding reaches into nearly every community in America. 

We involve hundreds of library and museum experts from communities across the 

nation in our stellar peer review process for our competitive awards. And we work 

in close partnership with every state and the territories to support library services 

9

through a population-based grant to every state. We provide federal leadership that 

helps institutions connect with the expertise they need to make a difference in their 

communities. 

Each year we make hundreds of grants that go beyond supporting individual 

projects. We are strategic. By encouraging great projects, innovative ideas, and solid 

research we are changing the way library and museum services are delivered in the 

United States. 

Our mission is to support these essential institutions in their efforts to connect 

people to information and ideas, the fundamental purpose of all museums and libraries. In carrying out that mission we have four major goals. 

Goal One: Attaining Excellence in Federal Management, Operations, and Service 

This first goal is the one that undergirds all the others. The Institute is focusing 

on its administrative capacity in order to fulfill its statutory grant making, research, 

evaluation, and policy activities. We continue to implement the consolidation of federal responsibilities for library statistics activities and provide advice on library and 

information policy. My management team and I are committed to meeting growing 

expectations to demonstrate accountability. Strategic planning and evaluation, as 

well as implementation of the President’s Management Agenda (PMA), are a priority at the Institute and will enable the Institute to continue achieving high-quality 

management and performance. I am proud to report that IMLS has received only 

clean audits since my tenure as Director. 

Goal Two: Sustaining Heritage, Culture, and Knowledge 

The Institute’s second goal is to help sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge. 

The collections in libraries and museums connect people to the full spectrum of 

human experience: culture, science, history, and art. By preserving and conserving 

books, artwork, scientific specimens, and other cultural artifacts, libraries and museums provide a tangible link with humankind’s history. 

Late in 2005, Heritage Preservation, the national not-for-profit organization dedicated to saving the objects that embody our history, issued the Heritage Health 

Index, a study funded by IMLS. The findings of the Heritage Health Index were sobering: 

• 190 million objects in the United States are in need of conservation treatment. 

• 65 percent of collecting institutions have experienced damage to collections due 

to improper storage. 

• 80 percent of collecting institutions do not have an emergency plan that includes collections, with staff trained to carry it out. 

• 40 percent of institutions have no funds allocated in their annual budgets for 

preservation or conservation. 

IMLS, which has always supported conservation and preservation activities 

through conferences, publications, and millions of dollars in grants each year, responded with the Connecting to Collections initiative, or C2C. The purpose of this 

initiative is to raise public awareness of the importance of caring for our treasures, 

and to underscore the fact that these collections are essential to the American story. 

Moreover, through C2C we are providing direct assistance to the collections care efforts of museums and libraries in ways we never had before. The initiative has included a national summit on conservation with representatives of libraries and museums from every state, forums in different parts of the country on different aspects 

of collections care, statewide planning grants to promote collaborative efforts, and 

grants of an essential collection of books and other resources on conservation. This 

Connecting to Collections Bookshelf has been particularly well received. I have received hundreds of heartwarming expressions of thanks. 

I will excerpt briefly just a few: 

The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium wrote, ‘‘We * * * appreciate the resources 

that help us prepare for emergencies. Our collection contains representatives of 22 

threatened or endangered species, and the loss of those animals—some of whom are 

among the most genetically valuable in American zoos—would be of incalculable 

harm to the cause of conservation.’’

Expressing a sentiment echoed by many of the Bookshelf recipients, the curator 

of the Goldsmith Museum in Baltimore wrote, ‘‘Since we are a small museum with 

a limited budget, this library of resources is one that we could only have dreamed 

of owning.’’

It was particularly gratifying for me to read the following from the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society in Jacksonville: 

‘‘We received our Bookshelf a couple of days before [Tropical Storm] Fay hit near 

Jacksonville, Florida. Although we have a disaster plan in place, it is fairly limited 

* * * Through the Bookshelf, we were able to ascertain quickly what we still needed to do to prepare our museum for the storm. After the storm, our historical park 

10

received substantial flooding, as well as a major tree fall, a sizeable amount of debris, and a couple of displaced alligators. With the guidance of the bookshelf, I am 

happy to say that we came through the storm with our structures and collections 

intact.’’

The collections we are working to protect are the tangible link to every aspect of 

our culture. They are as significant to the American identity and character as any 

natural resource. That is why we have made this work such a high priority. 

Many IMLS grant programs can support some component of collections care. Conservation Project Support (CPS) is the one that is entirely focused on this area. CPS 

grants may be used to fund surveys of collections, improvements to environmental 

conditions, and the treatment of all types of collections, both living and non-living. 

To be eligible for a grant, the project must be addressing the institution’s top conservation priority. Members of the subcommittee might be aware of some of these 

IMLS grants that have been awarded in recent years. 

Goal Two Examples 

• The Tucson Museum of Art and History received $66,000 to properly rehouse 

the museum’s collections, which include Mexican folk art and a collection of masks, 

pre-Columbian textiles, framed works on paper, regional sculpture, and a 50-piece 

furniture collection. • The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum was awarded $27,000 to conduct a 

detailed condition survey of the museum’s vast historic paper-based and audiovisual 

collections, which include motion picture film, videos, sound recordings, photographic prints, slides, transparencies, and glass plate/film negatives related to early 

American railroading. • The National Aquarium in Baltimore will use a $150,000 grant to upgrade the 

Life Support System of its Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit. • With a $9,000 CPS grant, the Currier Museum of Art in New Hampshire treated the Weare Press Cupboard, the most important piece of New England furniture 

in the museum’s collection. • The Brooklyn Museum received $80,000 this year to complete Phase I of an Art 

Storage Master Plan, consolidating existing storage areas, eliminating storage shortages, creating a textile center and viewing area, and transporting the collection of 

textiles and Asian screens into these newly reorganized units. • In response to a 2005 tribal resolution, the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens 

Valley will establish a museum/cultural center on its reservation in southeastern 

California. In anticipation of this event, an outside consultant will provide training 

in collections management techniques and will help draft a collections management 

policy. The tribe currently has several ethnographic pieces, mainly in the form of 

baskets, as well as 14,442 archaeological artifacts from excavations on its property 

that will form the core of the material for the museum/cultural center. In addition, 

a case in the office if the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer will host an exhibit 

of material from the Papoose Flat Archaeological District that is on loan from Inyo 

National Forest. This exhibition will be designed to creatively depict the cultural 

heritage of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe. 

Goal Three: Enhancing Learning and Innovation 

The third goal of IMLS is to enhance learning and innovation. Success in today’s 

society requires information literacy, a spirit of self-reliance, and a strong ability to 

collaborate, communicate effectively, and solve problems. Combining strengths in 

traditional learning with robust investment in modern communication infrastructures, libraries and museums are well equipped to build the skills Americans need 

in the 21st century. Libraries and museums bring tremendous learning assets to 

communities engaged in a wide range of concerns, from workforce issues and parenting to cross-cultural understanding and student achievement. As partners in the 

exercise of civic responsibility, libraries and museums are part of larger efforts to 

weave a stronger community fabric. 

Much of the work we do at the Institute serves this important goal. Through 

grants, convenings, and research, we are constantly striving to push the fields of 

museum and library services in ways that enhance the learning opportunities of all 

Americans. 

Goal Three Examples 

• Dr. Patricia Montiel Overall at the University of Arizona, in partnership with 

Sunnyside Unified School District and Tucson Unified School District, is examining 

the effect of teacher/librarian collaboration on science information literacy of Latino 

students. Using qualitative and quantitative methodologies over three years, this 

study will look at teacher/librarian collaboration in the preparation of science instructional modules for third, fourth, and fifth graders in predominantly Latino eleVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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mentary schools. This research will examine questions about the relationship of 

teacher/librarian collaboration to Latino students’ performance on standardized tests 

of science proficiency and information literacy. 

• The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico partnered with Operacion Exito (OE) to create an Art-Science-Technology Project that to bring to the museum top high school 

students from low-income areas, providing previously unavailable education opportunities. The project was to develop an enhanced computer lab at the museum 

through OE, an innovative education initiative in science and math supported by 

the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Through the enhanced curriculum, students from the Central Visual Arts School will use new learning tools that integrate 

art and science using new technologies. A key component is the integration of multiple resources at the museum, including use of museum collections, space to engage 

with other students, and interaction with artists. There will also be teacher workshops to further integrate the museum resources into the curriculum. 

• The York County (Pennsylvania) Heritage Trust (YCHT) will develop communications and activities with local educators to facilitate creative methods of teaching history to children in grades four through six. The museum will hire an experienced educator with a working knowledge of Pennsylvania Commonwealth curriculum standards for two years to compile a contact list of educators and education 

advocates, establish and build a network with schools and educators for future cooperation in lifelong learning activities, increase YCHT visibility in the schools 

through an electronic newsletter, conduct workshops in which teachers and administrators develop new programming, create and implement a list of traditional and 

electronic outreach products that schools can use, and publish and distribute an 

education service guide. 

• The Frazier Arms Museum in Louisville will use videoconferencing capability 

to expand its education resources and provide the local community access to museum activities they would not normally encounter. A collaboration with the British 

Royal Armouries, this project will serve as a model, demonstrating how, using partnerships and the adaptation of some common technologies, museums can play a 

vital role in engaging local teachers and students in new learning opportunities. 

• The Jonesborough—Washington County (Tennessee) History Museum is a 

major source of heritage education for this region of southern Appalachia. The objectives of the project are (1) to construct a Storytelling Porch in the museum gallery 

to provide an engaging and interactive experience for visitors and to achieve greater 

flexibility for special exhibits, and (2) to tell the story of Jonesborough through interpretive panels, using the National Register Historic District as an outdoor exhibition space and tying specific panels to stories visitors can listen to on the Storytelling Porch. Through this project, the museum aims to make its exhibits more engaging and to make use of the historic downtown as a unique resource for outdoor 

interpretation. 

Goal Four: Building Professional Capacity 

The fourth goal is building professional capacity in the museum and library fields. 

The need for lifelong learning applies to the staff of museums and libraries as well 

as their users. The Institute places a priority on building leadership capacity to address societal changes by supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce 

in libraries and museums. The Institute helps to spur innovation, support diversity, 

and build traditional library and museum service expertise. 

Several of the Institute’s grant programs address this goal. We have two programs 

in particular that focus on it exclusively. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian 

program and the 21st Century Museum Professionals program fund projects that 

anticipate the needs of the next generation of library and museum professionals. 

These projects recruit and educate new professionals and enhance the training opportunities of those already in the field. 

Goal Four Examples 

• The University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science 

recruited 48 Native American and Hispanic students to a master’s program in library and information science as part of its Knowledge River initiative. The initiative also involves 12 second-year scholars for the Knowledge River program and 24 

Native American and Hispanic high school students in a Teen Community Health 

Information Institute to explore health sciences librarianship and provide community health services. The Knowledge River program helps students develop valuable 

skills such as leadership, professional contribution, and community service as well 

as improve their job preparation and job-seeking skills by providing workshops, community learning experiences, and opportunities to interact with library leaders. 

12

• The Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn has strengthened its institutional 

capacity by professionalizing its collections practices. As the only museum interpreting African American history in the 19th and 20th century in the Northeast, 

Weeksville Heritage Center needed to preserve its collections, while identifying 

ways to use them more effectively in exhibits and programs. IMLS funding supported the creation of a part-time position of Collections Manager, responsible for 

evaluating the 450 artifacts in the center’s collections, developing and implementing 

a collections management policy, overseeing the initiation of an environmental monitoring system, and collaborating with program staff to utilize collections more effectively in public programming. • The Cleveland Zoological Society will begin a conservation medicine program to 

enhance institutional capacity for research, training, and staff development. The 

program will allow the zoo to better understand the causes of health problems in 

captive animals through scientific research for improving animal management, 

health, and welfare. The proposed expansion of the project will support the zoo’s veterinary epidemiologist (one who studies factors affecting the health and illness of 

populations) and add a master’s degree student position and a three-year residency 

program in conservation medicine. By providing information to be shared with both 

public and professional members of the local, national, and international community, the zoo hopes to establish programs and initiatives to enhance conservation efforts and create a direct link to conservation programs in the field. • The Beaver Area Memorial Library (Pennsylvania) used IMLS funds to subsidize the tuition cost of a student who will receive a master’s in library science degree and work at the library. 

Policy, Research, and Statistics 

The 2003 reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act directed the 

Institute to conduct and publish analyses of the impact of museum and library services. IMLS responsibilities in this area were expanded with the passage of the FY 

2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act. 

In fiscal year 2008, the transfer of responsibility for national collection of data 

about public and state libraries from the National Center for Education Statistics 

to IMLS was completed. These data are essential to inform good management practices in libraries as well as to inform policy. The collection and use of these data 

is a core factor in the delivery of high-quality library services in the United States. 

The data provide ongoing basic information about libraries and library service. Over 

the years, these data have been collected consistently and with an astounding 100 

percent rate of public and state library participation. IMLS is continuing this record 

of participation and striving to ensure that the data collected are accurate and delivered to the public as quickly as possible so that they can be of maximum use. We 

are also hopeful of having funds appropriated to begin ongoing national data collection about museums. 

Also in FY 2008, the role of advising the President and Congress about libraries 

and information policy was transferred from the National Commission on Libraries 

and Information Science to IMLS. This responsibility fits well with the mission of 

the agency; the Institute has been a source of support for examination of library and 

information policy issues both nationally and internationally for more than 10 years. 

In the years to come, the Institute will continue to support research and convene 

experts to help inform public debate in a range of policy issues, such as the new 

role of libraries and museums in the Internet age, the ways that communications 

policy affects public access to information, and the role of libraries and museums 

in supporting learning throughout the lifetime. 

National Medals for Museum and Library Service 

All of the library and museum activities IMLS supports have the end user of 

those institutions in mind. All of the technology and education in the world means 

nothing unless it is put to use in the service of the communities museums and libraries serve. To emphasize this fundamental principle, the Institute established 

the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. 

The National Medal honors outstanding institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Selected institutions demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach and core programs generally associated with its services. 

Youth Initiative 

The Institute’s Engaging America’s Youth initiative shines a spotlight on the role 

libraries and museums play in bringing about positive change in the lives of young 

people. The initiative included a study on youth programs in museums and libraries, 

the results of which showed that these institutions are unique in their ability to inVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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fluence and educate youth. IMLS published a report on the study in December 2007. 

In May 2008 we published Nine to Nineteen: Youth in Museums and Libraries; A 

Practitioner’s Guide, which features several examples of successful youth programming from around the country, as well as useful information for planning exemplary 

youth programs. I submit these two publications for the record. 

21st Century Skills 

IMLS is undertaking a landmark project to create tools that will enable museums 

and libraries to become effective 21st century institutions. This work will highlight 

the ways in which museums and libraries can use their resources to help communities develop the 21st century skills they need to succeed in the new global economy. 

Conclusion 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a small agency that makes a 

big difference. And that difference is felt in communities all over the United States. 

Museums and libraries are more than buildings with artwork or books or historic 

artifacts. They are integral parts of their communities and, as much or more than 

any other entity, they are crucial to the community’s quality of life. It is my privilege, and that of everyone who works at IMLS, to help libraries and museums in 

essential work. 

Thank you again for this opportunity. I look forward to answering any questions 

you might have. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you very much. 

I now would like to play a video on the conservation of the collectibles. [Video played.] 

Excellent piece. And I think people don’t realize how important 

it is to preserve that. I have to say, here in Congress, we have a 

tremendous amount of paperwork. And our House administration 

has really been pushing all of us, as members, to start collecting, 

filing, so when we leave—to give it to a library or give it to a university school so there could always be research on that. And many 

of us have started doing that. 

Ms. LeBlanc? 

STATEMENT OF SUZANNE LEBLANC, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 

LONG ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 

Ms. LEBLANC. Good morning. 

Chairwoman McCarthy, Ranking Member Platts, Congressman 

Davis and members of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and 

Communities, I am pleased and honored to be here to offer testimony on the theme, ‘‘Examining the Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities.’’ I offer this testimony on behalf 

of the Long Island Children’s Museum in Garden City, New York. 

I have spent my entire career of 34 years working in children’s 

museums and believe strongly in the potential of museums and libraries to anchor communities and to offer lively and engaging resources for lifelong learning. 

Children’s museums have a long history of providing resources 

for children and families in need. From the start, in 1899, when 

the Brooklyn Children’s Museum opened its doors, children’s museums saw themselves as filling a gap in the education of children 

and the support of families. 

Anna Billings Gallup, one of the founders of the American Association of Museums, in 1906, and a curator-in-chief of the Brooklyn 

Children’s Museum, wrote, ‘‘The Children’s Museum idea is Brooklyn’s gift to the world.’’

14

Following in these historical footsteps, the founders of the Long 

Island Children’s Museum, from its very beginnings, had a keen 

sense of commitment to community, and an understanding of the 

important role the museum could play on Long Island. 

In 2005, an opportunity presented itself for the museum to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable of families by entering 

into an innovative partnership with Nassau County’s Department 

of Health and Human Services and Family Court. 

The county opened a new Welcome Center less than a 10-minute 

walk from the museum that consolidated eight agencies under one 

roof. This initiative was christened, ‘‘No Wrong Door.’’ No matter 

where a client would enter the human-services system, that person 

would now have access to any other needed service. 

Shortly thereafter, I received a call from the head of the youth 

board. He wanted to tour the museum with a few of his colleagues. 

To my surprise, about 15 people arrived with him. They included 

the director of human services for the county, key Department of 

Social Services department heads, and a Family Court judge. 

After this initial meeting, it became clear that several factors 

were converging that provided an opportunity for a sustained, invaluable partnership: The proximity of the museum and the Welcome Center, the mission and core values of the Children’s Museum, the county’s ‘‘No Wrong Door’’ initiative, and the passion and 

enthusiasm of county and museum staff. 

It was clear that funding would be necessary for the museum to 

launch the staff-intensive initiative. I was familiar with the Institute of Museum and Library Services ‘‘Museums for America’’ program, as well as with the work of the Providence Children’s Museum that brings court-separated families together in the museum. 

The museum approached the county with the idea of developing 

a long-term partnership, submitted a proposal, and was awarded 

funding in September of 2007, for ‘‘Be Together, Learn Together.’’ 

We determined early on that the development of the partnership 

itself would be of the utmost importance. 

Project components and activities have taken shape as the 

project has proceeded, and include a redesign of the Welcome Center’s supervised-visitation rooms—this is one of the more exciting 

things that is happening right at this moment—supervised visitations at the Children’s Museum, weekly family activities at the 

Welcome Center, parent-and-family workshops, foster-care-awareness days at the museum, free museum passes for families and 

caseworkers, caseworker-appreciation nights at the museum, services to preventive providers, such as those serving teen parents, 

and collection days at the museum to support resource needs identified by the Welcome Center. 

There are, of course, challenges in effectively implementing this 

collaboration. Caseworkers are dealing, on a daily basis, with children and families in great need and, often, in crisis. It takes enormous commitment on the part of these staff to put time and effort 

into implementing new procedures and programs in the face of 

their daily challenges. This was a really important thing that we 

realized. 

For this reason, the development of the partnership was considered an integral part of the important work of ‘‘Be Together, Learn 

15

Together.’’ ‘‘Be Together, Learn Together,’’ is neither the only, nor 

the first, major program initiative the museum has implemented to 

serve low-income or otherwise vulnerable children and families. I 

have discussed some of these other programs briefly in my written 

testimony. They, too, are part of the fabric and culture of the museum. 

In closing, I would like to add a personal note and say that I remember the day when I first discovered libraries, realizing that I 

could read these books whether or not my family could afford to 

buy them. I also remember my first museum experience, as a teenager, visiting the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, 

with a friend. 

I was hungry to learn about the world. And these institutions 

helped provide me with the resources that have guided me 

throughout my life. 

Museums and libraries are important institutions that can have 

great impact on families and communities. IMLS plays a key role 

in enabling these institutions to pilot unique programs, to work together in museum-library partnerships, and to take leadership 

roles in strengthening their communities. 

As a recipient of IMLS funds in Las Vegas, as well as now, in 

New York, I am familiar with, and deeply appreciate to impact of 

IMLS funding toward the creation of strong and vibrant community partnerships. Thank you. 

[The statement of Ms. LeBlanc follows:]

Prepared Statement of Suzanne LeBlanc, Long Island Children’s Museum 

I am pleased and honored to offer this written testimony highlighting the role of 

museums in strengthening communities, on behalf of the Long Island Children’s 

Museum in Garden City, New York. 

As someone who has spent her full adult career working in children’s museums 

in Boston, Brooklyn, Las Vegas and now Garden City on Long Island in New York, 

I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand, participate in, create and direct 

museum programs and major initiatives that have thoroughly inspired and engaged 

young people, supported family learning in important ways, and had a deep and 

lasting impact on families who began to view and use the museum as an important 

lifelong resource. 

Children’s museums have a long history of providing resources to children and 

families in need and of being trusted community institutions. To put our current 

discussion into context—December16, 1999 marked the 100th anniversary of the 

founding of the first children’s museum in Brooklyn, New York. Anna Billings Gallup, one of the founders of the American Association of Museums in 1906 and a curator-in-chief of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum said, in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 

‘‘The Children’s Museum idea is Brooklyn’s gift to the world.’’ In 1917, during World 

War I, the Children’s Museum in Boston (the second oldest children’s museum) 

briefly considered closing its doors because of the challenges of raising funds during 

wartime. But the museum’s trustees ‘‘realized that * * * to close [the museum’s] 

doors when thousands of children were looking to it for mental stimulus and satisfaction would be wrong.’’ Shortly thereafter, during an extremely cold winter in 

1918, Boston’s schools were closed because of a shortage of coal. Many children had 

nowhere to go but the streets. The museum responded to this crisis by scheduling 

a series of daily lectures for young people. (See Appendix 1—‘‘The Slender Golden 

Thread, 100 Years Strong.’’) 

The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM), was conceived over dinner conversation among three couples in 1989 and first opened to the public in November of 1993 

in 5,400 square feet of donated space in an office building that could only accommodate 98 people at one time and was intended to serve a demonstration site. Community response was immediate. LICM’s first newsletter ran two headlines: ‘‘Museum 

Opens!’’ and ‘‘Board Begins Search for Larger Quarters.’’ LICM is now housed in a 

40,000 square foot former Navy airplane hangar on Nassau County land in Garden 

City. It has a $5 million annual budget, 100 employees and 65 volunteers. The MuVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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seum welcomes 265,000 visitors per year, including 40,000 schoolchildren. The 

founders of the Museum, from its inception, had a keen sense of commitment to 

community and an understanding of the important role the museum could play on 

Long Island. Robert Lemle, founding board member and current co-chair of the museum’s board of trustees, said in a recent interview for the Oberlin Alumni Magazine, ‘‘ This was a civic contribution that we could make: an institution that would 

be accessible to everyone and have an important impact on Long Island and our 

community.’’ (See Appendix 2—‘‘Child’s Play.’’) 

In late 2005 an opportunity presented itself for the Museum to respond in a significant and positive way to the needs of the most vulnerable of families by entering 

into an innovative partnership with Nassau County’s Department of Health and 

Human Services (DHHS) and Family Court. In September 2005 Nassau County 

opened a new 219,000 square-foot Health and Human Services Welcoming Center 

across the road and less that a 10-minute walk from LICM. The new facility houses 

eight agencies under one roof—previously located in five different sites throughout 

the county. Receiving an average of 1,000 visitors each day, and some days as many 

as 2,000, the building is bright, positive and welcoming and includes a small staffed 

children’s playroom and a library where books are given away. Most importantly, 

the new center provides ‘‘a single point of entry into the Health and Human Services system’’ for individuals and families in Nassau County. This initiative to consolidate the intake process, increase the efficient delivery of services and ensure an 

‘‘outcome-driven approach to case management’’ was christened the No Wrong Door 

program. No matter where a client enters the human services system, that person 

will now have access to any other county or community service they need. (See Appendix 3—Nassau County Press Release.) 

Shortly after this opening, Dr. Louise Skolnik, director of human services for Nassau County, key Department of Health and Human Services department heads and 

Family Court Judge Hope Zimmerman approached the Museum to meet and discuss 

ways to work together on behalf of families visiting the new Welcoming Center as 

well as those engaged with Child Protective Services, Preventative, Foster Care and 

Adoption Services and Family Court. After this initial meeting it became clear to 

museum and county staff that several factors were converging that provided an opportunity for a significant and sustained partnership between the county agencies 

and the Long Island Children’s Museum. The proximity of the Museum and the new 

Welcoming Center, the mission and core values of the Children’s Museum, the 

County’s No Wrong Door initiative, and the passion and enthusiasm of DHHS, Family Court and Museum staff on behalf of families, formed a perfect situation for 

something groundbreaking to develop. 

As a 501c3 not for profit agency, with 50% of its yearly budget raised from corporate, foundation and individual donations, it was necessary for the Museum to 

raise funds to launch this kind of staff intensive initiative and partner in such a 

significant way. The Museum’s Executive Director, Suzanne LeBlanc, was familiar 

with the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for 

America program. She approached the county agencies with the idea of developing 

a long-term, sustained collaboration. The Children’s Museum submitted an application for funding from IMLS in November 2006 and was awarded funding in September of 2007 for the program—Be Together, Learn Together. (See Appendix 4—

LICM Community Access Fact Sheet—Be Together, Learn Together and Appendix 

5—IMLS Grant Narrative.) 

Several decisions and factors have contributed to the success to-date of this collaboration: an intensive pre-proposal planning process involving museum, social 

services and family court staff; the establishment of a joint planning committee 

(county agency and museum staff) that would meet monthly throughout the project, 

including the participation commitment of Dr. Louise Skolnik and Suzanne LeBlanc; 

the Children’s Museum’s hire of a full-time program manager, with substantial community programming experience, to coordinate all aspects of the project; an initial 

decision that this two-year project would be designed as a planning and prototyping 

phase, allowing program components to be adequately tested and evaluated, and the 

formation of a national advisory committee with local representation that would add 

expertise and national perspective to the project. The development of the collaboration itself is of paramount importance; allowing each partner to contribute talents 

and expertise that serve their shared audience. 

The project components and activities have developed as the project has proceeded 

and include: 

• a re-design of the Welcome Center’s supervised visitation rooms by museum exhibit designers with input from caseworker focus groups and welcome center staff 

administrators, and utilizing prototyping of individual components with families before final design 

17

• supervised visitations at the Children’s Museum taking advantage of this positive, non-judgmental setting and fun learning environment • weekly activities at the Welcome Center, taught by museum staff, for children 

and families waiting to be seen by Health and Human Services staff • parent workshops focused on play, childhood development, and supporting preand early literacy skills • Museum-led workshops for children and parents that incorporate activities that 

enable modeling of positive parent/child interaction skills • awareness days at the Museum that increase public understanding of the urgent need for more foster care families • free museum passes distributed at the Welcome Center to families, as well as 

to case workers • caseworker appreciation nights at the Museum • services to preventive providers such as to Long Beach Reach, which among 

other activities serves pregnant teens and teen parents • collection days at the Museum for children’s books, art and craft supplies, winter coats, back to school supplies and other drives to support resource needs that 

the Welcome Center identifies 

I would like to discuss the re-design of the supervised visitation rooms in more 

depth as they are illustrative of the advantages of our unique collaboration. There 

are two rooms in the Welcome Center and while clean, they were small, with bare 

white walls and sofas that are difficult to clean, and that do little to encourage family interaction. The museum’s director of exhibits, the Be Together, Learn Together 

program manager, and the administrator of the Welcome Center formed the nucleus 

of a project team to work on this environment. It was decided that before making 

significant changes it would be important to create a focus group to gather input 

from caseworkers who use the room for 

supervised visitations. The buy-in of caseworkers and cleaning staff would be critical to the success of the room changes. 

The Museum donated staff time and some funds for the changes and the Welcome 

Center accessed a small state grant to supplement the funds that would be needed. 

With feedback gathered, design drawings were created and prototyped components 

were developed to try-out with families and caseworkers in the supervised visitation 

rooms. A final design was approved at a meeting of the Joint Planning Committee, 

which included a new parent participant. Changes to one room are now being implemented; changes to the second room will follow after observation and feedback from 

families and caseworkers about the success of the changes to the first room. Training for caseworkers and cleaning staff will be conducted by the Museum. (See Appendix 6—Floor Plans and Rendering.) 

Components of the new supervised visitation room include: 

• a big, inviting, fanciful and colorful storytelling chair 

• a collection of framed children’s art on the walls with a mechanism for installing art done by children who use the room 

• a large-size tic tac toe inset in the floor, with giant playing pieces 

• a loveseat, kids round table with chairs, and the storytelling chair form the parent/child interaction zone 

• Ceiling murals (4) that represent different kinds of skies—starry, cloudy, sunny 

and stormy with lightning 

• A toy bench with a small number of developmentally appropriate toys in good 

shape 

• An art supply cart 

• A bookshelf filled with books to use with the storytelling chair 

• A food prep counter 

• A caseworker chair 

• Rooms painted an inviting color 

• New linoleum and rugs (with tic tac toe inset) 

• Softer, colored lighting 

• New furniture colorful, attractive, child-friendly and easy to clean 

The redesign of the supervised visitation room is a wonderful example of a contribution that a museum, with exhibit designers on staff who are experienced in designing for children, can make to a social service agency. The redesigned room invites and welcomes families in, naturally encourages parent/child interaction, and 

communicates respect for the families who must visit with each other in this supervised setting. 

There are of course challenges in effectively implementing this collaboration. In 

particular, caseworkers and administrators are dealing on a daily basis with children and families in great need and often in crisis. It takes enormous commitment 

on the part of these staff, to make time for meetings with the Museum and to put 

18

time and effort into implementing new procedures and programs in the face of their 

daily challenges. It also takes a strong commitment, tempered with understanding 

and consistency, on the part of museum’s staff to keep moving forward when things 

get preempted or delayed or move more slowly than desired. For this reason, the 

development of the partnership between the two institutions was considered an integral element of the important work of the Be Together, Learn Together program. 

(See Appendix 7, Letter of Support from Dr. Louise Skolnik) 

The partners are currently in Year One of a two-year funded project and are committed to continuing to work together. Independent program evaluation, conducted 

by the Institute for Learning Innovation (see Appendix 8, Quick Response Memo, 

Year One Evaluation) was designed into the program to guide partners toward their 

goal of full program implementation and to ensure long-term program sustainability, 

Be Together, Learn Together is neither the only nor the first major program initiative the Museum implemented to serve low income or otherwise vulnerable children and families. In 2002, with substantial corporate funding, Long Island Children’s Museum initiated the KICKstart (Kids Ideas Create Knowledge) program, a 

multi-year initiative developed to deliver museum and outreach programming to all 

Head Start, second and third grade (and some fourth grade) students and their families in four of Long Island’s most high-need school districts—Hempstead, Roosevelt, 

Central Islip and Wyandanch. This multi-year grant allowed the Museum to build 

trust in these communities with families, administrators and teachers and to offer 

consistent staffing, programming and services over several years. (See Appendix 9—

Community Access Fact Sheet—KICKstart.) A program evaluation, looking at impact over time, was conducted this year by the Institute of Learning Innovation, 

who also conducted yearly evaluations of the last few years of the program. (See Appendix 10—KICKstart Critical Review Year 6 Evaluation.) 

The Children’s Museum has a multi-faceted early childhood program initiative 

that includes an exhibit for children from birth to five and their families, daily 

workshops for very young children and their families (Music and Movement, Story 

and Art, Creative Connections and Messy Afternoons). Parent workshops are offered 

on such topics as Parenting a Strong-Willed Child, and Living with Autism: A Team 

Approach. In addition, the Museum has begun offering a kindergarten readiness 

program for low-income families, which includes daily classes for children about to 

enter kindergarten and weekly classes for parents to prepare them for their role as 

their child’s educational advocate. 

The Children’s Museum has a substantial Access program that subsidizes visits 

by individuals and community groups unable to afford the admission fee. Relationships have been developed with family shelters, boys and girls clubs, groups that 

serve children with autism and their families, groups that serve returning veterans 

and their families and others. This program also subsidizes outreach programs to 

schools, libraries and community groups in low-income areas. LICM offers museum 

family passes to all libraries for purchase that provide free admission for library patrons. The passes can be taken out just like books; they have been extremely effective in communities that serve middle and low-income families, sometimes with a 

waiting list months long. 

The Long Island Children’s Museum views itself as a community gathering place 

for important issues involving children and families to be discussed and presented. 

The Museum has a professional 150-seat theater offering an ideal location to host 

meetings, training seminars and other types of events. In the last few years, the 

Museum has hosted the launch of the Early Years Matter campaign, a two-day 

training for teachers and community workers on bullying, a Department of Health 

and Human Services county-wide meeting for all school district personnel to provide 

an update on Child Protective Services Laws and Protocol, the launch of the Long 

Island Index—an annual report on the state of the communities of Long Island, an 

annual expo featuring the programs and services of all Nassau County libraries, and 

recently, an Institute of Museum and Library Services meeting to outline grant opportunities for museums and libraries. 

The title of this subcommittee session—‘‘Examining the Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities’’ is very relevant to the ways that museums 

are increasingly viewing themselves—as institutions with much to offer their respective communities in ways that serve the whole family, build partnerships, address community needs and serve as a vehicle for groups to come together and find 

common ground. Sally Osberg, previously the executive director of the Children’s 

Museum of San Jose, noted ‘‘Children’s museums speak to a deep desire to be anchored in a community and to see your children anchored in a community.’’ (See Appendix 1.) Museums and libraries have been and continue to be important institutions that can have great impact on families and communities. The Institute of MuVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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seum and Library Services play a key role in enabling these institutions to pilot 

unique programs, to work together in museum/library partnerships and to take 

leadership roles in strengthening their communities. As a recipient of IMLS funds, 

both at the Long Island Children’s Museum and at the Lied Discovery Children’s 

Museum in Las Vegas, I am familiar with, and deeply appreciate the impact of 

IMLS funding toward the creation of strong and vibrant community partnerships. 

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix 1. LeBlanc, Suzanne. ‘‘The Slender Golden Thread, 100 Years Strong.’’ 

Museum News, Nov. /Dec. 1999, 49-55, 63. 

Appendix 2. Waleson, Heidi. ‘‘Child’s Play.’’ Oberlin Alumni Magazine, Spring 2008, 

18-21. 

Appendix 3. ‘‘Suozzi Unveils ‘‘No Wrong Door’’ for Nassau County Residents’’—Nassau County Press Release, November 29, 2004

Appendix 4. LICM Community Access Fact Sheet—Be Together, Learn Together 

Appendix 5. LICM—2007 IMLS MFA—Grant Narrative 

Appendix 6. Floor Plans and Rendering for proposed transformation of Nassau 

County Department of Health and Human Services’ Supervised Visitation 

Rooms. 

Appendix 7. Skolnik, DSW, Louise. Letter of support for Be Together, Learn Together 2007 IMLS MFA Grant Request. 

Appendix 8. Institute for Learning Innovation—Quick Response Memo: Year One 

Evaluation 

Appendix 9. LICM Community Access Fact Sheet—KICKStart 

Appendix 10. Kessler, Cheryl and Storksdieck, Ph.D, Martin—KICKstart Critical 

Review Year 6 Evaluation. Institute for Learning Innovation, February 2008. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you. 

Ms. Zales? 

STATEMENT OF MARY CLARE ZALES, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF 

EDUCATION, COMMONWEALTH LIBRARIES AND COMMISSIONER FOR LIBRARIES 

Ms. ZALES. Good morning. Madam Chair McCarthy, Representative Platts and honored members of the committee, thank you for 

allowing me to testify today. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss 

the essential impact libraries have on America’s 21st century communities. 

I would like to focus on the innovative and creative ways libraries have reached far beyond their traditional role, to incorporate 

emerging technologies so they can better meet the changing needs 

of changing populations, and how, as a result, the library has a 

new and expanding role in the community. 

Libraries are the information and cultural hub of the community. 

And all are welcome at the library, regardless of age, income, education, physical ability, or address. Libraries strive to serve their 

patrons throughout the lifecycle, from birth through end of life. 

And children have always been a priority for the libraries, and the 

work we do on their behalf will always be our most important 

work. 

This committee, in particular, is aware of the emerging brain research which shows that pre-literacy experiences are irreplaceable 

in a child’s brain development. Successful pre-literacy experiences 

influence academic success, which leads to career success, which, 

ultimately, impacts the health and vitality of our families, our communities and our nation. And libraries are uniquely positioned to 

help. 

To help meet this need, and in so doing, they have an indelible 

impact on child development. In Pennsylvania, we incorporated 

20

this research into our children’s programs, ‘‘One Book Every Young 

Child’’ and ‘‘Family Place,’’ where libraries bring together children 

and their parents with community resources and professionals in 

child development. 

Pennsylvania also participates in the Summer Reading program, 

where over 280,000 children read through the summer and return 

to school ready to learn. This is more children than participate in 

Little League. 

A recent Pew Foundation study on how Americans search for information showed people who used the Internet are more likely to 

use the library. This was true regardless of income. 

This report is valuable because it refutes the lingering opinion 

that the Internet will replace the library. As public libraries provide many essential services to their communities, our school libraries have become sophisticated 21st century learning environments. 

Across the United States, studies have documented that students 

score higher on standardized tests where there is a strong school 

library program. In Pennsylvania, middle schools with the highest 

state reading scores spend twice as much on their school libraries 

as the lowest-scoring schools. 

States like Pennsylvania invest well in technology when they invest in programs that offer access statewide to vetted databases beyond what is available free on the Internet. And we share resources through shared online catalogs of schools, public and academic libraries. And to satisfy the public and the middle-of-thenight student, we offer around-the-clock virtual reference. For 

Pennsylvanians, and for a growing number of Americans, the library is never closed. 

Services on behalf of libraries are more valuable and more heavily used during times of economic downturn. This is true whether 

it be personal or national. One Pennsylvanian noted, ‘‘The savings 

from borrowing one hardback book equals half a tank of gas.’’

And patrons are coming to the library for more that borrowing 

free books. They come for the computer, for Internet access, databases with job listings, training on resume development, techniques 

for interviewing and learning 21st century skills needed to find a 

new or a better job. 

Recent statistics show nationwide libraries host 1.3 billion visits, 

and loan 2 billion items each year. This increase in activities equivalent is echoed in Pennsylvania—for, half the adult population, 

those over 18, physically visited their library last year. 

Obviously, to meet the changing needs of our communities, libraries need adequate funding from all sources—local, state and 

federal. Allow me to state strongly: The innovation, the outreach, 

the spark of idea, the creative solutions that are responsible, in 

large measure, for the contribution by libraries to education and 

communities nationwide, would not have been possible without the 

Library Services and Technology Act. 

In closing, I thank you for this opportunity. I report to you with 

confidence the funding invested in public libraries is a wise and 

fruitful investment, as all aspects of a community benefit. Libraries 

are continually advancing to meet the information, education and 

21

enrichment needs of our nation. And as we can all testify, learning 

begins at the library. I thank you. 

[The statement of Ms. Zales follows:]

Prepared Statement of Mary Clare Zales, Commissioner for Libraries, State 

of Pennsylvania 

Chairwoman McCarthy and Ranking Member Platts, thank you for allowing me 

to testify today. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss how libraries are essential 

to America’s 21st Century communities. 

My name is Mary Clare Zales. I am the Commissioner for Libraries in Pennsylvania which is the position equivalent in other states to the state librarian. 

I am also a member of the American Library Association, the oldest and largest 

library association in the world with 66,000 members who are primarily school, public, academic, and some special librarians, and also trustees, publishers and friends 

of libraries. 

As Pennsylvania’s state librarian, I am a member with my counterparts nationwide of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA). Its purpose is to identify and address issues of common concern and national interest; to further state 

library agency relationships with federal government and national organizations; 

and to initiate cooperative action for the improvement of library services to the people of the United States. 

As Deputy Secretary for Libraries I lead the development of library services in 

Pennsylvania and oversee the State Library of Pennsylvania, one of four major research libraries of the state, that has recently completed a refocus of its mission 

placing an emphasis on its historic collections and becoming the destination library 

for Pennsylvania related materials and resources. Working most recently with various Commonwealth agencies and stakeholders, Pennsylvania completed the construction of a Rare Collections Library in preserving thousands of Commonwealth 

and national treasures. Among them is the 422-volume Assembly Collection purchased in 1745 by Ben Franklin and Franklin’s 1754 Pennsylvania Gazette in which 

he describes his ‘‘Key & Kite Experiment.’’

I am here today representing the American Library Association, the Chief Officers 

of State Library Agencies, and most personally to represent library service in Pennsylvania. 

I am proud of the role libraries play nationwide and of the role libraries play in 

improving and enriching the lives of Pennsylvanians. Pennsylvania has 458 public 

library systems with 635 library locations and 35 bookmobiles to serve our twelve 

million residents. There is a state-funded library meeting state standards in every 

one of our 67 counties with 97% of our population eligible for a library card without 

charge. Pennsylvania represents 4% of the country’s population, and we have 5% of 

the nation’s public libraries. As it is true nationwide it is true in Pennsylvania, 

there are more public libraries than McDonalds! 

With this testimony, I would like to focus on how libraries are reaching new populations in new ways; and how their presence in the community is growing. First, 

I would like to say the time honored and traditional role of the library is intact. 

We remain a resource and repository of the printed word. I believe reading and 

lending books will continue to be the fundamental role of libraries. That said, let 

us open the door of today’s library and see the many ways they serve our communities. 

Every day across the country knowledgeable librarians provide culturally diverse 

communities with a broad range of services for people of all ages and backgrounds. 

In Pennsylvania, anyone can come into a state-aided library and access the materials before them. This is true regardless of income, education, physical ability or 

address. Actually, even if you don’t have an address, you are welcomed. And you 

are welcomed to remain anonymous. We only ask that you apply for a library card 

if you choose to borrow from the library or participate in programs. 

Libraries in Pennsylvania, like libraries nationwide exist to serve. This means at 

the core, the mission of every library regardless of type or location is the same: to 

meet the information, education and enrichment needs of those they serve. And libraries serve the full community throughout the life cycle * * * from birth through 

the end of life. 

Services to Children 

Libraries are often the first opportunity a child has to interact with books. Libraries across the country are providing important early literacy services for young children as well as a wide assortment of books, music, audiobooks, DVDs, computer proVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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grams, and so much more that can be used in the library or at home. Story times 

are popular as they offer preschoolers an engaging experience with books. 

In Pennsylvania, we have a strong focus on infants, toddlers and children. I suspect this committee in particular is aware of the emerging brain research which 

demonstrates that pre-literacy experiences are irreplaceable in a child’s brain development and influences academic success. The absence of pre-literacy experiences 

has an impact on career success and ultimately impacts the health and vitality of 

our families, communities and our nation 

The library community of Pennsylvania recognized the need to incorporate these 

findings in our programming. As a result, we initiated the One Book, Every Young 

Child program using the one-book-one-community model. Every April we select a 

pre-literacy book that will be read to young children across the Commonwealth. The 

program prompts child care centers, pre-schools and libraries to plan events and activities related to the theme of the selected book which will engage children, parents 

and caregivers in early reading practices. 

This year’s title was read to 21,000 children in home-based child care and classbased early care and education programs in addition to being read in virtually all 

our public libraries. All 67 counties participated in One Book Every Young Child 

events and over 90,000 copies of the book were distributed through libraries and 

their community partners. In all, approximately 560,000 preschool children were 

reached this year by the program. We are working with pediatricians and health 

care clinics to put a copy of the One Book title in waiting rooms across the state. 

I am proud to report our One Book Every Young Child program won the 2007 John 

Cotton Dana award, one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by the American 

Library Association. Since 2004, we have sponsored an Early Learning Forum and 

Best Practices Awards program each year. Identifying best practices and providing 

evidence of the importance of early literacy has elevated children’s programming 

statewide. Over 30 years of research confirms the foundational importance of early 

education and care for children’s school and life success. 

If we expect our students to achieve high levels, we must start them off early and 

start them off right. Early education and care provide a critical focus for our efforts. 

Strong libraries play a vital role in this early learning for tens of thousands of Pennsylvania families. 

Pennsylvania is proud to participate in the national Family Place Program that 

builds on the role of the library as the core of the community. Family Place Libraries reserve physical space in the library to conduct programs for young children and 

their parents, bringing them together with community resources and professionals 

in child development. In Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a parent attending Family Place 

Programs at the Bucks County Free Library commented that ‘‘I thought that the 

library just had to do with reading and books. This was a different opportunity for 

using toys, play and social interaction. The library has a bigger role. You went beyond what I expected.’’

The Yeadon Public Library in Delaware County reported that during a Family 

Place workshop a mother expressed strong concern about her son who was diagnosed with autism. The library connected the parent with child development specialists and the next week her son was receiving assistance. Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of Family Place Libraries. 

A perennially popular children’s program is the Summer Reading program which 

is now more than one hundred years old. It is also the very first program public 

libraries offered and it began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This summer in Pennsylvania, more than 280,000 children of all ages joined with children nationwide and 

in American military bases to read under a common theme. 

The work on behalf of our children is the most important work we do. This emphasis in Pennsylvania is reflected in the Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children having been awarded in 2006 to Janice 

Trapp, Director of the Lycoming County Library System in Williamsport, PA. An example of one program at her library is ‘‘Celebrating the Birth of Each Child.’’ When 

each of the 1,500 or so babies born each year in Lycoming County leaves the hospital, mom takes home a tiny backpack, courtesy of a community-funded program 

of the library. Inside is information about library programs, a book, a stuffed animal—and a Baby Library Card. 

Services to Seniors and Special Populations 

Older adults enjoy the many services and resources of the public library. From 

book clubs to health seminars to travel and medical resources, older Pennsylvanians 

like older adults nationwide feel right at home in their public library. For example, 

the Adams County Library System is one of many libraries that partner with American Assoication of Retired People (AARP) to offer seniors tax services to more than 

23

1Leigh Estabrook, Evans Witt, and Lee Rainee, ‘‘Information Searches That Solve Problems: 

How people use the Internet, libraries, and government agencies when they need help,’’ (Pew 

Internet and American Life Project, December 30, 2007). Available on the Internet at http://

www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/231/report—display.asp. 

500 seniors. In Cumberland County the library system and Hospice of Central Pennsylvania developed a partnership to provide homebound service to hospice clients 

and their families. 

Libraries also provide important community services and programs for nonEnglish speakers. Nationwide 78% of libraries reported Spanish as the main nonEnglish language used in the library. Libraries work with the Spanish-speaking 

community by offering specially developed story times and Spanish and bilingual library materials. 

Public libraries partner with the National Library Services for the Blind and 

Physically Handicapped in the Library of Congress to serve those who cannot use 

a traditional book due to visual or physical handicaps. This program opens up the 

world of books to Americans with disabilities that would otherwise make it impossible for them to read. Though traditionally viewed as a service to the aging community, in Pennsylvania alone there are 261,000 children between the ages of three 

and eighteen, many of whom would not be able to succeed in school without recorded materials. 

The two Regional Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh lend two million recorded, Braille and 

large print books and magazines each year. The Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reach out to those in short term and long term need with the 

most recent outreach being to returning soldiers 

Currently the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 

is undertaking a transition from a cassette based format to a new digital format 

that will be much easier to use and offer a downloadable option. 

Helen Jane Kane of Butler County in Pennsylvania captured the intrinsic value 

of this service when she said: ‘‘The books have really helped me keep a more positive mental attitude and added another dimension to my life.’’ Grace Bussler, also 

from Butler County, added ‘‘These books have been a godsend to not just me but 

my family also, because if I’m happy and satisfied, so are they.’’

Libraries and Technology 

While computer use has increased substantially in the United States, many American households still do not have home computers or home Internet access. Libraries 

are working to close this ‘‘digital divide’’ in many of our nation’s distressed communities by providing no-fee, public access to computers and the Internet. Nationwide 

73% of all libraries report they are the only provider of free Internet access in their 

communities. In rural areas, the role of the library is even more critical as 83% of 

libraries are the only free Internet provider. 

The report ‘‘Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2007-2008’’ was released last week. This report assesses public 

access to computers, the Internet and Internet-related services in public libraries of 

the United States, and the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment and sustainability. Chairwoman McCarthy, I request the executive summary of the report be submitted into the record as Appendix A of this testimony. 

The report found that America’s 16,543 public library buildings are leveraging 

technology to help students of all ages succeed in school and support lifelong learning. More than 83% of libraries now offer online homework resources, including live 

tutors and collections of reliable Web sources—an increase of 15% in one year. Libraries also reported significant increases in the number of audiobooks and podcasts 

(33% increase) videos (32% increase), e-books (13.5% increase) and digitized special 

collections (13% increase). As Americans are changing the ways they meet their educational, entrepreneurial and entertainment needs, libraries are changing with them 

and making access more convenient in person and with expanding services online. 

As stated in the report, a student in Kentucky without a computer or Internet 

at home used her public library and the free online tutoring program every week 

of her last two years of high school to assist with AP level courses in algebra and 

physics. Heather told library staff her grades went up and her stress levels went 

down because of the library services and resource. Heather is now in college and 

has plans for medical school. 

A Pew Foundation study on how Americans search for information was released 

in December.1 The study showed people who used the Internet were more likely to 

24

use the library than people who do not use the Internet. This was true regardless 

of income. 

This refutes the supposition by some that the Internet will render libraries obsolete. This study also revealed significant new information on who is using our libraries. Traditionally, the profile of the library user was a middle-aged female. This 

study shows a dramatic shift in that profile to young people ages 18 to 30. This shift 

indicates two current realities about our libraries 1) libraries are successful in offering technology that attracts younger users and 2) it charges libraries with keeping 

pace with emerging technologies to continue to support the information needs of 

young adults as they grow into adulthood. 

Libraries use technology to link communities around the country and provide 

users access to information through state, regional, national and international networks. Many states offer a statewide network to provide enriched content databases 

and to open access to resources statewide. Pennsylvania offers three major programs 

that support the use of emerging technology and open access to on-line, vetted databases. 

The Pennsylvania On-line World of Electronic Resources—POWER Library—allows access to authoritative resources for children, students and adults through 

their school or public library or remotely through the public library website. The 

POWER Library extends access to journals, e-books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, the 

AP photo archive and much, much more. Last year over 35 million articles and 

items were examined, which is a 71% increase in usage over the past three years. 

Pennsylvania also offers a statewide electronic library catalog called the Access 

Pennsylvania Database. This on-line catalog shows the holdings of more than 3,000 

school, public, academic and special libraries throughout Pennsylvania. The database has more than 67 million holdings and 15 million unique titles. 

Virtual reference service is a relatively recent addition to Pennsylvania’s on-line 

services. The Ask Here PA program was launched in September 2006 as a virtual 

reference service available to all residents twenty-four hours a day, seven days a 

week. There is a second tier to the Ask Here PA program for college level and more 

in-depth questions. To date, over 42,000 live chat questions were asked. If this level 

of activity continues through December 2008, as it is expected to, Ask Here PA will 

be the most active virtual reference service in the nation. Greater than 50% of the 

activity is from Pennsylvania’s students. 

Through these programs in particular, Pennsylvania’s libraries, like a growing 

number of libraries nationwide, are now serving our communities 24-7—The library 

never closes! 

Libraries and Economic Development 

Libraries play a valued role in the business community. In a growing number of 

communities, libraries are opening business branches offering specialized collections, 

providing business-specific training in discerning credible research, studies, even 

grant opportunities as well as assisting with business development initiatives. 

For many small businesses, the library is the source for research and a specially 

trained and experienced staff they could not otherwise afford. Greg Skoog credits 

the Hickory Public Library in North Carolina for getting his transport company 

started. He used books from the library on writing a business plan and cash flow 

analysis; he used the Internet for research and wrote his business plan. Mr. Skoog 

said that basically, the library was his office for three weeks. He now employs 135 

people. 

Libraries in Tough Economic Times 

The public library plays an even more important role as Americans are facing 

tough economic times. Library usage is up ten percent from the last economic downturn in 2001. Debbie Long of West Goshen in Chester County, Pennsylvania noted 

the price of borrowing one hardback book from the library saves her enough to fill 

her gas tank halfway. So this year, she is frequenting the West Chester Public Library instead of the bookstore. ‘‘Between the price of gas and that little extra money 

that we’ve lost, I’m not buying books and music like I used to.’’ She is driving to 

her nearby library and using its free services. ‘‘I love it,’’ she says. 

Patrons are visiting their library for more than the borrow of free books. Libraries 

offer databases with job listings, training on resume development, techniques for 

interviewing and 21st century skills needed to get that new job. The Washoe County 

Library System’s Community Resource Center in Nevada helped Stephanie D’Arcy, 

who hadn’t had full-time employment for several months; successfully get a job with 

the local parks and recreation department. ‘‘I needed guidance,’’ D’Arcy said. ‘‘The 

library staff offered me encouragement and assistance filling out the application, inVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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cluding pointing out the transferable skills I could list, plus some tips for interviewing. If it were not for the library’s help, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’’

That library attendance has increased is not a surprise. Studies from generation 

to generation have shown that in times of economic downturn, libraries become 

busier. 

Looking at Pennsylvania for example, the number of items lent continues to increase. Since 2000 there has been a 24% increase in the lending of library materials 

in Pennsylvania from 54 million to 67 million books and other items. Unfortunately, 

this increased use comes at the very time communities are least able to support 

their libraries. Many states across the country will be struggling to meet their maintenance of effort requirements to maintain eligibility to receive LSTA funds. 

Increasing Use 

In states across the nation and in counties across Pennsylvania, the role of the 

library has emerged as both a destination for resources and a place to engage with 

the community. 

In Pennsylvania, libraries are becoming better and better at identifying and meeting the changing needs of their communities, and are becoming the information and 

social center of that community. This role is a natural fit for libraries as they open 

access, expand services, offer targeted programs and invest in technology that is valued by the community—from the youngest to the oldest. The effort shows as more 

people are visiting and using libraries than ever before. Nationwide, recent statistics 

show libraries host more than 1.3 billion visits and circulate more than 2 billion 

items in each year. 

Attendance figures continue to go up in Pennsylvania as well. Last year there 

were 45 million visits to libraries, including 3.5 million people attending library programs. We are also pleased to note that last year in Pennsylvania half the population aged 18 and over physically visited a library. This does not include those who 

used the library remotely only. 

Libraries Contribute to the Economic Community 

An investment in libraries is an investment in the community. In Pennsylvania 

a study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently 

showed that for every dollar invested in the public library, the community receives 

a return on investment of $5.50. Studies in other states across the country have 

shown similar results. 

Not only is there an economic return on investment to citizens and organization 

users, the surrounding communities receive an economic return in ripple effects 

from salaries and wages paid to staff, library purchases made, and a halo effect 

from spending in the nearby community by visitors during their trips to the public 

libraries. 

The Significance of LSTA Funds 

In addition to state and local funding, libraries would not be able to have the 

enormous social impact on their communities without the Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA). LSTA is the only federal program exclusively for libraries, and 

it is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). 

LSTA expands services for learning and access to information resources in all 

types of libraries for people of all ages. Pennsylvania, for example, uses LSTA funds 

to support their summer reading program in which more that 280,000 children and 

teens participated—the largest number to date. More Pennsylvania students participated in the summer reading program than played Little League! 

Other significant uses of LSTA funds in Pennsylvania include grants to libraries 

to develop innovative services including state of the art electronic networks, training 

programs for school, academic and public librarians and for library trustees. A 

School Librarian Toolkit was developed to alignthe school library resources and 

services with Pennsylvania’s academic standards. LSTA also made possible the 

POWER Library online databases, the One Book Every One Child program, and collection development grants for public and school libraries. 

The Contribution of our School Libraries to Student Achievement 

At the same time public libraries provide many essential services to their communities, school libraries have become the cornerstone of the school. School libraries 

are no longer just for books. Instead, they have become sophisticated 21st century 

learning environments offering a full range of print and electronic resources that 

provide equal learning opportunities to all students, regardless of the socio-economic 

or education levels of the community. 

Across the United States, numerous studies have shown that students in schools 

with strong school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on 

26

standardized tests than their peers in schools without libraries. A recent study 

showed that Pennsylvania middle schools with the best PSSA reading scores spend 

twice as much on their school libraries as the lowest scoring schools. 

The skills needed to function successfully in a 21st Century global workforce have 

gone beyond reading. Business leaders are concerned that too many workers are entering the workforce without information literacy skills—those skills needed to find, 

retrieve, analyze and use information. These are the skills that equip workers with 

the ability to think critically and work proficiently. Who better to teach information 

literacy than librarians, the information experts? 

Some of the major skills that school library media specialists teach are the techniques and methods for locating and answering curriculum needs through critical 

thinking. Using the library’s many and varied resources, school librarians also teach 

students how to work collaboratively, which, combined with the information literacy 

skills, is ideal for ensuring college readiness and success in the workforce. 

In Closing 

Thank you again for this opportunity to share with you the traditional and emerging roles of our libraries and their dedication in meeting the needs of our communities nationwide. I report to you with confidence, the funding invested in public libraries is a wise and fruitful investment as all aspects of the community benefit. 

Libraries support the development and care of young children and families, support 

formal education and strengthen local economies. Libraries add richness and quality 

to the life of adults and seniors and special populations. There is so much more libraries do for our communities that cannot be quantified in data or studies. Libraries satisfy the curiosities of the lifelong learner throughout life—and as we can all 

testify, learning begins at the library. 

An investment in libraries is an investment in communities. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you very much. 

Ms. Nunez? 

STATEMENT OF ANNA NUNEZ, ARIZONA HEALTH SCIENCE 

LIBRARY LIBRARIAN, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 

Ms. NUNEZ. Good morning, Chairwoman McCarthy, and members of the Healthy Families and Communities——

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Is your mic on? 

Ms. NUNEZ. Thank you, Chairwoman McCarthy, and members of 

the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee. I am honored to be here this morning on behalf of Dr. Jana Bradley, Director of SIRLS, the School of Information Resources and Library 

Science, at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. 

I am a medical librarian at AHSL, the Arizona Health Sciences 

Library. I am a graduate of K.R., the Knowledge River program, 

at the School of Information Resources and Library Science. This 

program is IMLS-funded, designed to recruit Hispanics and Native 

Americans to the field of librarianship. 

Over the past 2 years, I have served as co-advisor to the SIRLS 

Wellness Education program, known as ‘‘WE Search,’’ an initiative 

funded by the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. I have 

personally experienced the benefits of this federally funded initiative. 

I was accepted into the SIRLS Masters of Library Science Degree 

Program as part of the first cohort. As a student, I served former 

Knowledge River Director Patricia Tarin, as a graduate research 

assistant and program manager. We developed a strategy for recruitment and retention. 

Shortly after graduating, I was employed at the Arizona Health 

Sciences Library. The course of study provided by the K.R. program 

focuses on training Hispanic and Native American students to 

27

enter the profession of librarianship, and, in doing so, to improve 

information access and services to these communities from a culturally and linguistically appropriate perspective. 

My own path led to a newly created position at the Arizona 

Health Sciences Library, as the Arizona Hispanic Center of Excellence services librarian. As the first HCOE librarian, I serve the 

university’s College of Medicine in its goal to recruit and retain 

Hispanic medical students and faculty, to provide research support 

to faculty, and to provide support for researchers and research conducted on and in the Hispanic community. 

My work included creating a Web site of Hispanic health resources, to increase the library’s collection of culturally and linguistically appropriate materials, and to expand the library’s outreach 

services to community and health-care organizations that serve the 

Hispanic population in Arizona and along the U.S.-Mexico border. 

In all of my work at the Arizona Health Sciences Library, I have 

remained committed and involved in Knowledge River. The Laura 

Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant has supported the WE Search 

program, a component of the Knowledge River program. 

During their summer recess, both Knowledge River students and 

high-school students from Sunnyside High School, our WE Search 

partner, participate in a weeklong institute. They learn to use information technology and tools, and developed information-seeking 

skills to serve as peer-health-information advisors. 

They provided classroom presentations and community presentations, and health-information resources targeting health issues of 

concern for the community. The teams worked with their Knowledge River mentees to develop information resources, making them 

available to high-school teachers, and having them at health fairs 

and community events. 

The WE Search blog truly chronicles some of the successes of the 

program. To quote, ‘‘WE Search taught me that the library is not 

just a place for reading, but is also a place that offers fun activities 

for all ages, and is well equipped with good resources. WE Search 

has also prepared me for college.’’

Another student states, ‘‘After WE Search is over, I plan on continuing on helping students, as well as my community, by informing them about how useful the library is, and also about how useful 

many Web sites can be, such as MedLinePlus and KidsHealth.’’

I, personally, have seen a transformation in the students. They 

have become confident public speakers and well informed healthinformation purveyors. A former WE Search teen is now employed 

as a page at the neighborhood public library. During WE Search, 

several students had expressed an interest in pursuing a health career—of course, one of which is a medical librarian. 

Since this grant was awarded, over 50, if not more, Hispanic and 

Native American librarians have joined the library workforce. We 

are in a variety of library-information environments, and are serving these two cultural communities bilingually and biculturally. 

As a Knowledge River graduate and a WE Search advisor, I truly 

believe these programs have contributed to the diversity of libraries, has increased the access to information for these two cultural 

communities, and has laid the foundation for a model for other inVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6602 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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stitutions to adopt or to adapt, for successful connection to their 

community. 

I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to share with you 

the contributions of our programs, and I would be happy to answer 

any questions you may have. Thank you. 

[The statement of Ms. Nunez follows:]

Prepared Statement of Anna Nunez, Arizona Health Science Library 

Librarian, University of Arizona 

Thank you, Chairman George Miller and members of the Committee, for the invitation to be a witness at the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities 

of the Committee on Education and Labor of the U.S. House of Representatives, 

hearing on ‘‘Examining the Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities.’’

I am honored to contribute to your examination of the roles that libraries play 

in strengthening communities, and in particular, on the contribution of the program 

at the School of Information Resources and Library Science, funded by the Laura 

Bush 21st Century Librarian Program and titled ‘‘Knowledge River. This program 

recruits Native American and Latino students in a program leading to a master’s 

degree in library and information science and includes community outreach to teens 

to address health concerns in Tucson. 

Background 

Libraries and librarians have changed greatly in the last several decades. They 

now see their role as connecting individuals and communities with information, both 

print and electronic, to improve and enhance their lives. Public libraries see themselves as service agencies, often working with other service agencies to use information as part of a unified strategy to address community problems. Public libraries 

also work with health agencies and with health libraries, as a distribution and outreach point for consumer health information. And, increasingly, public libraries have 

after school programs, providing a safe place for children and teens to gather, have 

fun, and learn. Libraries in high schools, community colleges and universities see 

their role as information coaches, providing students, often first generation college 

students, with help to find and use information. 

Additionally, as our society has become increasingly digital, libraries are a public 

resource for providing computers to those who don’t have other access to them. Access to computers alone is not enough. Librarians also provide instruction in how 

to use computers to find accurate and trustworthy information. In the information 

world of the Internet, with its chaotic mix of fact, advertising, and misdirection, 

learning to find and identify trustworthy information is probably one of the new literacies Americans need to improve their lives. 

Education to be a professional librarian requires a master’s degree. Any subject 

studied at the undergraduate level can be the foundation for graduate work in library and information science. Schools that grant a master’s degree in library and 

information science are accredited by the American Library Association (ALA). The 

grant that is the subject of this testimony, the Knowledge River grant, was given 

to the School of Information Resources and Library Science, at the University of Arizona, as part of its ALA accredited master’s program 

Knowledge River 

The Knowledge River (KR) grant, awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Studies in 2005 to the School of Information Resources and Library Science 

(SIRLS), had as its overarching goal to ensure that the work of librarians, described 

above, extends into Hispanic and Native American communities, historically communities that have not had access to library and information services, and also communities where information is vital to improving and enhancing their lives. 

KR employed two strategies to achieve this goal: 

• Recruiting and educating Hispanic and Native American graduate students to 

be librarians, including coursework that focuses on library and information issues 

and services from Hispanic and Native perspectives. 

• Providing opportunities for KR students to participate in outreach and workforce development by mentoring high school students in health information-seeking 

skills and showing them firsthand the power of information to change lives. In addition, the mentor/mentee relationship provides role models for Hispanic and Native 

American teens and makes them aware of the routes through college and graduate 

29

school available to be health care professionals or library and information professionals. 

Each of these strategies will be described briefly. 

1. Recruiting and educating Hispanic and Native American graduate students to 

be librarians, including coursework that focuses on library and information issues 

and services from Hispanic and Native perspectives. 

During the period of this grant, 52 Knowledge River scholars were recruited, 19 

Native Americans and 33 Hispanic/Latinos. The grant exceeded its projected outcome by four students. Thirty students have already graduated, and when the remaining students graduate, we will have met our target goal of graduating 45 Hispanic and Native American librarians. These librarians are well trained in the fundamentals of Library and Information Science, in library and information services 

from Hispanic and Native American perspectives and in the use of information technology to find and use information. 

The importance of adding nearly 50 Hispanic and Native American librarians during this grant to the workforce of trained professional librarians cannot be underestimated as an essential part of providing library and information services to these 

cultural communities. Only 2% of librarians are Hispanic and less that 1% are Native American, according to a recent study by the American Library Association 

based on the 2000 census. Increasing the number of these librarians is vital, because ‘‘institutions must have the face of the communities they serve,’’ according to 

Patricia Tarin, who helped start the program and was its director from 2001 to 

2007. Again from Patricia Tarin: ‘‘For many people who don’t have access to books 

and technology, libraries can be the gateway for information, knowledge and empowerment. But many won’t use a library if there’s nobody there who shares their 

culture or speaks their language.’’ (Appendix 4: Tucson Citizen, January 4, 2007). 

And a 2006 study conducted by researchers at the School of Information Resources and Library Science demonstrates that having Hispanic and Native American librarians in libraries DOES increase services to these communities. Although 

the data indicate that information services to Latino and Native American cultural 

communities among institutions employing Knowledge River graduates remains 

problematic, fully 80% of the respondents indicated that they personally provide information services to these cultural groups, and more than half report that they or 

their institutions are offering new services to these communities since beginning 

their employment. (Appendix 1: Fulton, Tarin, Bradley, 2006). 

2. Providing opportunities for KR students to participate in outreach and workforce development by mentoring high school students in health information-seeking 

skills and showing them firsthand the power of information to change lives. 

The WE Search (Wellness Education) program is one of the highlights of the 

Knowledge River program. I strongly suggest that you glance through Appendix 3, 

which is the summary of the program in the KR students’ own voices. This is authentic testimony to the truly amazing accomplishments of both the KR graduates 

and the WE Search high school students in the six-month program. 

I also suggest that you visit the website created by the KR graduate students and 

the WE Search high school students, showing graphically who they are, what they 

did, and an annotated list of trustworthy health information resources they discovered. The url is http://wesearch07.googlepages.com/. Another way to experience the 

authentic voices of both the KR graduate students and their high school mentees 

is to visit the blog they created as the course progressed. http://

wesearch.wordpress.com/

Highlights of the program are described below: 

• The WE Search program is a partnership of the Knowledge River program and 

Sunnyside High School, a high school of predominantly Latino and Native American 

students. The KR graduate students served as mentors to the high school students. 

• The KR graduate students prepared for their role by taking two graduate 

courses during the summer, one on health disparities and cultural competencies, 

and another on health information resources. 

• The KR graduate students and their high school mentees participated in a 

week-long summer institute, filled with bonding activities, fun and games, and also 

serious learning. The high school students learned presentation skills and other information technology skills, while the KR graduate students were instructed in 

teaching skills. 

• During the fall semester, the KR mentors and mentees met in small groups 

once a day. The KR graduate students themselves met and planned the curriculum 

and the teaching modules so that all the high school students received the same material. 

Topics and activities were: 

30

• Health disparities and valid resources documenting these (Center for Disease 

Control, U. S. Census Bureau, etc) • Learning about free, authoritative resources addressing health disparities 

(Medline Plus from the National Library of Medicine, etc) • Creating information pamphlets for their peers and giving presentations to 

classes • Taking information to the community through outreach events, such as 

- Junior Scientists Kids Day at the University of Arizona 

- Tucson Hopefest 

- Academic Night at Sunnyside High School 

• Creating a permanent web resource documenting what they had done 

• The KR graduate students took their high school mentees on a field trip to a 

predominately Latino neighborhood library that had an after school program for 

children and teens. The high school students got right into the spirit, playing games 

and Dance Revolution with the kids. This gave them a firsthand view of the role 

many libraries are playing in their communities by providing safe places for children and teens to congregate and constructive games and activities for them, often 

when there are no other such services in the community. 

• Outcomes: All the high school students reported that they had a new understanding of the importance of health information and the roles librarians could play. 

Several indicated interest in health careers or careers as librarians or information 

professionals. All the KR graduate students can serve as consumer health information resources, no matter what type of library they choose. 

We at SIRLS and Knowledge River are very proud of our Knowledge River graduates and all they have accomplished, and will accomplish, and it is our pleasure 

to share these accomplishments with you. 

APPENDICES: 

1. Knowledge River: Community Impact and Service to Latino and Native American 

Cultural Groups. This is a study of the impact of KR graduates on their workplaces and communities after graduation. 

2. WE Search Final Report. This is a report written by the Knowledge River graduate students, summarizing what they and their mentees did, and their evaluation of the success of the program. 

3. Turning the Page. This is an article that appeared in the student newspaper, the 

Arizona Wildcat, in 2007 about the Knowledge River program 

4. UA Pushes for More Minority Librarians. This is an article that appeared in the 

Tucson Citizen, a local Tucson newspaper, about the Knowledge River Program 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you for your testimony. 

Dr. Jolly? 

STATEMENT OF ERIC JOLLY, PRESIDENT, SCIENCE MUSEUM 

OF MINNESOTA 

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Chairwoman, Mr. Davis, distinguished members, counsel, and guests, thank you for allowing me to be here 

today to talk about what I believe is one of the most essential parts 

of serving our community, helping us advance all forms of literacy. 

And for the Science Museum of Minnesota, that literacy includes 

science, technology, engineering, and math. And when I speak of 

science, I refer to all of these literacies as essential literacies. 

We believe these literacies are essential on many dimensions, 

too; chief among them, these literacies are essential for civic engagement. At a time when our nation is confronting issues about 

E-85 ethanol, about the use of genetically modified organisms, 

nanotechnology, stem-cell research, vaccination challenges in our 

schools, having a citizenry that is informed on issues of science literacy is essential. 

It is also essential not simply for civic participation, but for economic participation. We are looking at—three out of five jobs in the 

future economy that will pay more than minimum wage are going 

31

to require more than a passing knowledge of the STEM disciplines. 

Yet, this essential literacy is neither equitably nor broadly distributed. 

It is a shame that when surveyed by the National Science Foundation, fewer that 48 percent of Americans could identify accurately that it takes the earth 1 year to revolve around the sun. 

These are our voters. We owe them better than that. 

Civic participation, economic participation, needs to be broadly 

disseminated, and it needs to be equitably disseminated. We see an 

equity challenge in the achievement gap between minority and 

non-minority students in math and science scores, between rich 

and poor. But we also see an aspiration gap, with fewer women entering engineering today than any time in the last decade. 

The role of museums has never been more relevant to the future 

of this country’s well-being. And the opportunities that they have 

to enforce change is dramatic. Consider this: School day is 6 hours, 

school year 180 days; less than half a year, less than a quarter of 

day. Add in some absenteeism, and by the time a child graduates 

from high school, they will have spent a remarkable 9 percent of 

their life in school. 

Schools do a remarkable job with 9 percent of a child’s life. They 

spend more than a third sleeping. Roughly 3 percent eating, occasionally bathing and other life skills, leaving more than 42 percent 

of their life un-programmed, with an opportunity for museums and 

libraries to reach into their homes through their community and 

through their experience, to inspire them. 

We could do many things. When researching what it takes to 

help students achieve in the stem disciplines, it was very clear—

research funded by the G.E. Foundation that there are at least 

three essential elements that must appear at some level in every 

child’s life. There must be engagement. They must have the spark, 

the curiosity, the interests to pursue these disciplines. 

But if they are engaged but we haven’t given them the capacity, 

if we haven’t given them the knowledge and skills to advance to 

more rigorous disciplinary content, they can’t go on. 

If you fail algebra I, you are not going to pass A.P. Calculus. We 

need to get kids excited and engaged. We need to give them the capacity, and we need to point the way for continuity, so that they 

have taken the programs necessary to advance to the next level. 

We need children on track for the mathematics of their future, 

not the mathematics of our past. And we need to, at the level of 

each child, partner with institutions that can, like a science museum, spark that engagement and curiosity; that can, like a library, assure a level of capacity; that can, like any other community center, provide continuity. 

We need to do this in many ways. We need to do this out of our 

building, as well as in our building. At the Science Museum of Minnesota, we placed learning centers in low-income-housing community centers, so that preschool children can come in and just play 

with science and the ideas of science; their own laboratories, their 

own places to learn. 

We involve parents in giving them hopes and dreams for their 

children’s future. We work with over 100 United Way agencies and 

allow them to deliver tickets to the Science Museum—low-income 

32

memberships—so that everyone who walks through the door with 

a ticket to our museum, whether they get it through an agency 

that served them, or through our box office, walks in with the same 

ticket and the same credibility. 

We want to serve our people by being in their community. 

In summary, we know that we have a tremendous opportunity to 

advance what I believe is the most liberating force in human development, education; whether it happens formally or informally, in 

the 9 percent or the 42 percent. And we can advance that when we 

start attending to who informs our work and diversify who gets to 

set our agenda and tell us what is needed next—who forms our 

work; who actually constructs the product that we bring into our 

communities, and we start measuring who benefits from the work. 

We will close the achievement gap. We will close the aspiration 

gap. And we will do it because we are a trusted member of a community, and we have the passion to serve. Thank you. 

[The statement of Mr. Jolly follows:]

Prepared Statement of Dr. Eric J. Jolly, President, Science Museum of 

Minnesota 

Chairwoman McCarthy, Ranking Member Platts, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for inviting me here today. My name is Eric Jolly, and I am 

the president of the Science Museum of Minnesota. I’m grateful for the opportunity 

to discuss the role that museums and libraries can play in strengthening our communities. At the Science Museum of Minnesota, we reach well over a million people 

each year through visits, training, classes and outreach, but we strive to always increase the quantity and quality of our relationships. Our challenge and opportunity 

is to use our deep capacity, even more fully, in response to the nation’s quiet crisis 

in science and math education: We continue to believe deeply that science is an essential literacy for civic and economic participation. 

Science and technology based industries represent the fastest growing segment of 

our economy and the highest paid jobs in our future. In the next decade, three out 

of five leading employment growth opportunities will require a capacity in science 

and mathematics. We must equip the next generation for their future, not our past; 

it is a future highly reliant on science and mathematics literacy. Citizens must be 

able to ask the important questions and engage in sound and equitable public policy. Science is an essential literacy and we must address the fact that this literacy 

is neither widely nor equitably distributed and this deficit threatens the quality of 

life for our nation. 

Nine Percent 

Science museums—like libraries and other places of informal learning—play a 

critical role in education. Consider that, by the age of eighteen, a child will have 

spent, at most, nine percent of his or her lifetime in school. If a child spends about 

six hours a day in school, for each of the one hundred and eighty days of the school 

year, he or she will spend little over one thousand hours in school in a year. And 

that doesn’t include homework. And it assumes perfect attendance. 

Nine percent of a childhood is a great deal of time for one single activity such 

as schooling. But from the perspective of examining all opportunities for learning, 

it’s a small number. I consider it commendable that schools have such an impact 

after only taking nine percent of childhood. But even allowing for sleep, play, and 

social development, that still leaves a large portion of a child’s life that can be filled 

with joyful learning. The kind of learning that happens with their families, in the 

community, in libraries, in museums. 

Trust 

Museums have earned a place of trust in the community. A seminal study in 1999 

by Lake Snell Perry & Associates found Americans trust museums above all other 

sources of objective information—above books and television, and far above newspapers, the Internet, radio, and magazines. Why this high level of trust? Because 

museums care for our most precious collections, interpret our history, are researchoriented, and they deal in facts. And families follow through with action—one-third 

of Americans say they have visited an art museum, a history museum, an aquarVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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ium, zoo, botanical garden, or science and technology center within the past six 

months. 

I think I can speak for my colleagues across the country when I say that we take 

that trust very seriously. And we’re working to leverage it, and find new ways to 

increase the quantity and quality of science learning and nurture healthy communities. Not surprisingly, most people’s impression of museums is of our exhibit galleries, and we continue to develop exhibits that engage and excite. But some of the 

most innovative work is being done outside our institutions, in our communities, 

and beyond. 

Relevancy 

Relevancy is at the core of what we do. How do we achieve relevancy, and to 

whom? Museums are always striving to increase the value and reach of our programming to support individual engagement in the sciences—especially through 

families. Being relevant and interesting to an adult audience, we’re expanding the 

range of those we serve through our exhibits and public programs. At the same time 

we are working to broaden the diversity of the community we reach both inside our 

facilities and beyond. 

In addition to individuals and families, we’ve created partnerships that provide 

relevancy to formal education, at its core a focus on educators, administrators, and 

the programming that supports student outcomes. 

And we’re making new strides in our relevancy to policy makers—governing officials, business leaders, foundations, and individual thought leaders in our community who can use our expertise to make informed decisions with respect to public 

policy. 

I’d like to share some examples of partnerships and programs that have been especially innovative, successful, and worthy of replication. 

Achieving Relevancy to Individuals: Talking Circles 

One of my proudest moments in our museum’s galleries was when we opened the 

world premiere of the RACE exhibit last year. This touring exhibit—created in partnership with the American Anthropological Association will open later this month 

in Cleveland. It explores three themes: the everyday experience of race, the contemporary science that is challenging common ideas about race, and the history of this 

idea in the United States. As part of the planning for this exhibition, we created 

a program of Talking Circles. 

Talking Circles, as they were used in the RACE exhibit, are facilitated discussions 

for groups of 20 or less based on Native American traditions in which all participants are invited to reflect on their experiences in learning about and experiencing 

race as a factor in their lives and communities. The Department of Corrections in 

Minnesota has used this format successfully, and we saw it as a way to extend the 

learning in the exhibit to a group setting. Designed for business, community and 

government groups, and schools, the RACE Talking Circles are a valuable, nonconfrontational way to explore difficult issues in a safe environment, as well as to 

learn a valuable communication technique. 

The museum offered two private rooms next to the exhibit for groups visiting the 

RACE exhibit to continue the learning opportunity afforded by the exhibit experience. Because the museum trained Circle Keepers from local United Way agencies 

to facilitate the discussions those skills are now used in dozens of non-profit agencies across the community, creating an enduring legacy of capacity-building. The results were deeply gratifying—more than 4,000 visitors participated in Talking Circles, and nine out of ten participants would recommend a Talking Circle to others 

coming to see the exhibit. The Talking Circles were funded in part by an IMLS 

grant, and we appreciated the opportunity to bring a new form of learning to the 

museum experience, and one that has gone on to other communities across the 

country. 

I learned how I want to be treated and how others want to be treated. We are 

not all the same but shouldn’t be treated differently. (Age 12, African American/

White female) 

Great Partners and Great Tix 

Museums are always striving to serve as many visitors as possible, and we don’t 

want income to be a barrier. Since 1996, the Science Museum of Minnesota has offered reduced-rate admission to families with limited-incomes. The museum is theirs 

for a dollar. The Great Tix program encourages them to visit the museum on any 

day and any time of their choosing. 

In 2002, the museum began collaborating with community organizations across 

the Twin Cities and the state in a program called Great Partners. In exchange for 

recruiting at least 10 families to sign up for the Great Tix programs, these Great 

34

Partner agencies receive a batch of free vouchers to be used as they wish for their 

clients, their staffs, or their supporters. Some organizations use the vouchers to 

bring clients as a group, some distribute them to individuals—we don’t care how 

they’re used. We see ourselves as a resource to our community—ALL of our community. The majority of low-income visitors who come the first time through one of our 

Great Partners then sign up to be a part of the Great Tix program. A second program for families with limited incomes—Great Membership—offers the same benefits as our regular membership, but at half price. 

Thanks to the active engagement of the Great Partners the museum is signing 

up 240 families or individuals a month for the discount cards, and 50 families a 

month for memberships. And those card holders are using the museum—21,000 parents and children each year, people who would otherwise not visit this museum. 

PRISM is also delighted to request a Great Partner status with the Science Museum of Minnesota. The families we work with are very deserving and are struggling to maintain a sense of dignity about their situations. I find it truly gratifying 

that you have designed this Great Tix program to encourage use of your center by 

a wider and perhaps more economically diverse audience. Not identifying our families as ‘‘different’’ from any other family visiting your museum will add to their enjoyment and ultimate success of your program. PRISM (People Responding in Social 

Ministry), Minneapolis 

Mentor Buzz 

There is tremendous resource in the community in the form of dynamic, experienced adults with a wealth of knowledge to share. Mentor Buzz, a collaboration 

among the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota and GE Foundation, is a unique, web-based program to bring those adults 

together with youth in search of knowledge and guidance. Mentor Buzz creates online features and resources for mentors and youth, designed to increase exploration 

and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The 

mentors and youth engage using Science Buzz, an award-winning website devoted 

to developing, growing, and sustaining an informal on-line learning community centered on current science topics. 

Mentor Buzz builds upon the ongoing efforts of the GE Capital Solutions employee 

volunteer mentoring program with Minneapolis Roosevelt High School. With funding support from GE, mentors will continue to play a critical role in piloting and 

evaluating the use and impact of Mentor Buzz. Other GE sites across the country 

will be invited to participate in a national rollout of Mentor Buzz in 2009 & 2010. 

Learning Places 

It can be challenging to reach deep into communities to provide support. Learning 

Places brings learning home—literally. Funded by the National Science Foundation 

this program hires teenagers from local community organizations serving underserved populations to work in teams to design science learning environments for 

children. Through this work teen participants bridge the museum and community 

organization cultures to make science learning accessible to their communities. 

SMM has recruited and hired teens from community centers in St. Paul, MN that 

largely serve low-income, African American, Hmong, Somali and Hispanic populations. Once hired, teens receive extensive training and support as they work collaboratively with museum and community partners to design, develop, evaluate and 

create hands-on activities and environments rich in STEM content for nine afterschool centers. The Joe Eriggo award was given to the Learning Places team by 

Common Bond in fall 2007 in recognition of contributing to community well-being. 

CommonBond Communities in St. Paul, a nonprofit that develops and manages 

affordable housing and supports education and health—was our partner in using 

their staff of 150 to guide the team of 9 teens who over a year’s time engaged more 

than 150 youth in hands on activities. For instance, one activity used an air tube 

in which a fan blows air through a vertical plexiglass tube. Children made simple 

air foils of different shapes to see what would happen when they were dropped into 

the tube. They made predictions, experimented to see what would happen, and then 

changed the shape of the object to experiment again. 

In this, the final year of the project, the youth team’s work will end and the focus 

will move to supporting 5 small science centers nationally who will draw from lessons learned in the first 3 years and develop their own unique projects. We look 

forward to helping launch Learning Places at museums including Explora! In Albuquerque, New 

Mexico, Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji, Minnesota, Sci-Port Discovery 

Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Learning Center, 

Airmont, New York, and the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington. 

35

Collector’s Corner 

One of the most popular exhibit areas of the Science Museum of Minnesota is a 

unique participatory program called the Collector’s Corner. It is a natural history 

trading post for kids of all ages where participants can explore natural science by 

bringing in things they find in nature: rocks, shells, snake skins, skulls and bones, 

insects, or plant pieces. 

Traders tell the museum staff what they know about the objects they bring in and 

earn points for their objects and their knowledge about them. The more they know, 

the more points they earn. Traders can then use those points to trade for other natural objects displayed in the Collector’s Corner, or they can save their points for a 

future visit. There are more than 11,000 active traders, with 45% being girls, 55% 

being boys and most between the ages of 4-14. The Collectors Corner reinforces both 

children’s and adult’s natural curiosity about the world, and teaches important lessons about the ethics of collecting, conservation, and environmental stewardship. 

As a tribute to its success, the museum is initiating a pilot project to establish 

several satellite Collector’s Corners to be run collaboratively through urban and 

rural Minnesota libraries. Libraries are the perfect partners for the museum: they 

are highly popular and accessible destinations for families (including large numbers 

of under-served families), they are reference repositories, and they boast knowledgeable staff that can help children find more resources. Library administrators are 

strongly interested in offering more programming related to science, technology, engineering and math, and the Collectors Corner offers a unique opportunity for serving that important public education agenda. 

Achieving Relevancy to Educators: Science House: A Resource for Teachers 

Our relationship with teachers goes back decades. But we recently started an exciting new chapter in our partnership with formal educators. Science House was created to provide a vibrant, professional home for teachers at the Science Museum of 

Minnesota. The resource center provides curricular materials loans, formal and informal consultation, professional development program support, and communitybuilding. 

In its inaugural year, it has been very well received by participating school districts, and we are confident this program will create fruitful partnerships between 

the museum and teachers, and among teachers themselves. 

Curricular Materials Loans: The museum provides loans of materials that can be 

used in the classroom, but may not be available to district instructors—materials 

like 15 medical-school grade Leica compound microscopes, 40 student field microscopes, three 6-inch reflector Orion telescopes, skulls of 120 different animal species, 

and 184 Vernier probes. Current materials focus on science standards and amplify 

resources through the Museum that would either not be available (such as deaccessioned artifacts from SMM collections) or be cost-prohibitive from a school or 

district standpoint. 

Informal & Formal Consultation: Teachers can drop-in for support on lesson design, identification of resources, and potential partners or programs. After-school 

and in-service workshops and seminars on specific topics or grade levels are available for more formal support. 

Program Support & Integration: Science House is integrated with professional development programs from our museum and our partner institutions to provide 

seamless continuity of service. Follow up workshops are vital to incorporating the 

skills and relationships that begin at Science House. 

Social Networking & Community-Building: Science House is a place in which educators can network across grade-levels, schools, districts, and institutions. We strive 

to support new teachers and promote teacher retention 

Initial support from 3M launched the program, and a special state appropriation 

for teacher professional development has allowed to allow the Museum to expand 

our discipline focus so math and engineering instructors, as well as science teachers, 

can be part of our programming. 

TRIBES 

TRIBES (Teaching Relevant Inquiry-Based Environmental Science) works to increase the number of Native American middle-school students taking science 

courses and going on to pursue post-secondary science degrees, ultimately to have 

careers in the science disciplines. In 2004, the museum began working with public 

schools, tribal colleges, and universities in northern Minnesota on an innovative program to better serve Native American science learners. TRIBES was designed to enhance science teachers’ ability to teach inquiry-based science and increase cultural 

awareness by integrating indigenous ecological knowledge of the Anishinaabe into 

36

science curricula, with the environment of the Headwaters region—the source of the 

Mississippi River—as the unifying context. 

The 24-member cohort of TRIBES teachers met each summer in July for two 

weeks and on three Saturdays during the school year, usually on the Bemidji State 

University campus in northern Minnesota. During the summer institutes, faculty 

from BSU led participants in a variety of field and laboratory investigations, including sessions on cultural knowledge and on classroom practice. School year sessions 

mostly focused on cultural topics or activities, featuring stories, a day harvesting 

wild rice, and another day maple sugaring. 

The partnership has recently been expanded to include a much broader geographic reach and to include teachers of younger students. The new cohort includes 

30 teachers; twenty of the participants are new to the program, 10 are returning. 

The summer program is now split between Bemidji and Saint Paul, continuing to 

use the Mississippi River as the central context, now using different points on the 

river to explore spatial and temporal differences. 

Achieving Relevancy to Policy Makers Brighter Futures 

We all know there is a period of tremendous opportunity in the first years of a 

child’s life. A new program promises to draw together early childhood efforts in exhibits, research, and public policy in exciting new ways. The Science Museum of 

Minnesota, partnering with the Center for Early Education and Development at the 

University of Minnesota is launching Brighter Futures: Public Deliberation about 

the Science of Early Childhood Development. This ambitious project will use small 

group conversations, citizen conferences, and public forums, along with a highly 

interactive 1,600 square-foot, exhibition, and two research studies. We aim to engage policymakers, the general public, and caregivers in conversations around the 

latest early childhood development research. And as each component is completed, 

audiences will better understand how environment and experience impact a child’s 

development and what we as a society can do to support our youngest citizens. 

Brighter Futures specifically addresses the needs of caregivers in the region who 

are supporting the young children of a rapidly growing Hmong, Somali, and Liberian immigrant communities. Partnerships are critical to reaching the community, 

so we are collaborating with Minnesota Head Start and the Minnesota Brain Conference led by the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, to extend our impact. I’m excited 

about how it can be useful to our visitors and our community, but beyond its impact 

in Minnesota, the study will shed light on how museums can engage the public in 

dialogue on science-related issues, and how legislators apply the exhibit and programming experiences to policy. Brighter Futures is driven by an underlying commitment to expanding the civic engagement role around this urgent social issue of 

early childhood development. 

Plotting a Course for the Future 

So taken together, what do all these projects mean? Museums are working to take 

science learning beyond our walls and into communities around the nation, and 

we’re doing it with a guiding philosophy of integrated community involvement. 

In 2006, I co-authored a study on education and careers in science, technology, 

engineering and mathematics (STEM). The report, titled Engagement, Capacity and 

Continuity: A Trilogy For Student Success, analyzed why successful individual reform efforts have not led to broader increases in students achieving at high levels 

nor entering science and math oriented careers and identifies three components necessary to increase success in quantitative sciences: 

Engagement—an awareness, interest, or motivation (the spark) Capacity—the 

knowledge and skills to advance in increasingly rigorous subject matter (the skills) 

Continuity—opportunities, resources, and guidance to support advancement (the 

pathways) 

The report maintained that when any one of the ECC components is missing, student achievement falls off. Essentially, while many programs have supported individual components of engagement, capacity, and continuity, there has never been an 

effort to integrate all three. 

My co-authors and I gave recommendations based on the ECC Trilogy for what 

educational policy makers, sponsors, curriculum/program directors, evaluators, district/school administrators, teachers, museums and other informal science institutions can do to bring about student success in the sciences and quantitative disciplines in their realm of influence. 

That study has helped direct my leadership of the Science Museum of Minnesota, 

as I’ve sought the kind of partnerships that can guide students from the earliest 

awareness of science to gaining the necessary skills and then the fulfillment of the 

potential as they navigate challenges in academics and careers. 

37

Building Healthy Communities 

At every turn, libraries and museums offer the resources to spark imagination, 

access greater knowledge, and learn where to go next for mastery of skills. The ECC 

trilogy of success outlines the strategies at the core of how museums and libraries 

can strengthen their leadership in partnership, and nurture a healthier community. 

Museums can and must grow and change, providing real value as part of a larger 

effort in order to remain relevant. We will never stop being a destination, but must 

also be a part of the fabric of learning throughout the community—partnerships 

with libraries, formal learning, community groups. We are committed to being at the 

forefront of making our communities more scientifically literate, more engaged, and 

prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you very much, Mr. Jolly. 

I have to say, after hearing your testimony—and I have had the 

privilege of, because of the position of my job, going into libraries, 

going into our museums—especially, our children’s museums—they 

are certainly not the museums that I grew up with. Everything is 

hands-on, opening up the eyes of our young children, and our 

adults, by the way, when they bring their children to be able to see 

science physically, and touching. 

I find it a just totally amazing. So we are making a good step. 

We have a long way to go, especially with the young people, and 

with the way they are learning today versus the way I learned as 

a child. And we have to keep pace, because the world they are facing—for the economy and the security of this nation—we have to 

go forward. 

And I do believe we are starting that track. And we have got to 

make sure that we continue. That is our job. And, hopefully, this 

committee and all the other committees of education will do that. 

I would like to start with my first question, as far as Dr. Radice. 

You stated in your written testimony that collections are at a 

risk. What are you doing to ensure that collections are maintained? 

And, obviously, with all the flooding that we have seen, the 

storms that we have seen—not even here in this country, but in 

other countries—seen things wiped away. I mean, we are not talking about 1 foot, 2 foot. We are talking about extreme flooding. 

New Orleans is probably a perfect example, when I think about 

what was lost there in the history of that particular area. 

Ms. RADICE. As I mentioned, Madam Chairwoman, we began an 

initiative, and been very active in something called ‘‘Connecting to 

Collections.’’ And it is more than, you know, a lot of air time about 

the situation as we found it, but, rather, on-the-ground, practical 

help. 

We have taken our message across the country. We have five national forums that deal with very specific types of conservation 

issues. In Atlanta, we dealt with special collections—Native American, African American. In Denver, we dealt with how to digitize, 

and the whole—how to preserve information—especially useful for 

archives, libraries and, of course, the records of museums, and visual records. 

We will be dealing with living collections in San Diego. We will 

be dealing with job creation and training trustees and training new 

conservators and people to take care of objects in Buffalo, New 

York. 

But we have also developed a network. I am especially committed to small-to-mid-sized organizations. They don’t have the 

38

funds readily available. They might not even have a staff member 

capable of doing some of the work that is needed for preservation. 

So we have developed a network. People get to know each other. 

We provide materials for reference. Bringing people together in 

these convocations—now, they have phone numbers. People will 

take their calls. It is really a very strong grassroots-type of operation. 

Also, we have been very fortunate. Bank of America has entered 

into a partnership with us to give small grants to these smaller organizations. So they can take an object, a book, whatever, that, in 

a way, synthesizes what that collection is about, and highlight it, 

restore it, show it to the world. It is about getting engaged and putting this kind of preservation as one of the priorities of collections 

management. 

So, yes, it is a hard row to hoe. And you saw the video. And 

thank you for presenting it. But we have made some real progress. 

And the next video, I think, will be even—we will be able to lower 

some of those figures. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. That is what we like, going forward. 

Ms. RADICE. Yes. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Ms. LeBlanc, in your written testimony, you discussed the necessary casework and staff buy-in of 

your collaborates to achieve program success. Can you describe to 

us the process and some of the challenges you encountered, and 

how you overcame those challenges? 

When you and I talked several months ago, and the program 

had, basically, started, I mean, number one, I thought it was brilliant. But if you could go into what the challenges you faced——

Ms. LEBLANC. Sure. 

From the very beginning we realized, just before we wrote the 

proposal, that the development of the partnership was as important 

as anything else we were doing, because we were a museum entering a system—a government system—that has a certain way of 

doing things, and its own challenges. 

So we wrote the proposal with the county Department of Social 

Services and Family Court, and spent a lot of time with them in 

their proposal planning—started to build the relationship with all 

the department heads, that I talked about, that visited—Family 

Court judges. 

I went to Family Court with that judge to see what that was like. 

And it was really, emotionally, a very, very tough thing to see. But, 

also, what I saw was that this Family Court system was really trying to work with a very positive way. And it made it clear to me 

how strong the need was, and how much they wanted to work with 

us. 

As women came in, and most of the women who have had the 

children taken away, it is either because of drugs or partners who 

have been abusive to children. And the women I saw were all—had 

been in drug programs. And when they came in, all those agencies 

that are now together in that Welcome Center, were there in the 

court, and supported the women as they reported that they had 

had a drug test and that the drug test was, I guess negative, if 

they haven’t had any drugs. And everyone clapped and gave support to the women. 

39

And I was really impressed with the people working in that system, and what they were trying to do, and he changes they were 

trying to make. 

So we worked together on a proposal. And then one of the important things we decided is that we needed to meet every month. We 

needed to form a joint planning committee and meet every single 

month. And the head of Social Services made a commitment; Louise Skolnick—Dr. Louise Skolnick, the director—myself. I am part 

of the meetings. 

All those department heads and the Family Court personnel are 

all part of those monthly meetings. And it is hard to have an afternoon every month, where we all get together, but it builds our relationship and it keeps everything moving, because, as I said, there 

are a lot of crises with families and overworked caseworkers. And 

it is hard to stop and really try to do some things differently. So 

that meeting that we have has been very important. 

We have put together our National Advisory Committee, which 

gives some expertise and, also, some real energy, when we bring 

them in, for local folks that we are working with. That was really 

important. 

The things I described—some of the programs, as we went along, 

came out of beginning the work. The redesign of the welcome center—we had thought about it, but hadn’t put too much thought into 

it when we started the program. And it became one of the central 

things that we are doing. 

When we went to visit at—it is—there are two tiny rooms, white 

walls, bare, a box of toys with no organization—some of them broken, no one keeping them up. And then families come into that, 

that are already separated from their kids and having difficulty, 

and don’t know what to do when they have a social worker watching them. 

So this has been one of the most exciting things that we have 

been working on. We had our exhibits designer work with their 

staff, and we did a prototype thing. We did focus groups. And they 

are installing it now. And there is this giant storytelling chair that 

parents can sit in. I mean, you press it, it says, ‘‘Tell me a story.’’ 

And there are books there. And kids can crawl underneath, as well, 

if they are active. And the minute you walk in, it is really—people 

have described it as being, really, a fun thing that they can start 

working with their kids on. 

There are ceiling murals that a designer painted; a different kind 

of paint and lighting; furniture that is easy to clean. The other furniture was hard to clean. That was one of the big challenges—was 

trying to get that supervised visitation at the county to be more 

positive. 

From there, we are working with families that are able to do supervised visitation at the museum. 

It is tough to enter that system and try to make change. And we 

had to be patient with—when things are, you know, preempted or 

slowed down. And they had to be really committed. And, I have to 

say, after a year, the relationships are very strong. But it is not 

the easiest thing we have done, but it is very rewarding. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you very much. 

My time has expired. 

40

Mr. Davis? 

Mr. DAVIS. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 

And I would like to say, of all the hearings that I have attended, 

this is one of the best panels that I have had the opportunity to 

hear from. You have done a wonderful job—great testimonies. 

Thanks for what you do in your communities. 

I would like to start with Dr. Radice, if I may. 

You talk about, in your testimony, ‘‘IMLS is a primary source of 

federal support for all the nation’s libraries and museums.’’ Other 

than by financial means, how does IMLS support libraries and museums? 

Ms. RADICE. Because of the expertise that is found at the agency, 

many of our program people are former museum directors or state 

librarians—we are able to provide assistance that way, which is 

very practical. 

We sponsor a great deal of research. Librarian Zales mentioned 

the report talking about attendance, and the fact that the Internet 

and visitation actually help each other. We are engaged in the 

presentation of materials that can be used, for example, in preservation. 

Our Web site is fantastic. Tons and tons of best practices are 

there. Convening people—it is all about keeping up to date, and I 

think we do that very, very well. Plus, I am always very proud to 

say, when you call our agency, you get to talk to people, as opposed 

to a recorded answer tape. 

Mr. DAVIS. Thank you so much. 

You stated one of the IMLS goals is to enhance learning and innovation. How do you encourage libraries to incorporate technology, 

as well as traditional methods in educating children and adults? 

Ms. RADICE. Technology is simply part of the daily operation 

now, whether it is through digital programming or providing up-todate equipment or training for that. The mention was made of the 

Laura Bush 21 Program, bringing new librarians in, very—being 

very supportive of having technological experts in libraries, and in 

school libraries as well. And, simply, we are just part of looking 

ahead, as opposed to looking behind. 

I share the frustration that Madam Chairwoman has, because 

the way we went to the library, or the way we learned technology, 

is a whole different scene. So we try to have some of our younger 

staff members involved with that. 

Mr. DAVIS. Thank you. 

Ms. RADICE. You are welcome, sir. 

Ms. Nunez, you mentioned the Laura Bush grant. Could you talk 

to me a little about that—just enhance that a little bit so I can understand it better; how it would help districts across America? 

Ms. NUNEZ. Sure. 

The grant was received by the School of Information Resources 

and Library Science. And so they created the Knowledge River program as an institute to recruit Native Americans and Hispanics to 

matriculate and earn a degree in library science. 

So it supported that. It supported students by way of offering 

scholarships for financial need for students who were, otherwise, 

unable to, actually, attend and earn a degree. It helped offset the 

cost of tuition, as well. But it also provides financial support, in 

41

terms of an assistantship in, particularly, library environments. So 

they are working and earning a stipend, or earning money, being 

in an information environment. 

Mr. DAVIS. Sounds great. Thank you. 

Ms. Zales, you mentioned that you have 280,000 readers in the 

summer. How do you get children—280,000 children in Pennsylvania—interested enough to read in the summer? 

Ms. ZALES. Our Summer Reading program is, obviously, very 

successful. And we are very pleased that the teens that are coming 

into our program are coming in in larger numbers. 

I think it is of great note that, in the city of Philadelphia alone, 

there were 10,000 teens who are participating in our Summer 

Reading program. So not only does it have the advantage of increasing their reading skills over the summer, it also has the secondary benefit—it is keeping them engaged in the library, in the 

safe place. 

The Summer Reading program is the very first program that 

public libraries offered. It is over 100 years old. And it actually 

started in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So we have history on our 

side; that there are generations who have participated in Summer 

Reading, and now have their children interested in it. 

I think part of the wonderful appeals of Summer Reading is they 

chose a very interesting theme every year. And it is a theme that 

young children and teens can all participate and find something interesting. And it is finding an interesting and engaging topic that 

will pull teens into the library and get them reading. 

Mr. DAVIS. Thank you. 

I had one last question. It is for Dr. Jolly. 

Thank you. I have an interest in a health and science background myself. I am a respiratory therapist. I own a health-care 

business. 

You talk about the three components necessary to increase success in sciences. Could you expand on that just a little bit, because 

we are running out of time? 

Mr. JOLLY. Certainly. 

A few years ago, the General Electric Foundation commissioned 

several colleagues of mine and myself, including Patricia Campbell, 

to look at what we knew about what was successful. What did research tell us about successful outcomes for transforming student 

success in the quantitative disciplines, through programming funded by independent organizations and federal organizations? 

We wanted to find out that there was more—what we found out 

in the first case, was that there was precious little research. A lot 

of reform in education happens according to what Tom Kibler calls 

the ‘‘pure of heart’’ model: ‘‘If my heart is pure and my intentions 

are good, I must be doing the right thing.’’ The right thing doesn’t 

always—the pure heart doesn’t always lead to good student outcomes. 

We found that when we had good student outcomes, generally, 

the programming that was trying to transform the educational 

process had one or more of three primary goals showing up. And 

as we looked at the research, it was even more apparent that those 

programs that succeeded following one of those three goals, the 

42

program officers supported one of those three goals, the participants thought of those three goals, or sometimes more. 

We thought we should look at those goals. And the goals were 

quite simple. Capacity: Achieving the requisite knowledge and 

skills to advance to more rigorous disciplinary content. And the National Science Foundation, Office of Systemic Reform, put hundreds 

of millions of dollars into teacher preparation, curriculum materials, development and other programming to try and allow us to 

give students the capacity to advance to more rigorous knowledge. 

But you can have the finest teacher in the world and the greatest 

curriculum; if the child believes math is hard and it is not for 

them, if they are looking out the window instead of attending to 

the class, it doesn’t matter. 

And so what students also needed, we found out, was engagement; an orientation to an interest, and a belief in their own efficacy to learn about these areas; knowing that science could be for 

girls; that science and math could be for any child. And so we have 

put tens of million dollars into programs like Operation Smart and 

Head Start. Girl Scouts of America have spent millions to try and 

get young people engaged. 

Today, the secretary of education has a program in New York, 

Chicago and D.C. aimed at getting young people oriented to and 

engaged in math and science, because we have to have them interested. We have to have that spark. And if we give them that spark 

and that interest, and the course and rigor that they have to develop the capacity to move to more rigorous knowledge, then what 

we need to assure is that they have the more rigorous knowledge; 

they have the continuity. 

We have called it ‘‘systemic reform.’’ We have called it many things. Over $1 billion, in the last decade, was spent on this in 

America. 

But the question was: Why does so much success—because all of 

these things that you fund, of course, we will write a report and 

say just how successful we were—why is it that all this success 

doesn’t add up to more progress? 

And what we found when we looked at the research was that 

when we did a program for engagement or capacity or continuity, 

it worked, if, by happenstance, the other dimensions were already 

there. And what we need is an intentionality that coordinates at 

the appropriate level for each child, an assurance that they are engaged; that the capacity is there, and that the continuity, whether 

it is a knowledgeable and caring adult who can help them manage 

the field, or a curriculum or advisors in school, or the existence of 

A.P. calculus—that those continuity aspects are also in place. 

Let us be certain. If a child doesn’t take algebra in eighth 

grade—and only 27 percent of American students take algebra in 

eighth grade—they cannot be on track to take A.P. Calculus. And 

without A.P. calculus, they will not be able to enter into a traditional engineering for 4 years, in which we provide support. That 

means that three out of four American students are off-track to be 

engineers before they can spell the word, in eighth grade. 

And so we need to engage them; give them an interest, a spark, 

a joy. Museums and libraries do that well. We need to provide the 

capacity by supporting the teachers, formal education, parents and 

43

programs that give them the requisite knowledge and skills. And 

we have to assure that, in their community, is the continuity that 

will move them along, put them on track for the most successful 

mathematics. 

We know that the number one predictor of college graduation is 

the number of math courses taken in high school. The top five performing states in America—57 percent of their students are taking 

algebra in eighth grade. We can make a difference. 

And our student-graduation rate from college reaches 79.8 percent in 4 years, for students who have had 4 years of high-school 

mathematics, regardless of whether that degree is going to be in 

fine arts, literature, biological sciences, respiratory therapy, or 

physics. 

It is a way to teach children how to think, gain discipline, and 

have an assurance that is staying in—in China—that trips off the 

tongue in far too many students—more than in the United States. 

In the United States, our students will tell you, ‘‘Birds of a feather 

flock together,’’ and, ‘‘Opposites attract,’’ and we know both can’t be 

true. In China, they will say, ‘‘With knowledge of chemistry, physics and math, I can stand anywhere without fear.’’

That confidence from being a successful learner comes when our 

institutions engage them, give them the spark, ignite the curiosity 

and put them into a system that can help them succeed—engagement, capacity and continuity in every student. Thank you. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you. 

Ms. Clarke, my colleague from New York? 

Ms. CLARKE. Thank you very much, Madam Chair and Ranking 

Member Platts. 

This has been a very engaging hearing. And I am thankful to all 

of you for coming. I am a beneficiary of a very enriched environment. I happen to represent a district that has the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Brooklyn Jewish Children’s Museum, the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, 

and about 12 local branches, as well as the Weeksville Museum. 

And born and raised in this district, I was a beneficiary of all of 

those institutions, with the exception of the Brooklyn Jewish Children’s Museum, which is one of our latest additions. 

So what we are talking about today is really, really—hits home 

for me. I was also a former New York City Council member. So I 

participated in the financing and the growth and development of 

all of these institutions. 

Coming from an environment that is rich, that has a long history 

of developing cultural institutions, museums and libraries, one of 

the challenges that I have found for our community is actually not 

just the preservation and growth and development of programming, 

but capital improvements. How do we maintain the facilities that 

house all of these programs, all of these materials? 

And so my question to you, Dr. Radice, is: What kind of grants 

does IMLS provide to support museums and libraries that implement programs for at-risk and disadvantaged communities? And is 

their preservation extending to capital improvements as well? 

Ms. RADICE. Unfortunately, we do not support capital improvements. There are other avenues to pursue that. We often give hints 

44

to people on where they might seek some help. And, certainly, that 

is a real issue. 

With the preservation of collections, has to come good housing for 

them. You have to have a roof over you that is not going to collapse 

and is not going to have rain. 

We have, throughout the history of this federal agency, been very 

supportive of all programs that really go down into the communities, all kinds of communities. We also, most recently—it is now 

3 years old—have supported a tremendous leadership program 

called ‘‘African American History and Cultural Grants.’’

These grants are given to institutions—African American institutions—who are not only developing programs that are of special 

significance, that can be replicated and shared with all museums, 

but also to help establish a professional track for many of the museum workers, who might not have had that opportunity. 

So we are very aware that we have to be engaged at the—right 

at the beginning, the entry level. And I wish I could give grants 

to help keep the roof on, but we certainly try to help. 

Ms. CLARKE. We have to take a look at that. 

Ms. RADICE. Yes, ma’am. 

Ms. CLARKE. When you have an institution that is much older, 

and, perhaps, the population around that institution is changed so 

you don’t have the type of benefactors, it becomes a challenge for 

the communities to maintain and make sure that these collections 

that have been around for hundreds of years, in many cases, are 

maintained in the appropriate environment. 

For instance, our Brooklyn Museum has been trying to get a correct HVAC system to make sure that the pieces that they have 

don’t fade away because the humidity or the heat or the—you 

know, the conditions are not right to maintain some of those older 

pieces. 

So I think this is something that we certainly need to take a look 

at. I commend you on specializing in areas of collecting, particularly the pieces that reflect the cultural diversity of the environments in which we find many of our cultural institutions. 

I am interested, from the rest of the panel—I am sure you all 

have been seeing that all—I am sure you all are—and seeing that 

all parts of our communities are included and can share in all that 

our museums and libraries have to offer. 

My question for all witnesses is: What kind of outreach is being 

done, and should be done to include people who don’t traditionally 

visit museums or libraries. I mean, I have a knowledge of it. Again, 

I come from a multicultural environment. So, constantly, you are 

coming in—you have people coming in with English as a second 

language. You have folks who are immigrants, people who may be 

relocating back into the community because they were in prison for 

a certain amount of time, low-income, and seniors. 

What strategy is to be used to get them involved? And, just 

shortly, because I know my time is up. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. I am going to have to remind the witnesses to try to keep their answers short. 

Mr. JOLLY. Madam Chairwoman, Member Clarke, if I may—some 

of the programs that we have done at the Science Museum of Minnesota include running a youth group which—in one of our groups, 

45

12 young people have 16 languages, other than English, among 

them. We supported and paid them to develop 16 different language tours of our museum for their community. 

We have community advisory boards for all of our communities. 

We hold the largest Somali collection in the nation—or in the 

world—the largest public Hmong collection in the world; and celebrate our holidays with our community, treat our communities in 

the languages that they wish to be introduced to science for; and 

also helped to create outreach through our ticketing programs to 

community centers around the state. 

Ms. ZALES. If I could answer on behalf of libraries, please, we 

have recent studies that show, nationwide, that 78 percent of our 

libraries reported that Spanish is the main non-English language 

being spoken. And our libraries are responding in fine fashion to 

that. 

Not only are we working with those who are coming into the library to help them with their language skills, but we are catering 

our collections and tailoring them to have low literacy in English 

so that they can—or easy-reading materials in English that are at 

the adult level, so that we can keep adults coming into the library. 

We are certainly offering our program and our story times in Spanish. 

And we are, with the thanks of LSTA funds, investing in language labs, so many of our libraries, as in our schools—we have 15, 

20, 30 different languages being spoken, now. And our libraries 

must respond to that in order to keep the libraries relevant in serving those communities. 

Ms. NUNEZ. Good morning. 

The Knowledge River program, I think, is the perfect example of 

what it is doing to increase the workforce from the perspective of 

the cultural communities. And we are seeing an increase of those 

libraries delivering services to meet the needs of those constituencies to come into the libraries from a culturally—and a language 

perspective. 

So I think we are increasing the capacity for libraries to serve 

those communities, particularly through the Knowledge River program. 

Ms. LEBLANC. Yes. Recently, we started doing all of our library—

flower exhibitions in Spanish, as well as English. We have initiated 

a kindergarten-readiness program, a bilingual program, for our 

children about to enter kindergarten, as well as courses for their 

parents—for low-income families with—who—many of whom, 

whose children have not attended preschool. 

We work with many community agencies, different cultural 

groups, and do several things with them—give them free passes, 

again, so that they can come—families can come on their own and 

not feel like they have to come and say they don’t have money. But 

I also try and give them—the people that are interested—memberships, so that they can develop long-term relationships with the 

museum. 

And some of what you have to look at is what—do your staff 

speak other languages? Are your staff culturally diverse? Are the 

images they are seeing in your museum reflective of their experience? And what kind of programs are you doing? 

46

Ms. CLARKE. Thank you. 

My colleague, the ranking member of this committee, Mr. Platts? 

Mr. PLATTS. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

My apologies in not being able to be here at the beginning of the 

testimony, but I do appreciate all of our witnesses being here to 

share your knowledge and expertise, especially a fellow Pennsylvanian. 

Thank you for being here, representing the great Commonwealth. 

I do appreciate the insights shared, and, you know, appreciate 

the importance of our libraries and our museums; and, maybe, especially, as a parent of a 12-year-old and 9-year-old, in both numerous museum visits over many years now—sometimes my kids 

would say ‘‘too many museum visits,’’ perhaps, depending on what 

type of museum we are visiting, whether it is a hands-on, engaging 

for them, or more of a, ‘‘Look, don’t touch’’ museum, and more reading and learning. 

But we have seen the benefits of those visits, and especially with 

libraries—both my children have had their own library cards from 

early on, and have participated from infancy in the Summer Reading program at our local libraries in York and, in fact, just concluded this year’s Summer Reading program, documenting their 

minutes every day of reading. 

And I think one of their rewards that they really appreciated was 

the oldest fair in the United States, York Interstate Fair, continuous operation—and they got some free-ride tickets for their participation in the Summer Reading program. So they not only benefitted from reading, but they got a few rides. I think, Tuesday 

night, they took advantage of those rides. 

So, as a family, we appreciate the importance of both our museums and our libraries. I have seen the benefit of that. And I know 

we still have a ways to go in educating our fellow citizens—especially, the great, great benefits of reading from early on. 

And one of my colleagues from Illinois and I are co-sponsors of 

the Education Begins at Home Act, which is to help new parents—

especially, lower-income, single moms—you know, understand the 

challenges of parenthood, and how to best do right by their children. And one of those is reading to our infants. And the research 

we now have in brain development in the 0-to-3 years—and 85 percent of the neurons being developed then. 

And I remember sitting in the state capital, not far from our 

state museum, as a state representative with my, then, probably 6-

month-old son, T.J., who is now 12—sitting there, taking a break 

when he was—spent a lot of time traveling with me those first 10 

months—and reading a book to him—a children’s book. 

And a staff member popped her head in the door and said, ‘‘Todd, 

you don’t really think he understands what you are reading, do 

you?’’ And I said, ‘‘I know he doesn’t understand what I am reading 

to him in the story, but that brain is working and digesting what 

he is hearing. And that will strengthen him on the reading side.’’

And then, Dr. Jolly, your emphasis on math and science—equally 

important that we do better conveying the importance of that foundation. 

47

I had the great blessing, as a student—in the same building as 

my 12-year-old, who is now attending middle school—it was my 

junior high, when I went there—of having great math opportunities 

all the way up through calculus, in high school—matrix and probabilities, statistics—and know how much that benefitted me in my 

further studies in college and law school, and to this day. 

So what you are doing is wonderful. And the importance that, individually, and, then, collectively—that you are bringing to our nation—and, especially, I think, to our future generations—is so important. 

So most importantly, I want to just say thank you for your efforts and your leadership in your respective positions, and the benefit you are bringing and achieving. 

My one question, in a broad sense—and I know this is not a reauthorization hearing. But I know we will be looking ahead to the 

importance of reauthorizing the Museum and Library Services Act. 

Is there any one thing—and I am going to take off the table ‘‘more 

money,’’ because I know that is a given—that there is always a 

need for additional funding to expand the programs that we know 

are working, such as the Summer Reading program. 

But is there something just to put on the table as we look ahead 

to strengthening this important act, or other related acts, that any 

of you want to share that we should just kind of have on the radar 

as we go ahead next year? 

Mr. JOLLY. Member Platts, one of the things that I find that has 

been very helpful in the last decade has been the rise of reasonable 

accountability. And that is asking us to evaluate outcomes that 

really do look at, ‘‘How have we transformed who informs our work, 

who forms our work, and who benefits from our work?’’

And adding evaluation, and funding that evaluation within the 

general grant structure is something that is very valuable to our 

institution, and helping to create a collective knowledge that informs all of us towards better practices in the future. 

Mr. PLATTS. In my understanding that—the importance of that, 

if you—in requiring that evaluation—that is not an eligible expense 

under the federal act today? 

Mr. JOLLY. It currently is, under many federal-government programs. But we need a practice that will allow for reasonableness 

in the amount of—and the balance between what program is being 

funded and what the evaluation is; recognizing that, in some very 

new and innovative programs, we may need to increase the percentage of our funding which goes towards evaluation. 

And we may not need to have higher scrutiny of those that are 

already proven. 

Mr. PLATTS. Okay. 

Mr. JOLLY. And so broader flexibility in meeting those accountability guidelines and goals, and greater opportunities to support 

innovative research on cutting-edge programs; accepting that the 

very best science will fail before it succeeds. 

Mr. PLATTS. Okay. Thank you. 

Madam Chair, is it okay—I know I am at my time limit—if—follow up, here—any others? 

Ms. RADICE. If I may just add a word, sir? 

48

We are listening. And, in fact, the process of reauthorization is 

very complex. And so the reason I am being mute is because these 

are the people who are on the ground. Sometimes when you are 

very close to something, you can’t see the fine-tuning you need to 

do. 

And I would suspect that, as we approach reauthorization—that 

the stability that IMLS has provided, and the great programs and 

the way in which it is operated, will stay. But I am sure there are 

fine-tunings that we will learn from people in the field. 

So as you engage in the reauthorization process, I think it is essential to hear from, as they say, ‘‘the field’’——

Mr. PLATTS. Yes. 

Ms. RADICE [continuing]. And from, just citizens, and maybe even 

from some people who don’t go to libraries and museums. What can 

we do to help them? 

Mr. PLATTS. Thank you. 

Ms. RADICE. You are welcome. 

Mr. PLATTS. Ms. Zales? 

Ms. ZALES. We thank the LSTA fund, the IMLS. In Pennsylvania, the funds have been synonymous with innovation. And we 

are satisfied, all in all, with the administration and reauthorization, and ask that the innovation and the creativity that is made 

possible through these funds remain a priority. 

In Pennsylvania, the LSTA funds have truly been the seed 

money for the most innovative and sustained programs. And evidence of the successful component of that dimension is, in all cases, 

those programs went on to be funded by a direct state appropriation to sustain and allow them to grow. 

So I underscore the significance of allowing these funds to be 

used in innovation. 

Mr. PLATTS. Okay. 

Ms. LEBLANC. I was involved in programs that were funded by 

IMLS for, maybe 15 years now, and I know that the agency has 

gone through changes in its guidelines and went through a process 

of getting a lot of feedback from its community. And I just want 

to reiterate that that has been very helpful; and that the current 

guidelines really, I think, support innovation in a way that it didn’t 

emphasize so much before. 

Mr. PLATTS. Great. 

Thank you, Madam Chair. 

And if I could just close with a thank you, personally—not as a 

parent, in this case, but myself—I commute daily from York, so I 

spend a lot of time in the car. And the Village Library of Jacobus—

our local library that we are members of—a very small community 

library—is where all of my books on tape or CDs come from—that 

I survive my 100-mile-each-way commute. 

So I, personally, benefit, and my wife and children are there 

every 2 weeks and pick three of four books for me that I get 

through over the course of the next few weeks. And that is what 

allowed me to stay sane on my daily commute here. 

So thank you, Madam Chair. 

Thank you, again, for your participation, each of you. Thank you. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. Thank you, Mr. Platts. 

Mr. Sarbanes? 

49

Mr. SARBANES. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. 

And thank you, to the panel. 

I have been scrolling through an email I got here from my staff 

that lists al the museums and libraries in my district. And I get 

more and more excited as I am going through the list, because I 

have been to most of them, but I haven’t been to them all. So now 

I got some tasks ahead of me—make sure I cover those. 

A tremendous resource, obviously, to any community, is the libraries and museums that are there. And Baltimore is no exception 

to that. In fact, the spirit of the city has been lifted in recent years 

by the expansion of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, with two new 

branches having opened—brand-new buildings, which had not happened for 30 years. And it reflects a sense of invigoration in the 

city, which has got us all very excited. 

I had two questions; the first is—and this may have been 

touched on before I came, and, if so, I apologize—but I was just curious—your perspective on free admission to, particularly, museums. I mean, we think of libraries as being free, in most instances. 

But museums, I know, are experimenting with what ‘‘free admission’’ means in terms of the relationship with the community. 

And I thought you would be a terrific group to get a perspective 

on that—the sort of pros and cons of it. 

Ms. RADICE. If I may say, it really depends on the community a 

little bit, sir, because, in some instances, museums—they just 

couldn’t function if they didn’t have some entry fee. Now, there are 

very creative ways—perhaps having a local business subsidize part 

of the entry fee, or having a couple days a week be free. 

In essence, when you get people through that door, you hope, not 

only, they are going to experience the importance of being in that 

place, but, maybe, spend a little money while they are there. 

So I agree you can’t have the fees so high that once you have 

walked through that door, you have said, ‘‘Well, I have spent it 

now. I have brought the family. That is it.’’ But developing good 

business plans and working within your local communities as part 

of the economic engine of that community—I think helps a great 

deal. 

It is a huge, huge challenge. I certainly agree with you. And 

when people come to Washington and they get to see the Smithsonian, and it is all free, it is tough to go home. It is tough to go 

home and pay the entry fee. I know. 

Ms. LEBLANC. Yes, our museum receives half of its operating 

budget from earned income, the biggest portion of which is entry 

fees; the other half, from various donations. 

What we try to do is raise money from businesses, foundations, 

other kinds of sources to fund access for families and agencies that 

can’t afford to pay the admission fee. And we distribute several 

thousand free tickets in that way, and establish relationships with 

groups. But, because of financial pressures, we need to charge the 

admission fee to people that can afford to pay. 

I did a little study from our Visitor Service computer. And the 

number of people that actually paid the full admission fee was a 

very small percentage of the number of people that came in. So 

people are coming at reduced rates, they are coming in for free. 

50

It would be great for everyone to be free, but it is unrealistic if 

you are not funded by a governmental entity. 

Ms. ZALES. If I could speak to the libraries, there is a long tradition and a long philosophy that information in libraries is to be 

free. It is part of what makes the information in the library a common denominator of information and resources across the commonwealth. 

We also know that the library is not free, and a library card is 

of no charge to residents of Pennsylvania, if you reside in a municipality that contributes to your public library—again, the concept 

being that if you are participating from your municipality, giving 

money to your library, those resources are available to you. 

Libraries, like most other institutions, have costs. And those 

costs are increasing, as well. And libraries are trying their best to 

recover. But libraries in Pennsylvania have, and will remain—a library card will remain free. 

Mr. SARBANES. Let me ask you real quick, because my time is 

going to run out: Where there have been strong partnerships between schools and museums or schools and libraries—what is driving that? Do you find that it is the individual school that—where 

the partnership sort of emanates from? 

Do you find that school systems make a commitment that makes 

it easier to access and build those partnerships—just quick 

thoughts, a couple——

Ms. RADICE. I would say all of the above. 

Of course, with a school, if you have a dynamic, terrific principal, 

you are going to have a leader right away who is going to understand those values. But I think the fact that museums and libraries are part of the education system, in general—I think it is a 

symbiotic relationship. So I think, at all levels, we would like to see 

that. 

Mr. SARBANES. Great. 

Thank you all very much. 

Chairwoman MCCARTHY. I want to thank everybody for their testimony. 

And right before I go into my closing statement, I would like to 

put a challenge out to all of you. The collaboration, obviously, between all of you who are, in my opinion, educators—yes, in libraries, museums—but, next year, we are going to be reauthorizing 

‘‘Leave No Child Behind.’’ Obviously, there has been some controversy about it. 

But if you had thoughts, especially on math and science, and how 

we get our young people to be more open to that—and I would appreciate it. I mean, you know, it is just information for us, because 

everybody here is on the full committee of eduction. 

So if you have any outside thoughts on what possibly could go—

or how could we even work together a little bit more between our 

schools and between the libraries and museums—I would appreciate that information. 

I want to thank each one of you for coming here today to share 

with us the work being done by libraries and museums to strengthen our communities. Each of you shared with us strong programs 

happening across the country, which are encouraging and inspiring. 

51

It is through the continued support and strengthening of communities, and the people living in them, that our nation is growing 

stronger. 

Today, particularly, on 9-11, is a day for us to remember that we 

must continue to work together to aid our fellow citizens and improve the lives around all of us. Museums and libraries serve as 

a unique role in this endeavor, and to do it in creative ways unique 

to each community for which they serve. 

I hope that, as people watch this hearing and learn of these programs, that new connections are forged across the country and 

across the world, to connect people to information, to ideas and to 

each other. 

Again, I want to thank each of you for being here today. 

And I thank, to you, my subcommittee members, for their continued dedication and support. 

As previously was so ordered, members will have 14 days to submit additional materials for the hearing record. Any member who 

wishes to submit followup questions, in writing, to the witnesses, 

should coordinate with the majority staff, within the requested 

time. 

Without objecting, this hearing is adjourned. 

[The statement of Mr. Altmire follows:]

Prepared Statement of Hon. Jason Altmire, a Representative in Congress 

From the State of Pennsylvania 

Thank you, Chairwoman McCarthy, for holding this important hearing on the role 

of museums and libraries in strengthening communities. 

Today’s hearing will focus on the Institute for Museum and Library Services 

(IMLS) and the important work they do to help museums and libraries connect people to information and ideas in communities across the country. In my district in 

western Pennsylvania, IMLS has provided three libraries with grants and, across 

the state of Pennsylvania, IMLS has provided nearly $6 million for the expansion 

and development of museum and library services. 

Museums and libraries provide our communities with a way to better understand 

our communities, our nation and our world. People of all ages can visit museums 

and libraries to gain a better understanding by learning from collections, exhibits 

and programs that are offered. Museums and libraries are one of the most important resources for education our children and, as we will hear today, offer services 

that no one else can. 

Thank you again, Chairwoman McCarthy, for holding this hearing. I yield back 

the balance of my time. 

[The statement of Mr. Davis of Illinois follows:]

Prepared Statement of Hon. Danny K. Davis, a Representative in Congress 

From the State of Illinois 

Chairwoman McCarthy and Ranking Member Platts, I am pleased that the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities is holding this hearing on how 

museums and libraries strengthen our communities. The Seventh Congressional 

District of Illinois is home to some of the greatest museums in the country. As its 

elected official, I know first hand that these entities serve as integral elements of 

the fabric of Chicago. In addition to demonstrating how these institutions contribute 

greatly to our communities, I hope that this hearing will generate suggestions for 

how lawmakers can improve the ability of these organizations to promote the education of our citizens. For example, are there opportunities within the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to better support the 

high-caliber professional development programs operated by these institutions? The 

Chicago Public Library receives 92% of its funding from the City of Chicago and 8% 

from the State of Illinois, receiving minimal federal assistance. As Congress examines ESEA, are there provisions that can be adjusted to support public libraries in 

52

their efforts to educate the young and old? Can we develop ways to integrate the 

museums and libraries in improving our curriculum to better engage students to 

prevent drop outs? Are there changes to the Institute of Museum and Library Services Act that could facilitate community programming? Given the remarkable works 

taking place in Chicago, I want to take an opportunity to describe some of the successful programs operating in Chicago. I hope that this sample of programs offered 

in Chicago will help policymakers understand the fundamental value of these efforts. Thank you. 

Adler Planetarium 

The Adler Planetarium is committed to developing and implementing educational 

initiatives aimed at capturing children’s interest in science at critical moments in 

their intellectual development. It offers an array of engaging programs, such as 

Astro-Science Workshops, Educational Camps, Scouts in Space Programs, and Professional Development Workshops for teachers. The philosophy connecting these 

programs is that there is amazing potential for transformation within the classroom 

and that developing teachers’ skills in scientific disciplines and inquiry-based learning methodologies that are aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards will nurture 

and unleash this potential. The Adler’s goal is to equip students with basic knowledge, skills and investigative strategies from the scientific world so they can succeed 

in school and the future workforce and understand the relevance of science in their 

daily lives. 

The Adler offers a variety of programs to support quality science education in Illinois and across the country. These include: 

Teacher Professional Development Workshops to help teachers further their 

knowledge of the science concepts they are teaching and equip them with handson learning techniques to use in the classroom. During the 2007-2008 school year, 

the Adler provided 18 teacher professional development workshops, which attracted 

1,034 from nearly 180 Illinois schools. 

Distance Learning Programs via the Adler’s website and videoconferencing sessions, such as Ask the Expert, give students opportunities to ask questions of museum astronomers. Nine hundred students at schools outside Illinois participated in 

one of 36 videoconferencing programs during the 2007-2008 school year. 

Classroom Kits and Web-based Educational Resources for teachers that include 

everything they need to implement the hands-on learning techniques and classroom 

experiments demonstrated during Adler teacher professional development workshops. 

A Pilot 5-week Earth & Space Science Unit developed at the request of Loyola 

University Chicago to serve as part of the 11th grade physics course. The unit will 

be divided between earth and space topics and encompass a subset of the Illinois 

earth and space science learning standards. With oversight from Loyola, Adler education staff and astronomers also will provide training and professional development 

for science teachers using the unit. The Earth & Space Science Unit will encompass 

two and one-half weeks of astronomy and two and one-half weeks of earth science 

curriculum. This project will have district-wide impact, support the Chicago Public 

Schools’ efforts to improve high school curriculum, and better prepare students for 

college. 

Chicago Children’s Museum 

The mission of Chicago Children’s Museum is to create a community where play 

and learning connect. With nearly 800,000 annual visitors within the museum and 

in programs throughout Chicago, Chicago Children’s Museum is now the second 

most-visited children’s museum in the country and the fifth most visited museum 

in Chicago. Collaborating with 400 community partners, a priority of Chicago Children’s Museum is to represent and reach communities throughout Chicago to provide families with resources and access opportunities. 

The museum engages children and adults in culturally sensitive, first-person programs that foster an excitement for the arts, science, literacy and diverse cultures. 

This work comes alive in exhibits such as My Museum. For this exhibit, Chicago 

Children’s Museum partnered with Street-Level Youth Media to unveil a new component ‘‘My Community Matters,’’ an inspiring audio/video compilation of children’s 

first-person perspectives about their own communities. 

Chicago Children’s Museum strengthens families through its implementation of 

programming in underserved areas and access opportunities for those in need. In 

ArtReach, an after-school, intergenerational program, museum educators offer dynamic, high-quality art instruction with a strong literacy component. ArtReach provides children and their families the opportunity to collaborate and learn together, 

and books and materials to extend the experience at home. 

53

To empower children from an early age to celebrate each other’s similarities and 

differences, Chicago Children’s Museum focuses on anti-bias education, which allows 

children to develop empathy, critical thinking skills, a comfort level with diversity, 

and a confident self-identity. Through programs like Passport to the World, the museum exposes visitors to a rich variety of people, beliefs and cultures to not only 

break down stereotypes, but also to help children and families build a strong and 

confident self-identity and an informed and proud group identity. Now in its 10th 

year, Passport is an opportunity for communities to explore and showcase the essence of their culture for the education of their own children and the children of 

Chicago. 

Chicago Children’s Museum’s Student Programs offer opportunities for pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students to participate in workshops facilitated by museum educators either at Chicago Children’s Museum or directly in schools. All 

workshops are linked to state goals and standards and are intended to complement 

classroom curriculum. In workshops, such as smART Spaces, the Chicago Children’s 

Museum educators help teachers and students turn their classrooms into a vibrant 

art studio, where young students re-shape, re-build, and re-invent everyday objects. 

A collaboration between the museum and community partners, Chicago Children’s 

Museum’s Initiatives for Latino and African-American Communities create unique, 

playful learning experiences for educators, community organizations, children, and 

families. Annually, these Initiatives engage thousands of children and adults in significant creative, cultural, and educational activities. Through these Initiatives, the 

museum offers Community Resource Fairs, which engage families in performances 

and workshops while connecting parents and caregivers with important resources in 

their community to support and strengthen families. 

The Chicago Public Library 

The Chicago Public Library is comprised of 79 neighborhood libraries which serve 

2.9 million Chicagoans as well as residents of more than 200 surrounding Illinois 

towns and communities through reciprocal borrowing arrangements. More than 1.1 

million people visit Chicago Public Libraries in person each month and more than 

1 million visit its website each month to find books and other library materials in 

more than 40 languages; events; programs; and online research through more than 

70 databases in various subject areas. In 2007, the Chicago Public Library provided 

more than 3.8 million free one hour Internet sessions and circulated more than 7.7 

million items. The Library offers a variety of programs and services to meet the developmental needs of residents: 

Preschool Children: The Library offers instruction, special book and alphabet collections, and lapsit story times for teachers, parents and caregivers that emphasize 

the importance of reading aloud daily to children from birth in order to prepare students to enter kindergarten ready to read. Also, there are collection development 

workshops for Head Start and pre-K teachers and special lapsit story times and preliteracy programs for infants and toddlers in multiple libraries. 

School Age Children: The Library’s annual summer reading program is a core 

service to the community, serving more than 49,000 Chicago children who read 

more than 1.2 million books in 2008. In addition, science and conservation programs 

were taught in every library by educators from the City’s Department of the Environment, the Museum of Science and Industry, and Garfield Park Conservatory. 

The Teacher in the Library program provides certified teachers to work with students on homework in 47 branch libraries everyday after school. 

Teens: The Library offers a few key programs for teens. Teen Volume provides 

reading, writing and financial literacy workshops for teens. There also are special 

book collections of fiction and nonfiction geared to teens, and the Readers Theater 

workshops provide teens an opportunity to adapt and present content from popular 

fiction for audiences citywide. 

Adults: Multiple programs help engage adults in reading and learning. For example, the One Book One Chicago program is a citywide reading initiative presented 

twice a year that is designed to encourage all Chicagoans from high school through 

senior citizens to read, discuss and attend cultural programs about the same book. 

Similar programs now offered in more than 150 cities around the world. The Museum Passports program allows library cardholders to check out free family admission passes to any of Chicago’s museums and cultural institutions. This service is 

key to providing cultural opportunities to Chicago’s citizens. Similarly, the Words 

and Music program improves access to classical music by distributing thousands of 

free lawn admission passes to Ravinia Music Festival’s summer classical music programs. The Library also offers Adult Book Discussion Groups that meet monthly in 

more than 50 branches, plus a special Summer Reads for Adults program that attracted more than 5000 participants in 2008. Finally, the Money Smarts program 

54

provides free financial literacy classes for adults and families citywide, addressing 

topics such as money management, credit cleanup, home buying, investing and saving for college. 

Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo 

Families throughout Chicagoland know that Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo provides experiences and memories that can last a lifetime. These memories make it a valued community institution that provides unique educational experiences that foster connections with wildlife and nature. In 2007, 250,000 students 

participated in field trips to Brookfield Zoo. With almost 75 years of conservation 

leadership, both Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo are sources of pride 

for our community. Less understood is that the Brookfield Zoo is a valuable community institution that employs hundreds of local residents and generates an economic 

ripple effect throughout Chicago and Illinois. In 2007, with a budget of $56.3 million, Chicago Zoological Society employed 1,124 people with a total of $53.9 million 

in wages. 

Chicago Zoological education and community programs positively impact children 

and families throughout Cook County. These programs supplement existing science 

curricula for students and enhance the capacity and professional credentials of 

teachers. All content is aligned to Chicago Math and Science Initiative Scope and 

Sequence K-8 and Illinois State Learning Standards. The Chicago Zoological Society’s School, Group, and Teacher Programs are divided into three major service delivery areas: 

School Programs offer classes for students from preschool through high school. 

The Connections series of classes explores a wide array of topics, including animal 

survival, critter coverings, wetland wonders, animal behaviors, ecosystems, and primate populations. Classroom presentations offer hands on experiences, experiments, 

songs, live animals, and expert facilitators. Brookfield Zoo is used as a living classroom to offer engage students in animals and conservation. In 2007, almost 19,500 

students participated in Connections series at Brookfield Zoo. As part of the School 

Programs, inclusion is a focus. Several classes are designed with inclusion students 

specifically in mind; especially Every Student is a Scientist. In 2001, the program 

increased outreach to Chicago Public School as well as deepened our relationships 

with individual schools. Additionally, two programs, Good Works and Bridges, allow 

special needs citizens volunteer and work opportunities at the Zoo. 

Teacher Programs offer unique learning experiences that enrich educators’ classroom curricula. Workshops, classes, exhibit previews, and Zoo experiences all provide professional development opportunities for teachers. As an approved Illinois 

State Board of Education provider, continuing education credits are offered. Graduate and undergraduate credits are offered through an academic partnership with 

Aurora University, National Louis University, and Triton College. In 2007, 1,265 

teachers participated in Chicago Zoological Society teacher training programs that 

annually will indirectly reach at least 38,000 students. 

The School Partnership Program is a unique partnership with Riverside-Brookfield High School. An interdisciplinary curriculum for freshman combines algebra, 

biology, English, and physical education while focusing on local environmental 

issues and environmental literacy. Brookfield Zoo assists with coordination, science 

expertise, and the use of the Zoo as a living classroom. Students experience a coordinated approach to learning while enjoying such adventures as kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, orienteering, and water quality analysis. 

DuSable Museum of African American History 

The DuSable Museum of African American History is dedicated to the collection, 

documentation, preservation, interpretation and dissemination of the history and 

culture of Africans and Americans of African descent. Through its exhibitions, archives and a diverse array of education programs, the DuSable Museum seeks to 

interpret and illuminate their experiences and contributions to American and world 

history, culture and art. In fulfilling its mission, DuSable Museum presents continuing and special exhibits and installations, interpretive and educational programs including film screenings, theatre performances, concerts, lectures, and several special events each year. Public programs interpret exhibitions and/or celebrate 

important figures, events, periods and themes in African American history and elements of African culture. The DuSable Museum of African American History is the 

first museum of its type in the country and is the only major independent institution in Chicago established to preserve and interpret the historical experiences and 

achievements of African Americans. All of its programs are produced for underserved communities surrounding the Museum. They include: 

55

Martinmas Day/King Day is a weekend tribute in film and documentary 

screenings and performances that celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther 

King Jr. 

Juneteenth Celebration commemorates the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. 

Annual Arts and Crafts Festival is an outdoor exposition of visual art by Chicago 

artists and artisans coupled with performances and an activities pavilion for children. 

Penny Cinema Series offers year-round screenings of youth-oriented films and videos. 

Kwanzaa Celebration examines and celebrates a family-focused observance of the 

year-end African American cultural holiday. In addition, there is a Kwanzaa Children’s Penny Cinema Series—a special collection of films that celebrate and discuss 

the origins and values of the Kwanzaa season through traditional sounds of West 

Africa. 

Youth Docents Program trains high school and college students as gallery guides. 

African Storytelling involves weekday presentations of African fables, proverbs, 

and legends designed for younger children led by local storytellers. 

African Rhythm Series offers weekday demonstration workshops on the music and 

dances of various African cultures and their derivations in the Americas. 

Good Greens highlights the vibrant cultural tradition of African Americans 

through good food and food for thought, authorized by the passage of the 2008 Farm 

Bill by Congress, which included historic provisions for urban communities. 

Youth Advisory Program helps underrepresented high school students obtain 

work-based learning competencies, educational enrichment and leadership skills, 

along with tour guide and diversity training while gaining insight as to how museums operate. 

The Field Museum 

The Field Museum was established in 1893 to expand scientific knowledge about 

the earth and its peoples and to disseminate that knowledge to the public. The Field 

Museum continues to pursue these goals today through a variety of programs designed to foster deep personal interactions with the awe-inspiring, intricate realities 

of the natural world. Serving 1.5 million people annually, the Field Museum brings 

diverse communities within Chicago together to learn about conservation, biodiversity, and the history of life on earth. The Field’s activities include: 

Education. The Field has a long-standing commitment to education. In 2008, its 

education department offered approximately 4,000 public programs that served over 

700,000 people in 2008. In addition to its exhibits, the Field provides numerous 

other innovative educational programs that strengthen the Chicago community. For 

example, The Harris Educational Loan Center has served millions of Illinois school 

children and aided thousands of teachers in enhancing basic science education since 

1911. The Center delivers collection materials and science curricula to classrooms 

at little to no charge. The Center is the longest-running and most comprehensive 

museum educational outreach program of its kind in the U.S., benefiting more than 

250,000 students annually. Dozin’ with the Dinos has provided an overnight adventure that provides family activities, lectures, tours, and performances for almost 20 

years. Guests explore museum exhibits, such as ancient Egypt by flashlight and Sue 

the T. Rex, and sleep near popular exhibits. The High School Transformation 

Project improves student achievement and graduation rates at Chicago Public 

Schools by developing high-caliber curricula and professional development programs, constituting a vital partner in urban education reform. In collaboration with 

the Illinois Institute of Technology and the Chicago Public Schools, the Field develops engaging, inquiry-based curricula in the areas of biology, chemistry, and physics. 

Conservation. The Field Museum maintains a comprehensive commitment to 

science-based conservation. Its Environment, Culture and Conservation department 

(ECCo) was established in 1994 to help deploy The Field Museum’s collections, scientific research, and educational resources to the immediate conservation needs at 

local, national, and international levels. Successful programs include: (1) collaboration projects with local and regional governments and others to create new and selfsustaining conservation parks (Chicago, Peru, Guatemala) to preserve endangered 

biospheres and help address global ecological challenges; (2) conservation education 

programs that engage local students in hands-on restoration stations at three sites: 

Wolf Lake, Eggers Woods, and Hammond, IN; and (3) the ‘‘Cultural Connections’’ 

program, which is a partnership of ethnic museums and cultural centers that is engaged in exploring common cultural themes and experiences in Chicago’s vastly diverse urban cultural fabric. 

56

Basic Science and Research. The Field is a world-class center for collections-based 

scientific research. These collections are the core and essence of the Museum and 

contain the raw data that allow us to trace the history of the earth through the complex waves of evolutionary development of plant and animal life. The Field employs 

over 200 scientists, and houses more than 24 million scientific specimens. It is an 

international leader in research related to evolutionary biology, molecular systematics, paleontology, archaeology and ethnography. 

Museum of Science and Industry 

The Museum of Science and Industry’s vision is to inspire and motivate all children to reach their full potential in the fields of science, technology, medicine and 

engineering. The new Center for the Advancement of Science Education goes beyond 

the Museum walls into schools and community organizations across the Chicago 

area. The Center’s programs empower teachers, engage the community and excite 

students. Programs are designed to provide support to teachers, reach children in 

a variety of settings, and make it easy to participate. The Center offers programs 

through three divisions: The Institute for Quality Science Teaching; Community Initiatives; and Student Experiences. 

The Institute for Quality Science Teaching helps educators teach science with 

greater passion and confidence. Professional development workshops increase teachers’ knowledge of science, improve their teaching skills and demonstrate how to use 

Museum programs and exhibits to enhance science curriculum. Approximately 250 

teachers participate in workshops annually, ultimately impacting science education 

for about 10,000 students each year. Workshops are offered at no cost to teachers, 

who typically work in Chicago Public Schools. The program targets schools most in 

need of resources, with 42 of the 50 schools that participated in the 2007-08 yearlong workshop series primarily serving low-income children. 

Community Initiatives expand the Museum’s reach by providing children from diverse backgrounds with early exposure to exciting ideas, opportunities and career 

paths. Demand for these programs is great, and there are waiting lists for acceptance. The After-school Science Minors Clubs were developed to help increase science 

literacy and increase interest in science in underserved Chicago neighborhoods. The 

Museum partners with schools and community-based organizations to provide 

science clubs to about 4,000 8- to 13-year-olds. Currently, there are 36 clubs 

throughout the Chicago region. The Science Minors youth development program targets 14- to 17-year-olds in underserved communities and provides the opportunity 

to learn about science, meet scientists, develop public speaking skills and earn service-learning hours. Three sessions each school year involve 45 students each time. 

Since its debut in 2003, about 400 teens have participated. The Science Achievers 

program allows teens who have completed Science Minors to deepen their work with 

the Museum and prepare for college and careers. Students participate in internships, mentor new classes of Science Minors and facilitate science clubs. About 100 

students are currently participating. All 23 Science Achievers who graduated from 

high school last spring are attending college this fall with full or partial scholarships. 

The Student Experiences program invite nearly 300,000 students on field trips 

each year to experience the passion and thrill of scientific discovery. Beyond great, 

interactive Museum exhibits, dedicated Learning Labs provide facilitated learning 

experiences that allow students to explore science in exciting ways. About 12,000 

students each year in grades 3 through 12 participate in hands-on lab activities that 

are aligned with Illinois Learning Standards in science. Labs have pre- and postvisit activities along with additional resources to enhance what students learn. 

Since the program debuted in 2003, more than 10,000 students have participated. 

The Museum of Science and Industry’s Programs are evaluated routinely with 

strong outcomes. For example, a 2007 evaluation of Learning Lab Programs showed 

that 85% of teachers were satisfied with the programs and students participation 

and motivation improved in the classroom. 

The Shedd Aquarium 

Shedd Aquarium has served Chicago communities for more than 75 years. Its philosophy is that animals connect an individual to the living world, inspiring one to 

make a difference. Shedd Aquarium fosters this ethic by building peoples’ appreciation, learning and understanding of the aquatic systems in their own neighborhoods 

and beyond; strengthening science literacy; and encouraging direct conservation action. The Shedd offers many wonderful programs that strengthen the Chicago community: 

The Neighborhood Initiatives project creates partnerships with community organizations that serve at-risk youth in afterschool settings to provide intense eduVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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cational programming concerning local environments, eventually leading to self-sustaining stewardship programs, including beach and park clean-ups and the restoration of native plants. 

The Park Voyagers program is a collaborative effort with Chicago Park District 

since 1997 to provide education programming for families across the city as part a 

three-year cycle designed to increase engagement with and use of museums in the 

Chicago area. It equips children for full participation in the civic and cultural life 

in the city of Chicago and helps families gain confidence with using museums as 

educational and recreational resources. 

Student Mentoring Programs help students explore career interests in aquatic 

science, animal care and conservation, as well as receive academic and social support from like-minded peers and trained staff. Students from diverse backgrounds 

participate in these programs beginning with lower impact experiences, such as an 

after school club, and then deepening their engagement with Shedd through intensive field programs on the Great Lakes, in the Bahamas and internationally. 

Teacher Mentoring Programs help teachers learn how to engage students in learning science via hands-on exercises. After participating in this program, teachers are 

more likely to incorporate hands-on science investigations into their teaching strategies and to rely less on textbooks as their sole means of teaching science. Approximately 200 public school teachers in 11 Chicago Public Schools participate in this 

three-year program. 

Community Festival Programming allows the Shedd to engage Chicagoans about 

issues facing the Great Lakes at events and community festivals, such as the Chicago Folk and Roots Festival and the Fourth Annual Great Lakes Surf Luau. Conversation topics include sustainable water use and maintaining water quality, as 

well as stresses on the lakes from invasive species and habitat destruction. Tools 

to help community members monitor their water use, such as shower timers and 

rain gauges, are given away. 

Sustainable Practices Technical Assistance programming assists a number of Chicago businesses and nonprofits (e.g., museums, law firms, sports stadiums) in their 

efforts to reduce energy costs and waste production through green practices. The 

Right Bite program works with local seafood wholesalers, restaurants, catering and 

retail outlets, and culinary schools to provide more sustainable and healthy seafood 

options to consumers in the Chicago market. 

[The statement of Mr. Davis of Tennessee follows:]

Prepared Statement of Hon. David Davis, a Representative in Congress 

From the State of Tennessee 

Thank you Madame Chairwoman, good morning, and let me extend a warm welcome to our distinguished panel of witnesses. 

Before we begin, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the somber anniversary 

being marked today. Seven years ago, our nation was forever changed by the murderous acts of a band of terrorists determined to undermine our very way of life. 

I’m proud of how our nation responded, with selfless acts of patriotism and courage, 

and a determination to maintain our freedom and defeat those who attack our citizens and our values. As we take this opportunity today to look at the institutions 

that strengthen our communities, we must all remember that those strong communities have stood in the face of terrorism and maintained the power of the American 

spirit. 

We are here early this morning to discuss the tremendous roles that museums 

and libraries play in strengthening the nation’s local communities. I particularly 

look forward to hearing from the Institute for Museum and Library Services who 

will discuss their support for IMLS programs and how they assist various museum 

and libraries with achieving their missions and goals. 

Our nation’s museums and libraries have historically played a vital role in helping society experience, explore, discover, and make sense of the ever changing world. 

Today, that role is more essential than ever. Through building technological infrastructure and strengthening community relationships, museums and libraries can 

offer the public unprecedented access and expertise in transforming information 

overload into knowledge. 

In many communities across America, the local library is the only place people 

of all ages and backgrounds can find, and freely use, a diverse set of resources, with 

the expert guidance of librarians. And far too often, the hometown library serves 

as the only public access to the Internet. 

58

Not to be left out, the treasures of our nation’s museums enable people to explore 

collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artifacts and specimens, which they hold in 

trust for society. 

As you know madam chairwoman, I am sitting in today for Mr. Platts, and I 

would like to ask unanimous consent to submit his opening statement for the 

record. Once again, I want to thank our witnesses for being here to discuss this important topic. I look forward to your testimony. Thank you Chairwoman McCarthy, 

and I yield back. 

[Questions for the record and their subsequent responses follow:]

U.S. CONGRESS, 

Washington, DC, September 17, 2008. 

DR. ERIC J. JOLLY, PH.D., President, 

Science Museum of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN. 

DEAR DR. JOLLY: Thank you for testifying at the September 11, 2008 hearing of 

the Committee on Education and Labor on ‘‘Examining the Role of Museums and 

Libraries in Strengthening Communities.’’

Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Healthy Families 

and Communities Subcommittee has asked that you respond in writing to the following questions: 

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools, and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary 

and Secondary Education Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts 

outside NCLB those are also welcome. 

2. In your written testimony you describe many collaborations that your museum 

has in your community, in your state, and across the nation, including with corporations, non-profits, and schools. What efforts do you put forth to reach out to these 

organizations and what do you do to share lessons learned in such connections and 

collaborations with other museums and libraries? 

3. You stated in your testimony that incorporating relevant information into your 

museum causes people to attend. How do you decide what is relevant and what is 

not and to whom? 

Please send an electronic version of your written response to the questions to the 

Committee staff by close of business on Tuesday, September 23, 2008—the date on 

which the hearing record will close. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Committee. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE MILLER, 

Chairman. 

Dr. Jolly’s Answers to Questions Submitted 

Chairwoman McCarthy, Ranking Member Platts, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to provide additional information about 

the important role that museums and libraries can play in strengthening our communities. 

I am pleased to offer the following comments in response to the three questions 

posed by Representative McCarthy: 

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary 

and Secondary Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts outside 

NCLB those are also welcome. 

2. In your written testimony you describe many collaborations that your museum 

has in your community, in your state, and across the nation, including with corporations, non-profits, and schools. What efforts do you put forth to reach out to these 

organizations and what do you do to share lessons learned in such connections and 

collaborations with other museums and libraries? 

3. You stated in your testimony that incorporating relevant information into your 

museum causes people to attend. How do you decide what is relevant and what is 

not and to whom? 

Q1: Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

59

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary 

and Secondary Act of 1965, better known as NCLB. If you have thoughts outside 

NCLB those are also welcome. 

As places of informal learning, museums and libraries are uniquely positioned to 

spark children’s excitement about science and math through hands-on learning that 

ties directly back to classroom lessons, to local and national standards in math and 

science, and to 21st century learning skills. Museums are natural partners with 

school districts to substantially increase the level and frequency of professional development opportunities for in-service teachers. 

According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, one in four engineers directly attribute their career choice to museum experiences as a child. 

In response to declining student interest and achievement in the STEM (Science, 

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines, some science museums, like 

the Science Museum of Minnesota, are raising the bar on the scope and rigor of 

their education initiatives, both in the classroom and in after school, weekend and 

summer programs. We have increased our level of intentionality, built infrastructure to conduct rigorous evaluation of our efforts, and launched initiatives that serve 

individual students and teachers, entire districts, and cross-district collaborations 

and networking. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has recognized 

these efforts, and our work was featured in the cover article of NCTM’s Teaching 

Children Mathematics in February 2007. 

We know that it is not enough simply to repackage our existing cadre of school 

programs; we must rethink, recreate and revitalize them. 

NCLB funding—should it be expanded to include experiences offered by museums 

and libraries—could play an important role in giving students access to these critical out-of-school enrichment experiences, provided that the programs can demonstrate they meet the following criteria: 

• Direct ties to the relevant standards. 

• Existing and ongoing professional evaluation. 

• Connections to classroom practice. 

Partnerships with school systems are critical for museums and NCLB could support those connections. A broadening of NCLB funding guidelines could also support 

programs that help develop high-performing science and math teachers. It is those 

teachers who inform and inspire the next generations of science learners. 

We are doing just that at the Science Museum of Minnesota with efforts that are 

closely tied to a vision of STEM education that is driven by state and national 

standards. 

Example: MUSE Project 

Materials & Understanding for STEM Educators (MUSE) in Minnesota is a statewide education initiative in STEM. MUSE in Minnesota is driven by a vision of a 

STEM-literate Minnesota citizenry and a mission to promote rigorous STEM education for all and eliminate the racial achievement gap. MUSE encompasses a unified program of change focused on 1) providing material and intellectual support for 

STEM educators through Science House, home of the Museum’s Teacher Resource 

Center and related programs, and 2) the expansion and support of middle school 

math and science initiatives, including professional development for STEM educators, district leaders and university faculty and expanded outreach programs in 

classrooms throughout Minnesota. 

MUSE is funded by the Minnesota State Legislature with the Minnesota Department of Education, initiated through support from 3M and Medtronic, both of which 

continue to provide funding. 

MUSE is given meaning through a set of Guiding Principles: 

• STEM Integration: Science is the study of the natural world using scientific 

habits of mind. It creates an authentic context for the development and application 

of mathematical problem solving. Mathematics is the study of pattern and abstraction and allows us to see complex relationships in the natural world and to make 

powerful, accurate predictions. Engineering and Technology use the outputs of 

science and mathematics to solve issues and problems for society. In addition, they 

produce instruments and process that further scientific and mathematical inquiry. 

• Effort-Based Learning: Learning is the arbiter of success. Learners’ beliefs and 

theories about intelligence greatly influence the kinds of goals they set and effort 

they employ. Incremental self-theories of intelligence—one can get smarter through 

effort—are essential in teaching, learning, and doing STEM. 

• Equity and Access: Closing the racial achievement gap is an imperative for Minnesota’s workforce, economic health and civic participation. Access involves implementing culturally relevant STEM curricula and culturally competent instruction 

for Minnesota’s increasingly diverse students. 

60

• Systems-Based Approaches: Meeting the Minnesota Academic Standards in 

Science involves vertical integration of concepts across grade levels, coherency 

across schools and within STEM, and sensitivity to local contexts and resources. 

Q2: In your written testimony you describe many collaborations that your museum has in your community, in your state, and across the nation, including with 

corporations, non-profits, and schools. What efforts do you put forth to reach out to 

these organizations and what do you do to share lessons learned in such connections 

and collaborations with other museums and libraries? 

We approach our work with a set of values that includes collaboration among our 

partners to advance our shared missions and goals. Most of our work is done in 

partnership with others. 

Examples of partner organizations and individuals 

• Organizations: more than 100 community-based science organizations across the 

state, 100 museums across the country involved in our nano science education collaborative, and professional associations such as: • American Association of Museums • American Association for the Advancement of Science • Association of Science-Technology Centers • Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota • National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 

• National Science Teachers Association 

• SciMath MN (Science and Math for Minnesota) 

• University of Minnesota 

• Individuals: community advisers and committees, STEM content experts, and 

35,000 member households 

• Businesses: 3M, Flint Hills Resources, GE Foundation, Medtronic 

• Government: Minnesota State Department of Education, Department of Natural 

Resources, National Park Service, National Science Foundation 

Openly sharing our work and lessons learned is another of our values. We work 

logically and consistently with a wide range of partner organizations to achieve common goals. We do so in a number of ways: 

• Our leadership in the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE 

Network) connects us to hundreds of museums, science centers, research centers 

and universities across the country that are learning together how to engage the 

public in the ever advancing field of nano science and technology. 

• Using new technologies, like the web, to create places for conversation and information sharing. Science Buzz, our current science, social-network based website, 

has build an online community of 70,000 to 100,000 unique visitors per month who 

engage in dialog about current science topics and events.Participation in conferences, such as the Association of Science-Technology Centers, the American Association of Museums, the Visitor Studies Association, the American Educational Research Association, the National Association for Research in Science Teaching and 

the International Conference of the Learning Sciences, as well as regional museum 

and education research conferences. 

• Articles in professional publications and journals, the Association of ScienceTechnology Center’s ASTC Dimensions, Society for Advancement of Chicanos and 

Native Americans in Science’s SACNAS News, Science Education, Visitor Studies, 

and Museums and Social Issues 

• Speeches and networking events at the conferences identified above as well as 

the National Coalition for After-School Science, the National Council of Supervisors 

of Mathematics, National Science Teachers Association and the National Council of 

Teachers of Mathematics. 

• Hosting the Experiment Bench Workshop, which extended the field’s efforts to 

engage the public in calculus, other complex mathematics, and wet lab experiments. 

• Hosting conferences that support national science learning efforts, such as 

NSF’s Science Technology Centers Conference, and the upcoming NIH Science Education Partnership Awards Directors meeting. 

• Participation on national task forces/activities, including the IMLS Youth Action Committee, National Academy of Science’s Study Panels, and NSF, IMLS and 

HHMI review panels. 

• Partnerships with other organizations, such as local library systems, University 

of Minnesota, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, local youth-serving agencies, 

and various museums across the country. 

• Hosting conferences on highly relevant issues: 

• 2006 Governor’s Roundtable and Summit on STEM education 

• 2008 Nano Science 

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• 2002 conference on the public understanding of research • 2009 Workshop to be co-sponsored with SciMath MN on the analysis of the 

TIMMS data 

Proof of Concept 

Perhaps the most intriguing way we share information is through projects and 

partnerships that are ‘‘proof of concept’’ models. We create a pilot program and build 

upon it through community and business partnerships. Once the concept has proven 

to be successful, we can then customize expand the program to a regional, statewide, national or even international scale. 

Here is a sample of two ‘‘proof of concept’’ programs currently in progress: 

• Proof of Concept: Mentor Buzz 

In the current 2008-09 school year, the Science Museum of Minnesota is conducting two pilot programs around Mentor Buzz, a unique web-based resource for 

mentors and youth that is designed to increase exploration and interest in STEM 

disciples. 500 student/mentor pairs will test the program, provide feedback and 

demonstrate the impact the program has on student/mentor pairs. Information gathered during the pilot will be used to launch a national roll out in Fall of 2009. Mentor Buzz is designed to augment established mentoring programs by providing content and engagement experiences that are specific to STEM disciplines. Because of 

the web-based nature of Mentor Buzz, and its tie to existing successful mentoring 

programs, the potential for growth and expansion after the national roll out is virtually unlimited. 

• Proof of Concept: Collector’s Corner 

The Science Museum of Minnesota is initiating a pilot project to test the efficacy 

of placing a version of the museum’s natural history trading post called Collector’s 

Corner into a community library. This program will engage youth of all ages to explore natural science by bringing in and learning about things they find in nature, 

including items like rocks, shells, leaves and insects. Libraries are strongly interested in offering more active programming related to STEM. The Collector’s Corner 

offers a unique opportunity to engage young library patrons in hands-on natural 

sciences exploration within the accessible learning environment of a community library. These efforts are then supported by the collections and expert staff from a 

local museum. Libraries and science museums can create enhanced science learning 

by working collaboratively to support STEM learning in and out of school contexts. 

If successful, the Collector’s Corner—Natural History Trading Post can be scaled up 

across the state of Minnesota to reach an enthusiastic youth and family audience 

looking for ways to enrich standard in-classroom science learning. This model has 

national potential to encourage greater museum and library partnerships to support 

greater science literacy by the public. 

Q3: You stated in your testimony that incorporating relevant information into 

your museum causes people to attend. How do you decide what is relevant and what 

is not and to whom? 

We recognize that science is the literacy of the future not just for the audiences 

we currently serve, but also for those we aspire to serve. 

Therefore, it is imperative that places of informal learning build sustained relationships with a broader, more diverse array of local, regional and national communities. We do this in three ways: 

• By broadening who informs our work by increasing and the number and variety 

of new partnerships formed, as well as the length and depth of those partnerships 

• By broadening who forms our work through increased diversity of project advisors and leaders 

• By broadening those who benefit from our work through an increased range and 

diversity of our audiences 

For example, Brighter Futures: Public deliberation about the science of early 

childhood development is a project that explores recent research on brain formation 

and competence development in the earliest years of life as a framework for closing 

the gap between what we know and what we do to support the well-being of children from birth to age five. The project includes policy forums, community workshops, training for Headstart educators and a 1,600 square-foot exhibition. Brighter 

Futures is informed by collaborations with Headstart, university researchers, policymakers and parents from communities across the region. The project’s programs and 

exhibits have multiple iterations, allowing a broader community of advisors to form 

our work so that it is responsive to a broader array of stakeholders. The project benefits not only parents, but all citizens who concern themselves with our society’s future. This happens through a carefully designed series of public forums that bring 

policymakers, scientists and other citizens together to hold informed conversation 

around supporting the development of our youngest citizens. Brighter Futures is inVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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strumental in closing the gap between policymakers and scientists, building on a 

foundation of the best science to allow museum visitors to become informed citizens. 

We are also attentive to external forces shaping the science debates of our day: 

• the increasing diversity and needs of our communities (including communities 

that are now un-served or underserved.) • the changing content and process of science itself and dealing in real time with 

these changes. • challenges resulting from rapid economic and cultural globalization. • concerns that the U.S. is losing its edge in developing the next generation of 

workers going into the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. 

At the Science Museum of Minnesota, we are intentional in our response to these 

external forces and how those forces are relevant to each audience we serve. We are 

deliberate in our internal structure—with an in-house research and evaluation department as well as staff dedicated to community relations, external relations and 

government—to ensure that we consistently remain relevant to the various audiences we serve, from adults and families, to schoolchildren, teachers and policymakers. 

We are a place for adult learners and families 

The museum has a long-standing commitment to supporting the learning needs 

of families. In addition to extensive efforts to design exhibits that support family 

learning, the Science Museum of Minnesota has been offering family workshops for 

over 20 years. Most recently, the museum has begun to systematically study new 

models for engaging families in intergenerational learning that emphasizes sciencelearning conversations. The museum has also studied the expectations and needs of 

non-dominant communities in the region. Our research with these communities has 

provided the foundation for our collaborations with a spectrum of regional family 

service organizations. 

We are a place for schoolchildren 

The Science Museum of Minnesota is one of the top school field trip destinations 

in Minnesota, offering teachers and students out-of-classroom, self-guided, hands-on 

experiences in STEM. The Science Museum of Minnesota has increased its structured offerings for school groups in recent years, to better align with state and national standards, while meeting the specific needs of students from non-dominant 

communities is the state. One example is MathPacks, funded by the Medtronic 

Foundation. Teams of students use mathematical tools to measure, record, compute 

and analyze data they collect from museum exhibits and objects as they solve a 

science challenge. The challenges relate directly to current scientific research performed by local scientists and guide the student teams through a series of activities 

in the museum’s permanent exhibit galleries. 

We are a place for teachers 

Science House was created to provide a vibrant, professional home for teachers 

at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The resource center provides curricular materials loans, formal and informal consultation, professional development program 

support, and community-building. One of the museum’s most innovate and far 

reaching programs for teachers at Science House and beyond is the Materials and 

Understanding for STEM Education (MUSE) in Minnesota initiative, an incubator 

to mobilize and support professional development partnerships throughout the state. 

Across the two years of this initiative, approximately 4,000 teachers will receive a 

total of approximately 18,000 hours of professional development; approximately 

16,000 students will receive direct outreach programming; and approximately 

150,000 students will engage with exemplary, hands-on curricular materials in 

STEM using materials on loan from Science House. 

The museum’s extensive efforts to support schoolchildren and teachers lay a foundation for a long-term initiative that will ultimately contribute to increasing the 

STEM workforce in Minnesota and sustaining public awareness of STEM as an essential literacy for civic engagement. 

We are a place for policymakers 

SMM partners with SciMathMn, a non profit statewide education and business 

coalition advocating for standards-based STEM education improvement, to provide 

annual legislative policy briefings at the museum for Minnesota state legislators, 

education leaders and state and local policymakers. These briefings focus on significant emerging STEM education reform issues and challenges that have legislative 

importance and policy implications. 

Additionally, the St. Croix Watershed Research Station (SCWRS) is the field research station of The Science Museum of Minnesota. Founded in 1989, the research 

63

program of the SCWRS has two major facets: in-house research by staff scientists 

and independent investigations by visiting scientists. Staff research at the SCWRS 

focuses on scientifically and environmentally important questions on regional, national, and global scales, often with an eye to informing public policy. The research 

program emphasizes aquatic-based studies involving land-water interaction, biogeochemistry, hydrology, restoration ecology, and aquatic biology. Relevant issues include eutrophication, toxic pollutants, climate change, erosion and sedimentation, 

and biodiversity. 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

Washington, DC, September 17, 2008. 

MS. ANNABELLE NUNEZ, M.A., Information Services Librarian, 

Arizona Health Sciences Library, Tucson, AZ. 

DEAR MS. NUNEZ: Thank you for testifying at the September 11, 2008 hearing of 

the Committee on Education and Labor on ‘‘Examining the Role of Museums and 

Libraries in Strengthening Communities.’’

Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Healthy Families 

and Communities Subcommittee has asked that you respond in writing to the following questions: 

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools, and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary 

and Secondary Education Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts 

outside NCLB those are also welcome. 

2. In your written testimony you state that the role of librarians as changed and 

that today they see their role as connecting individuals and communities with information—printed and electronic—to improve and enhance people’s lives. Yet today 

many people still see the librarian as the person who maintains silence and order 

in a library. How do we work to help young people see librarian science as a vital 

career to the life of communities, people, and our nation, and one they should aspire 

to study? 

3. Does the Knowledge River program face any challenges in recruiting Latino 

and Native American participants—either graduate students or high school students? If so, were those challenges overcome and how? 

4. Do you know if the University of Arizona will continue this program after the 

IMLS grants ends? Is there any plan to expand the number of underrepresented 

populations recruited to the program? 

Please send an electronic version of your written response to the questions to the 

Committee staff by close of business on Tuesday, September 23, 2008—the date on 

which the hearing record will close. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Committee. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE MILLER, 

Chairman. 

Ms. Nunez’s Answers to Questions Submitted 

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools, and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts outside NCLB those are also welcome. 

A mechanism can be created for greater access to resources used by libraries i.e. 

databases, books etc., by the schools. Collaborative programming and projects between schools and libraries can be developed and implemented. There is evidence 

that high-quality professional development enhances student learning. (Kahle, 

Meece, & Scantlebury, 2000) Librarians can provide training workshops for teachers 

to use and access library databases. Research is now in progress at the School of 

Information Resources and Library Science, conducted by a team headed by Dr. Patricia Montiel Overall, that investigates collaboration between teachers and librarian in science and math information literacy, and how the level of collaboration affects student achievement, especially among Latino communities. This research is 

coming to fruition and should be published soon. 

2. In your written testimony you state that the role of librarians as changed and 

that today they see their role as connecting individuals and communities with inforVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
64

mation—printed and electronic—to improve and enhance people’s lives. Yet today 

many people still see the librarian as the person who maintains silence and order 

in a library. How do we work to help young people see librarian science as a vital 

career to the life of communities, people, and our nation, and one they should aspire 

to study? 

Experience is the best teacher. The more librarians and library school students 

work with young people, the more they will see the potential of libraries as a gateway to fun and information and library science as a career for them. This is exactly 

what happened in our WE Search program. 

More outreach by librarians to all communities, but especially the young is needed. Libraries need to have the ability and resources to expand their services to include integrative, creative programming. Librarians could be active participants in 

community-based activities to serve as a resource for information. Library work 

models might let librarians go to the clients and constituencies to be a part of community program planning. 

Continued support for programs like WE Search at the University of Arizona, and 

the Library Leadership Development Institute in El Paso Texas exposes and engages young people to library and information careers in unique and appealing 

ways. 

3. Does the Knowledge River program face any challenges in recruiting Latino and 

Native American participants—either graduate students or high school students? If 

so, were those challenges overcome and how? 

There are two major challenges in recruiting and one in retention. Numerous reports have show that financial support makes the difference in recruiting Latino 

and Native American participants. In the case of students newly graduated from college, they often have student debt, and therefore either need to get a job or find 

support for graduate school. In the case of older students who come back to school, 

they have families; they need to move to Tucson, and getting a library degree would 

be unthinkable without financial support. 

The second challenger starts earlier, and that is earning a bachelor’s degree. The 

challenge still exists to raise the number of Latinos and Native Americans in undergraduate school. Programs like WE Search that work with high school students not 

only introduce the idea of being a librarian but reinforce the importance of finishing 

college. 

Whether in graduate school or undergraduate programs, the retention problem is 

always present. Native Americans and Latinos may not feel comfortable in a primarily Anglo environment. The cohort approach gives them community, and the 

SIRLS program offers opportunities to go beyond their cohort and interact with all 

students. Both cohort support and integration are necessary. 

4. Do you know if the University of Arizona will continue this program after the 

IMLS grants ends? Is there any plan to expand the number of underrepresented populations recruited to the program? 

Presently the foundational Knowledge River program is self-sustaining at 12 students, using library partners and funds from SIRLS. The new IMLS 2008 grant we 

just received increases the numbers of KR students to 16, funds professional development activities, and provides funds for community outreach and WE Search. 

The subject of reaching other under-represented populations is under discussion, 

in terms of a different program, parallel to Knowledge River, probably online to 

reach people who cannot relocate to Tucson. Knowledge River is working so well for 

the two cultural communities rather than change it, we are considering creating an 

online program for all under-represented communities. This idea is only in the initial stages. 

REFERENCES

Kahle, J. B., Meece, J., & Scantlebury, K. (2000). Urban african-american middle 

school science students: Does standards-based teaching make a difference? Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 37(9), 1019-1041. 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

Washington, DC, September 17, 2008. 

DR. ANNE-IMELDA M. RADICE, PH.D., Director, 

Institute of Museum and Library Services, Washington, DC. 

DEAR DR. RADICE: Thank you for testifying at the September 11, 2008 hearing of 

the Committee on Education and Labor on ‘‘Examining the Role of Museums and 

Libraries in Strengthening Communities.’’

65

Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Healthy Families 

and Communities Subcommittee has asked that you respond in writing to the following questions: 

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools, and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary 

and Secondary Education Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts 

outside NCLB those are also welcome. 

2. Since more and more people Google rather than go to a library or museum to 

research a subject, have any studies been completed on the affect of the Internet, 

with its vast amount of information at your fingertips, on the usage of libraries and 

museums? Have any recommendations been made or changes implemented in libraries and museums to you r knowledge to address the growing dependence of society on the Internet as a source of information? 

Please send an electronic version of your written response to the questions to the 

Committee staff by close of business on Tuesday, September 23, 2008—the date on 

which the hearing record will close. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Committee. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE MILLER, 

Chairman. 

Ms. Radice’s Answers to Questions Submitted 

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools, and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts outside NCLB those are also welcome. 

Working with museums and libraries to enhance learning has always been an important strategic goal of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). I am 

attaching several publications we have produced on the topic of museums and libraries and K-12 education. 

Museums and libraries have important roles to play in supporting science and 

math learning both inside and outside the classroom. They bring unique assets to 

youth development, including dedicated, knowledgeable staff; authentic objects, artifacts, and information resources; opportunities for personalized, hands-on learning; 

support for cognitive and social development; and experiences to help parents, families, and caregivers make learning fun and rewarding. We know that quality library 

and museum experiences can support student achievement. 

Studies from around the world have shown that science and technology museums, 

zoos, aquaria, and science centers provide memorable learning experiences which 

can have a lasting impact on attitudes and behavior. In 2006, Ecsite-uk, the ‘‘UK 

Network of Science Centres and Museums,’’ published a review of worldwide studies 

on the impact of these institutions, collectively referred to as science centers. Researchers found that visits to these institutions provide memorable learning experiences and increase visitors’ knowledge and understanding of science. 

IMLS has a long history of supporting projects that promote collaboration among 

libraries, museums and schools. The following are some recent examples: 

• With a 2008 grant of $147,000, the Detroit Science Center in Michigan will expand school community outreach activities, including teacher professional development, Traveling Science outreach programs to schools and other community-based 

organizations, curriculum and science activity kits for science classrooms, and afterschool science clubs and increased sponsorship of field trips for schools and organizations that serve minority and disadvantaged youth. A collaborative network 

among the Detroit Science Center, the Detroit Public Schools Office of Science Education, the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program, Communities in Schools 

of Detroit, and the Youth Development Commission will help identify and take advantage of opportunities to expand the reach of the center into schools and the community to improve science education in metropolitan Detroit. 

• A 2007 grant of $149,971 supports a project that builds on existing partnerships 

between Gateway to Science and the Bismarck Public School District, along with the 

Bismarck Parks & Recreation District, Dickinson State University, and the University of Mary in North Dakota, to present hands-on science, technology, engineering, 

and math (STEM) activities for elementary school students enrolled in Out-of-School 

Time (OST) programs. Gateway to Science will work with pre-service teachers at 

Dickinson State University and the University of Mary to present weekly hands-on 

66

STEM activities at established OST programs. The project will provide STEM-focused activities for the students at six different schools. • The Catawba Science Center (CSC), Hickory, North Carolina used a 2006 grant of $74,938 to develop the Inventor’s Lab, one of the first elements of its Touch the 

Future capital expansion. The 1,300-square-foot lab will support several experiential 

modes: structured group visits, facilitated activities, unstructured casual visits, and 

science demonstrations and shows. It will provide the context for open-ended, inquiry-driven science activities and demonstrations facilitated by middle and high 

school science students from CSC’s innovative STEP program, whose participants 

represent the racial and economic diversity of the greater Hickory community. Lab 

activities will extend beyond CSC’s walls as outreach presentations in underserved 

areas of Hickory and Catawba County. A primary goal is to use the lab as the context for engaging an increasingly diverse audience. 

School libraries are also essential partners in the education of children. IMLS 

worked with Laura Bush and the Office of the First Lady to convene and publish 

the proceedings from the first ever White House Conference on School Libraries, a 

landmark event that brought together leaders from the fields of education, library 

services, government, and philanthropy to highlight the importance of school libraries in children’s education. At this conference, attendees heard from government and 

foundation leaders, researchers, and librarians about a variety of studies that demonstrated the power of the library in students’ learning. The distinguished speakers 

agreed that libraries—in classrooms, schools, and communities—are vital for children’s achievement, and developing informational needs. Repeated studies document 

the positive impact of a quality school library and trained library media specialist 

on student achievement. 

The dialogue on the reauthorization of NCLB would be enriched by involving leaders of the science and technology center community and other museum and library 

experts to: • Build upon our current knowledge and accomplishments in school, museum and 

library collaborations that put the needs of learners’ first; • Make recommendations to remove barriers to encourage schools to make optimal use of community learning resources; • Stimulate innovation; • Increase the use of digitized resources in the classroom; • Prioritize research to identify best practices and disseminate model demonstration projects. 

2. Since more and more people Google rather than go to a library or museum to 

research a subject, have any studies been completed on the affect of the Internet, with 

its vast amount of information at your fingertips, on the usage of libraries and museums? Have any recommendations been made or changes implemented in libraries 

and museums to your knowledge to address the growing dependence of society on the 

Internet as a source of information? 

While the use of Google and other Internet tools is certainly widespread and growing, our research disputes the contention that people are using these tools rather 

than libraries and museums. I am attaching the conclusions overview of InterConnections: The IMLS National Study on the Use of Libraries, Museums and the 

Internet, the results of which I released in March at the Institute’s annual WebWise 

Conference on Libraries and Museums in the Digital World. This groundbreaking 

study found that contrary to the notion that the Internet is replacing libraries and 

museums, it actually increases the use of these long-trusted institutions. 

The following are some of the findings and conclusions of InterConnections: 

• Libraries and museums are trusted far more than other sources of information 

including government, commercial, and private Web sites. 

• The vast majority of visitors to museums (95%) and public libraries (96%) continue to visit in person, an indication that the Internet is not replacing in-person 

visits. 

• The number of remote online visits is positively correlated with the number of 

in-person visits to museums and public libraries. 

• Internet users are more likely than non-users to visit museums and public libraries and to visit them more frequently. 

• To fulfill their need for information, most adults use museums, public libraries, 

and the Internet. Museums and public libraries are used by 70%, the Internet is 

used by 83%, and nearly half use all three. 

• The public benefits significantly from the presence of museums and libraries on 

the Internet. 

IMLS also funded a survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life 

Project and the University of Illinois, examining what sources people consult when 

they need information to solve common problems, such as those concerning health 

67

care, education, taxes, and job searches. The survey, Information Searches That 

Solve Problems: How People Use the Internet, Government Agencies, and Libraries 

When They Need Help, found that 53% of American adults had visited a public library in the previous 12 months. In what appears to be a direct refutation of the 

belief that library usage is dropping, the survey found that younger adults are the 

most likely to visit the library (62% of those 18-30 and 59% of those 31-42). And, 

like the Interconnections study, the Pew/UI survey found that Internet users are 

more likely to use libraries than non-users: 61% of those who use the Internet reported going to libraries in the past year, compared with only 28% of those who do 

not use the Internet. 

The survey confirmed that ‘‘more people turn to the internet (at home, work, libraries, or other places) than any other source of information and support, including 

experts and family members.’’ This is not surprising since accessing the Internet 

takes so little effort for most people. But the survey also found that personal assistance from a librarian has the potential to greatly increase an information seeker’s 

level of satisfaction: ‘‘Nearly four in five (79%) say they were very satisfied with the 

assistance they received from the library staff, and 19% say there were satisfied. 

Only 1% said they were unsatisfied.’’ Among those who received personal help at 

the library, 88% said they found ‘‘a lot’’ or ‘‘some’’ of what they were seeking. That 

this extraordinary level of satisfaction does not translate into more people using libraries to help solve problems suggests, as the Pew/UI survey says, ‘‘that a key challenge for librarians is to make sure that those who consider the library as a potential problem-solving resource actually recognize they can use the library.’’

We also know that libraries give users the ability to find information more specifically suited to their needs. Digitization technologies and the statewide licensing of 

databases—a common use of IMLS Grants to States funding—provide a much more 

specialized pool of information than can a mammoth search engine such as Google. 

Based on our findings and experiences, we recommend that museums and libraries continue embracing the Internet as they have been, and that they continue their 

community outreach efforts to ensure that people are aware of the tremendous resources they provide. 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

Washington, DC, September 17, 2008. 

MS. MARY CLARE ZALES, Deputy Secretary of Education for Commonwealth Libraries, and Commissioner for Libraries, 

Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Harrisburg, PA. 

DEAR MS. ZALES: Thank you for testifying at the September 11, 2008 hearing of 

the Committee on Education and Labor on ‘‘Examining the Role of Museums and 

Libraries in Strengthening Communities.’’

Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Healthy Families 

and Communities Subcommittee has asked that you respond in writing to the following questions: 

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools, and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary 

and Secondary Education Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts 

outside NCLB those are also welcome. 

2. In your written testimony you highlight two regional libraries for the Blind and 

physically handicapped. Can you describe in more depth the kind of services offered? 

3. Can you describe what growing needs that rural libraries have based on your 

experience in Pennsylvania, if those needs are being met, and if so, how? 

Please send an electronic version of your written response to the questions to the 

Committee staff by close of business on Tuesday, September 23, 2008—the date on 

which the hearing record will close. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Committee. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE MILLER, 

Chairman. 

Ms. Zales’ Answers to Questions Submitted 

DEAR CHAIRMAN MILLER: Please find attached responses to the questions submitted by Committee members in regards to the hearing for which I testified on 

September 11, 2008. 

68

I appreciate the opportunity to respond to inquiries on the important topic of examining the role of libraries in strengthening communities. In addition to my responses to the follow-up questions, I wish to mention further the important role that 

libraries play for teens today. Libraries have seen dramatic increases in teen summer reading program attendance and many libraries have teen centers and collections. Libraries provide a safety net with after-school programs and evening hours 

that give young teens a safe place to be and activities to engage them and keep 

them off the streets. Across our state and across the nation libraries have become 

a cool place for teens to be. 

If I may be of any further assistance to the Committee, please do not hesitate to 

contact me. 

Sincerely, 

M. CLARE ZALES

Deputy Secretary for Libraries.

1. Please describe how museums and libraries can work together with Congress, 

schools, and other stakeholders to improve math and science education both inside 

and outside the classroom in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary and 

Secondary Education Act of 1965, better known as NCLB? If you have thoughts outside NCLB those are also welcome. 

When it comes to our children’s education, we must ensure that they receive the 

best instruction possible from competent, qualified instructors. This is true in the 

classroom and should be true in our school libraries. The over 62,000 state certified 

library media specialists in public schools and 3,909 state certified library media 

specialists in private schools in the United States fill multiple roles—teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator—ensuring 

that students and staff are effective users of information and ideas. 

Multiple studies have affirmed that there is a clear link between school library 

media programs that are staffed by an experienced school library media specialist 

and student academic achievement. The research studies show that school libraries 

can have a positive impact on student achievement—whether such achievement is 

measured in terms of reading scores, literacy, or learning more generally. Unfortunately, about 25 percent of America’s school libraries do not have a state-certified 

librarian on staff. 

In Pennsylvania, school, public and academic libraries provide students with authoritative databases in the sciences that are available statewide. The books and 

other materials of these libraries are also available in a statewide online catalog 

that enables students to find and borrow items statewide to support research in the 

sciences. These library programs also benefit dual enrollment students who are taking college level courses while still in high school. With the assistance of trained 

library staff, students are able to obtain the information they need to perform better 

in the classroom. These same resources also provide professional literature in math 

and science education for teachers to assist them in the performance of their jobs. 

2. In your written testimony you highlight two regional libraries for the Blind and 

physically handicapped. Can you describe in more depth the kind of services offered? 

The Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are part of the National Library Service—a nationwide program serving persons with disabilities. Among the many types of services offered by these libraries 

are books and magazines on audiocassettes, in large print and in Braille, as well 

as descriptive videos and assistive technology that can magnify print, enlarge computer screens, convert print and computer screens into synthesized speech, and create Braille documents using computer software. 

I would like to share with you two stories from our Regional Libraries that illustrate the use of these services: 

• A grandmother who uses talking books asked her Regional Library how she 

might share books and puzzles with her sighted granddaughter who lives in another 

state. The library recommended that she subscribe to the large-print junior quarterly newsletter for its young readers. She cuts out the articles and games from the 

newsletter and sends them to her granddaughter. Her granddaughter’s teacher 

wanted to know how she knew so much about different books, library topics and 

literary jokes. Her granddaughter replied, ‘‘Nana’s special library!’’

• An elderly gentleman who has a physical disability and is in constant pain visits his Regional Library periodically to use the computers with screen magnification. 

He recently read an article about the library aimed at senior citizens. ‘‘I had no idea 

of the magnitude of what you do here! What wonderful service. And for a staff who 

has so much responsibility to maintain such kindness and efficiency is amazing.’’

Pennsylvania is participating with other states to prepare for the transition from 

the current books on audiocassette program to the new National Library Service 

69

Digital Talking Book project by 2010. This will provide a great advancement in ease 

of use and efficiency, but it comes with an expense which in Pennsylvania in being 

borne by a combination of state and federal Library Service and Technology Act 

funds. 

The Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped provide services to individuals who have no other recourse for the information they need for school, work 

and daily living. Providing this service on a state and national level offers great efficiencies and technological advancements that could not be achieved on the local 

level. Local libraries and other service providers are able to offer this service to eligible residents who then are able to take advantage of this wonderful and essential 

program. 

3. Can you describe what growing needs that rural libraries have based on your 

experience in Pennsylvania, if those needs are being met, and if so, how? 

Libraries play an especially important role in rural areas, where geography can 

affect people’s ability to obtain the information they need. This is particularly true 

in the area of telecommunications. Pennsylvania has a large number of rural communities where high-speed Internet connections are either not available or, when 

available, are inadequate for keeping up with today’s demands for information at 

work, school and home. 

The Study of Internet Connectivity in U.S. Public Libraries released this year by 

the American Library Association and Florida State University shows that rural libraries have Internet connectivity speeds that were generally slower when compared to libraries overall. States such as Pennsylvania with a high percentage of 

rural libraries also have a higher percentage of libraries without high-speed connections and without wireless Internet access. 

There is a need for Congress to develop a long-range vision for broadband deployment and to recognize that libraries are critical partners during broadband planning 

and build-out. Libraries are especially important for long term service to households 

without any or with very slow connectivity, in rural, hard-to-reach, and low-income 

communities. In Pennsylvania we have been able to use Library Services and Technology Act funds to assist rural libraries in improving computer services within libraries and among libraries to better meet the needs of the public. 

In rural areas libraries are often the community center providing children and 

adults educational and cultural opportunities as well as business and job information. Interlibrary loan is particularly valuable in rural areas due to the greater distance between libraries. More materials are being borrowed from other libraries for 

library patrons to meet the increased need for information in today’s society. In 

Pennsylvania school, public, academic and special libraries cooperate together in a 

statewide online catalog of library holdings to make access to libraries easier for our 

residents. While libraries in our state have made great strides in meeting the needs 

of rural residents, there is still a need for greater funding for libraries particularly 

to keep collections up-to-date and adequate. 

Facilities are also in great need of expansion and improvement. Construction 

needs greatly exceed monies available. Library Services and Technology Act funds 

can help in the areas of increasing services and improving library collections, but 

they are not a source for library construction. While technology has become an important aspect of rural library service, the basic needs for staff, books, and buildings 

are still very important in meeting the library needs of our nation’s rural citizens. 

[Additional statements submitted by Mrs. McCarthy follow:]

Prepared Statement of the American Library Association 

The American Library Association is the oldest, largest library association in the 

world representing over 66,000 libraries, librarians and library supporters. 

Around the country, knowledgeable librarians help patrons of diverse geographic, 

cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and people 

with limited literacy or skills access essential information on a wide range of topics. 

In a 2008 survey for IMLS, respondents identified libraries as the most trusted 

source of information. 

They provide training on resume development; job bank web searches; workshops 

on career information; links to essential educational and community services; assistive devices for people with disabilities; family literacy classes; homework help and 

mentoring programs, and so much more. 

Americans check out an average of seven books a year. A Harris poll in 2008 

found that more than one-third of Americans read more than 10 books in an average 

year. Almost half of all in-person visitors to the library use a library-provided comVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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puter. These visitors use the computer for formal education and work-related purposes. 

A January 2007 report by the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) concludes: 

‘‘Public libraries are logical partners for local economic development initiatives 

that focus on people and quality of life. Libraries are widely available, highly regarded public institutions that provide a broad range of information services and 

support for diverse constituencies * * * Their open structure, combined with the 

power of new digital collections, technology, and training, position them to help communities make the transition from manufacturing and service economies to high 

tech and information economies.’’

Business 

For many small businesses the library provides research resources and staff they 

could not otherwise afford. 

The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library Business Librarian, Terry Miller, 

works in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center to provide classes for business startups, and give instruction on their many business resources. The 

Executive Director also works on the board of the Topeka Visioning Project; to determine which direction the city should go in terms of economic development, community development, and quality of life issues. 

The Lebanon Public Library in Lebanon, Indiana has a separate business collection and provides extra reference services for patrons interested in starting, growing, and maintaining businesses. They partner with the Boone County Learning 

Network to offer business basics classes, and with the Boone County Chamber of 

Commerce to reach out to and support new and established businesses that might 

otherwise be unaware of the resources a small-town public library offers. The Library also maintains a ‘‘Business File’’ which allows any locally owned company to 

deposit publicity and marketing materials for distribution to interested patrons. Finally, the Library offers space for businesses and hiring agencies to hold job fairs 

and interviews. 

The Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, Wisconsin began a partnership with 

SCORE in 2008, in order to provide information to small business owners. A program was held in May, focusing on marketing and sales, human resource development, and cash and expense control. It also included a description of all types of 

aid offered by SCORE, and a tour of the library, so that attendees would gain an 

understanding of the ways in which library collections and technology could help 

them. The four presenters, all SCORE volunteers, had a combined total of over 100 

years of business experience and knowledge to pass on. 

In the fall of 2008, SCORE will again be presenting a program at the library 

aimed at small business owners. It will focus on developing and writing business 

plans, including: executive summaries, mission statements, company structures, 

products/services, target customers, marketing analysis, market potential, getting to 

market, identifying competition, promoting products/services, differentiation, pricing, and financial modeling. 

The Skokie Public Library has an extensive and well-established Employment Resource Center for Adults. The information is also available on the Library’s Web 

site. There is a Skokie Career Support Group that meets monthly at the Library 

with a licensed career counselor. The Library maintains a list of major employers 

in Skokie and posts open positions on a Board in the Employment Resource Center. 

Skokie librarians maintain a web site with information about metropolitan area employment resources. They also offer programs every month such as this month programs on ‘‘Death to Boring Resumes’’ and ‘‘Going into Your Own Business’’. These 

programs bring in outside experts to talk with library patrons. 

The Village Library of Morgantown is a small public library in rural Pennsylvania 

that is building a new Small Business Collection for local business owners. Included 

in this new section of the library will be several print resources on starting and 

growing a business, a set of online databases for business owners to reference either 

in the library or at home and a new state-of-the-art computer with the most up to 

date software. This collection is the start of their business services, to be followed 

by programs such as workshops from the local SCORE group and breakfast talks 

from the business librarian of a larger library located several miles away. The funding for this project was provided by an LSTA grant. 

Grand Rapids Public Library in Michigan opened a Small Business Resource Center with workstations, print and online resources to help small business owners find 

the current market research and startup information help they need to succeed, including industry, competitor and customer information. We guide the research paths 

of both starting and current business owners and often refer them to other area organizations that provide free business counseling and classes. 

71

The local SBA representative does two programs per year at each of Gloucester 

County Library System’s branches. Called ‘‘Financial and Technical Assistance for 

Small Business’’, he explains the many free training programs and financing options 

available to anyone thinking of starting a business or expanding an existing business. This same SBA representative conducts an occasional SBA day in the library 

where individuals can make an appointment with him and ask any business questions they like. 

One of the most popular services at the Scarborough Library is their annual 

Small Business Week. They set up a display representing 30-35 members of the 

small business community. This provides visibility to the many businesses that do 

not have a storefront or obvious public presence but represent the majority of the 

more than 1000 small businesses. During this week they also have educational seminars for the business community. This year’s theme was ‘‘Going Green’’ and it highlighted the environmental initiatives within each participating business from recycled office supplies and packaging to programmed thermostats and new lighting. 

The seminars featured speakers from the Maine Public Utilities Commission and 

the local regional waste business-recycling program. 

Early Childhood 

The children’s program called ‘‘Booking With a Buddy’’ benefits early readers, generally children who have just completed first or second grade, and need practice in 

reading over the summer. In Skokie, the program is particularly helpful to families 

speaking a language other than English at home because there may not be anyone 

who can read in English with the child. This summer, 57 young children were 

paired with 49 older kids of junior high or high school age who volunteered to meet 

with the young children at least once a week for reading sessions at the Library. 

Of course, the older kids benefit from the experience also, but the Library holds a 

pizza party to thank them at the end of the summer. 

In 2007, the Durham County Library joined with the Durham Public Schools and 

MetaMetrics to intensify the library’s efforts to counter the ‘‘summer slide’’ phenomenon. The project encourages Durham’s students to continue reading throughout 

the summer months, by helping students and their parents use their Lexile scores 

to choose the best books they are interested in reading. When the End-of-Grade report is sent home, a special letter accompanies it from the School Superintendent 

encouraging students to participate in the library’s summer reading club. Although 

the schools have always sent home the Lexile scores most parents did not understand how to use them or did not pay close attention to them. The parents’ primary 

concern was whether or not children were being promoted to the next grade. 

The Durham County Library Bookmobile provides individualized library service 

to a diverse population throughout the County that otherwise does not have access 

to library services. The bookmobile is on the road six days a week covering over 200 

miles each week, visiting over 80 locations each month, driving on highways and 

back country roads. Although the Bookmobile serves all sectors of the Durham population, the focus is on three major groups: preschools and daycares, Durham public 

housing neighborhoods, and outlying neighborhoods and shopping centers not located near a branch library. 

Young Adults 

In a 2007 Harris poll, more than three-quarters of youth 8-18 said that they have 

a library card. More than 80% said that they have been to their school or public 

library in the past year, and 18% said that they had been more than 20 times. 

Skokie Public Library sponsors a teen job fair each spring, together with the Skokie Park District. Agencies and businesses such as fast food restaurants that hire 

teens have representatives at tables at the fair. Teens can find out about job possibilities and sign up for interviews. The Library also conducts mock interviews and 

prepares tips on how to be successful in your first job. 

The Santa Clara County Library created ‘‘Get Tech @ the Library’’, a program to 

address the user-based need for increasing the interest, confidence, and creative 

thinking in science and technology of youth in grades 7 and 8 with a special emphasis on Hispanic and female youth. 

Immigrant Outreach (ESOL & Computer Classes) 

Durham County Library has a full-time Hispanic Services Coordinator who goes 

out into the community to get library services to Latino community members. The 

library also offers English for Speakers of Other Languages classes at many of its 

facilities. 

The San Diego County Library offers Gateway Internet classes to residents of the 

County that are Chaldean, Iraqi, Kurdish, or Arab and need computer instruction 

and training on how to access and use the Internet and the library resources at the 

72

Library. The need was determined by a community needs assessment, interviews 

with community leaders that are stakeholders and input from staff. 

Free Access to Computers and Basic Computer Classes 

More and more computer access is necessary to apply for jobs and to gain critical 

information. 73% of U.S. public libraries reported in 2008 survey that they are the 

only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities. 

Libraries are working to close the ‘‘digital divide’’ in many of our nation’s distressed 

communities; 99% of public libraries offer no fee, public access to computers to the 

Internet. 73% offer information technology training for their patrons. 

But 83% of all public libraries reported in 2008 that there are fewer public Internet computers than patrons who wish to use them some or all of the time, up 5% 

from last year. And, 58% of libraries report that their current Internet connection 

speed is insufficient. 

The Durham County Library offers basic computer courses for free. Community 

members can take Intro to Computers, Word, Excel, Email and Internet courses. By 

offering these courses, the library helps to bridge the technology divide and ensure 

access to the entire community. 

Queens Library offers the community’s only free workshops on basic computer 

skills in Spanish, helping new Americans prepare for better jobs. Computer skills 

workshops in English are filled to capacity. 

Military Base Libraries 

Military librarians are addressing the changing needs of all service members and 

their families by adding new resources to the military online library located at 

www.militaryonesource.com. This has been a joint collaboration of all branches of 

the military in an effort to increase the online library offerings to all service members and their families. The lead librarians of each service have worked hard to ensure that quality materials will be made available online seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day to people of all ages located around the world. 

This new offering on Military OneSource is a more convenient way for service 

members and their families to access materials, and also saves the different 

branches from purchasing the same materials separately. These new resources will 

be especially helpful to those National Guard and Reserve service members and 

families that do not have regular access to a general military library. 

It is a combination of recreation and self-help material that comes in different formats, including audio, interactive, and text. Especially useful are books on 

‘‘Playaway’’ format, individual audio books that can be passed around among the 

soldiers over seas and come equipped with a battery, lanyard and the earphones. 

The Andrews Air Force Base library has a large collection of study materials for 

military personnel and their families who are continuing their education. The base 

librarians are also available to proctor exams as needed. Youth on the base gather 

at the library as they participate in a youth chess club. 

The Marine Corps’ Gray Research Center Base Library has a wonderful interactive children’s area where the library holds story time and craft sessions. This 

area is often full of young families enjoying the activities sponsored by the library. 

There is also a computer and study space for the adults that are separate from the 

children’s area, allowing the adults to focus on their reading. 

E-Government Services 

As government agencies continue to digitize forms and services, public libraries—

as centers for public access computing in their communities—are often the only organizations that can help citizens interact with their government and access E-government services. 74% of libraries report that their staff provides as-needed assistance to patrons for understanding and using e-government resources. 

This user assistance can range from teaching how to use the Internet to search 

for E-government information and forms, to locating and using various benefit programs whose applications are only available online, to completing job applications. 

Some of the most noteworthy E-government initiatives launched in recent years include electronically filing taxes, making appointments for immigration interviews, 

and applying for the Medicare Prescription Drug Card, for which librarians have become unintended experts. 

Low-income families, and particularly the elderly, often do not have Internet access at home or do not know how to use it. Even families that do have Internet access continue to go to the library, because their connectivity or software is not sufficient for accessing programs, and/or they want the knowledge, guidance, and personal assistance of a trusted librarian. 

The Cobb County Public Library System’s Stratton Branch has a firm belief that 

each patron’s need deserves a more then adequate response. Cobb County librarians 

73

do not only locate government information for their patrons online, but they will 

also help the patron as much as possible in completing their work. This can entail 

acquiring an email address for the patron and navigating through applications such 

as FAFSA and Medicare Part D. This one reference transaction can take well over 

an hour of the librarian’s time. 

The Skokie Public Library sponsors a public forum for a representative from the 

local Congresswoman’s office two evenings per month at the library. People may 

come without appointments to ask questions about any federal services such as Veterans’ benefits, Social Security, immigration issues, Medicare, etc. Recently, a second representative who speaks Spanish has begun to come to the library to help 

Spanish-speaking residents. The evening hours and neutral image of the library 

contribute to the success of this program. 

Life Long Learning 

The Queens Library (New York) offers free programs that give the community 

needed practical tools to enrich their lives. To address the current state-of-affairs 

in the mortgage and credit sectors, the library has been offering workshops on the 

Money Mistakes of First-time Homebuyers, along with classes in financial literacy, 

in English and in several major immigrant languages. 

Seniors 

The Topeka Public Library has a program to serve the older population, the ‘‘Red 

Carpet Service’’ a dedicated bookmobile that visits nursing homes, congregate living 

centers, and meal sites. They also have volunteers that make home visits with staff 

for individualized service. This service includes providing low vision magnifiers and 

other devices for people with disabilities to try for three weeks, so that the patron 

can test them in their own home. Then the librarian assists with ordering information to obtain the device. 

Durham County Library’s OASIS (Older Adult and Shut-In Service) offers services 

to individuals unable to visit the library due to age, illness, or physical disability. 

OASIS provides reading material and programs to homebound people in nursing 

and rest homes, retirement communities, senior centers, and private residences. 

Prisons and other institutions are also served through OASIS. 

School Libraries 

When it comes to our children’s education, we must ensure that they receive the 

best instruction possible from competent, qualified instructors. This is true in the 

classroom and should be true in our school libraries. Education is not exclusive to 

the classroom; it extends into school libraries and so should the qualification we demand of our school librarians. Students visit school library media centers 1.5 billion 

times a year. 

School library media specialists are, in every level of education, the professionals 

who give students the skills they need for jobs in the 21st century workplace: computing, networking, and learning how to locate and utilize all the information available to them. The over 62,000 state certified library media specialists in public 

schools and 3,909 state certified library media specialists in private schools in the 

United States fill multiple roles—teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator—ensuring that students and staff are effective 

users of information and ideas. 

Multiple studies have affirmed that there is a clear link between school library 

media programs that are staffed by an experienced school library media specialist 

and student academic achievement. The research studies show that school libraries 

can have a positive impact on student achievement—whether such achievement is 

measured in terms of reading scores, literacy, or learning more generally. 

School libraries are critical partners in ensuring that states and school districts 

alike meet the reading requirements that are part of the No Child Left Behind Act 

(NCLB), as well as Congresses unequivocal commitment to ensuring that every child 

can read by the end of third grade. 

Our Nation’s school libraries are facing a crisis. With limited funding and an increased focus on school performance, administrators are trying to stretch dollars and 

cut funds across various programs to ensure that maximum resources are dedicated 

to improving student academic achievement. Only about 60 percent of our school libraries have a full-time, state-certified school library media specialist on staff. 

Because NCLB does not highlight the direct correlation between school library 

media specialists and increased student academic achievement, library resource 

budgets are increasingly being used to mitigate the effects of budgetary constraints. 

When you reauthorize NCLB, you can address this oversight by highlighting the important role school library media specialists play in academic achievement and require school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school within the 

74

district employs at least one state-certified library media specialist in each school 

library. 

Prepared Statement of Ford W. Bell, DVM, President, American Association 

of Museums 

Chairwoman McCarthy, Ranking Member Platts, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for holding this hearing today on how museums and libraries 

help to strengthen communities. Given the many important issues facing our nation, 

I am grateful to you and to your staff for devoting time today to the crucial work 

museums do every day to strengthen communities. It is particularly appropriate 

that this hearing take place on this solemn, sober anniversary—museums are where 

future generations will likely learn of September 11, 2001 and how the events of 

that day changed America and the world. 

As President of the American Association of Museums, I am keenly aware of the 

ways in which museums work in the community to offer lifelong learning opportunities, promote civic engagement, celebrate cultural heritage, and much more. 

As you may know, the American Association of Museums (AAM) represents the 

full range of museums—art museums, history museums, science centers, children’s 

museums, zoos and aquariums, public gardens and many specialty museums—along 

with the professional staff and volunteers who work for and with museums. 

Museums are all about connections to the natural world; to the science that explores the workings of the universe; to the documents, artifacts and places that 

make up our history; and to the greatest achievements of humankind. Museums 

also connect Americans to the future, fostering innovation and sparking creativity. 

Indeed, education is the central purpose of museums. 

However, unlike schools and libraries, most museums operate as private, nonprofit organizations with nominal government funding. According to AAM’s most recent financial survey, nonprofit museums receive approximately 24 percent of their 

budget from local, state and federal funding. The bulk of their income is derived 

from private philanthropy in the form of donations, grants and corporate sponsorships and earned income from admissions and gift shop sales. 

Promoting Lifelong Learning 

A recent national survey indicates that Americans view museums as one of the 

most important resources for educating our children and as one of the most trustworthy sources of objective information. So it’s not surprising that nearly 11,000 

museums provide more than 18 million instructional hours for educational programs 

such as professional development for teachers, guided field trips for students, staff 

visits to schools, and traveling exhibits in schools. 

It is significant to note that most museums offering educational programs in 

math, science, art, and history use local and state curriculum standards to shape 

their educational programs. 

Museums serve as important community places to gather, learn, experience, imagine, and explore. Similar to a family dinner gathering, museums provide unique opportunities for families to communicate with each other. You will frequently find 

generations sharing experiences at a museum: a grandfather bonding with his 

grandchildren by telling stories of early transportation modes; a grandmother describing to her family how a significant news event changed the nation. 

Museums are also leading the way in environmental education. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts numerous environmental education programs, including a community composting effort, in cooperation with the New York City Department of 

Sanitation. The project offers workshops in English and Spanish and provides instruction on composting in neighborhoods, businesses, community gardens and other 

institutions. 

Museums are making a difference in the lives of seniors. Two Philadelphia area 

World War II veterans in their 80s, Bill McLaughlin and Dick Hughes began visiting museums to help Bill through his wife’s battle with Alzheimer’s. They saw the 

Academy of Natural Sciences one week, the battleship New Jersey the next, and 

continued visiting local Philadelphia museums and historic sites for three years and 

a total of 203 museums. Museums helped them maintain their independence and 

mental agility. This is a poignant example of how museums bring us together, and 

of how these public institutions served two men who had served their country so 

nobly. 

With 2.3 million museum visits per day—600 million visits per year—museums 

are indeed everywhere. There are more than 17,500 museums in the United States 

and nine out of 10 counties in America have at least one museum. Forty-three perVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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cent are located in rural areas. More than one-third (35%) of museums are free to 

the public, and of those museums that do charge, 98 percent offer special discounts, 

and nearly 62 percent have free admission days. 

Promoting Cultural Diversity and Understanding 

Museums serve as protectors of our artistic, historic, scientific and cultural heritages. Museums care for more than 750 million objects, including original historical 

documents, cultural artifacts, priceless works of art, and scientific specimens. 

At the Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository in Kodiak, Alaska, visitors 

can explore 7500 years of Alutiiq heritage, including the endangered Alutiiq language. Community programs include an annual archaeological excavation, where 

community members participate fully in the excavation of a threatened archaeological site. 

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC serves as a 

living memorial to the Holocaust, inspiring visitors to confront hatred, prevent genocide, promote human dignity, and strengthen democracy. 

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) makes a powerful contribution to helping museums reflect our nation’s diversity. The Native American/Native 

Hawaiian Museum Services grants and Museum Grants for African American History and Culture have been instrumental in supporting cultural understanding and 

exchange, which strengthens our communities by bridging our differences. 

In St. Paul, the Minnesota Historical Society has initiated a program to help integrate the Twin Cities’ sizeable Somali population into their new host culture. Somali 

women are often isolated due to religious and cultural strictures. This program 

trained 15 Somali women in the use of digital technology, resulting in a compelling 

film, Two Homes, One Dream: The Somalis in Minnesota. For the film the women 

did historical research; conducted oral history interviews with peers, elders, educators and community leaders; and filmed events across the Twin Cities. Four years 

after its completion, Two Homes, One Dream is still requested and featured in public screenings throughout the region, as its themes of cultural identity and the immigrant experience continue to resonate. 

Promoting Global Competitiveness 

At a time when our nation is poised to lose its global competitive edge, museums 

are inspiring kids to study science. 

Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center stages a science, math, and technology camp 

(‘‘Click!’’) for girls 10-14, at the critical stage when girls frequently lose interest in 

these fields. 

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry proudly tells the story of an ‘‘OMSI 

kid’’ who built his first telescope at the museum. Today that kid is Dr. Michael 

Barratt, medical doctor and NASA astronaut, who will be joining the international 

space station crew this spring. His connection to OMSI is so strong that he has 

asked to take an OMSI object on his upcoming space mission. 

Serving as Economic Engines 

Museums serve as economic engines in many communities, helping to attract and 

retain businesses and inspiring tourism. When families plan their vacations, a museum is likely to be in the top three destinations. 

One-third of Americans say they have visited an art museum, history museum, 

aquarium, zoo, botanical garden, or science and technology center within the past 

six months. Almost a quarter has gone within the past year. Trips including cultural 

and heritage activities comprise one of the most popular and significant segments 

of the travel industry, accounting for over 23% of all domestic trips. 

In many ways, museums are the stitching in our social fabric, serving to bind 

America’s diverse communities into one nation. Moreover, museums are a rarity 

among public institutions, in that they simultaneously illuminate our past, present 

and future. Museums also step in to complement stretched social services—a function that is increasingly important today. Similar to the members and staff of this 

committee, the mission of museums is public service. It is a role we are proud and 

privileged to fulfill. 

[Additional materials submitted by Dr. Jolly follow:]

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Ellenbogen, K.M., Luke, J.J., & Dierking, L.D. (2007). Family learning research in 

museums: An emerging disciplinary matrix? In J.H. Falk, L.D. Dierking, & S. 

Foutz, (Eds.), In principle, in practice. Walnut Creek, CA: Alta Mira Press. 


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1Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 

2 Institute for Learning Innovation, Annapolis, MD 

Family Learning in Museums: Perspectives on a Decade of Research

KIRSTEN M. ELLENBOGEN,1 JESSICA J. LUKE,2 and LYNN D. DIERKING2

Abstract 

This is an investigation of the growth of research on family learning in and from 

science museums over the last decade. To track this emergence we consider three 

issues: 1)shifting theoretical perspectives, resulting in a new shared language and 

set of beliefs,values, understandings, and assumptions about what counts as family 

learning; 2) realigning methodologies, driven by underlying disciplinary assumptions 

about howresearch in this arena is best conducted, what questions should be addressed, and whatcounts as valid and reliable evidence; and, 3) resituating the focus 

of our research to make the family central to what we study reflects a more holistic 

understanding of thefamily as an educational and the larger learning infrastructure. 

We discuss research thatexemplifies these three issues and demonstrates the ways 

in which shifting theoretical perspectives, realigning methodologies, and resituating 

research foci signal the existenceof a nascent field of research. 

In the spirit of the In Principle, In Practice Initiative, this chapter discusses how 

research focused on family learning in and from museums has progressed over the 

last decade and shares some perspectives from the field regarding its usefulness for 

practice. Although families were clearly a dominant audience in museums, there 

were not significant numbers of researchers focusing on family learning until the 

mid to late 1970s. By the late 1980s, there was an extensive body of literature that 

established the importance of family learning in and from museums (c.f., Astor-Jack, 

Whaley, Dierking, Perry, & Garibay in this volume). 

These early studies demonstrated the significance of families as a focus of museum research, identifying them as a major audience and unique learning group of 

mixed ages and backgrounds bound together by a complex shared system of past 

experiences, beliefs, and values. They also established the complex nature of family 

interactions, highlighting the ways in which family members interact and learn together and providing evidence that families bring an extensive array of personal and 

cooperative learning strategies to their experiences in museums. Much of this research was descriptive in nature, depicting family conversations, the roles adults 

and children assume, the influence of specific conversational rules on physical behavior, gender differences in parent-child interactions, and the similarities and differences between the conversations of families and all-adult groups. 

Ten years later, we are reaping the benefits of influential conferences (e.g., Falk 

& Dierking, 1995; Paris, 2002), benchmark political reports (e.g., AAM, 1992), the 

realization of a long anticipated ‘learning society’ (e.g., Machlup, 1962; Hutchins, 

1970; Falk & Dierking, 2002), and participation from researchers that represent increasingly diverse research backgrounds. We face a pivotal point as a community, 

with opportunities to offer insights and recommendations to those working with 

families in museums. 

We highlight three aspects of this new research to support our assertion that important progress has been made which holds great potential for influencing practice 

in the area: 1) shifting theoretical perspectives that signal shared language, beliefs, 

values, understandings, and assumptions about what constitutes family learning; 2) 

realigning methodologies that are driven by underlying disciplinary assumptions 

about how research in this arena is best conducted, what questions should be addressed, and criteria for valid and reliable evidence; and, 3) resituating research foci 

to ensure that the family is central to learning, reflecting a more holistic understanding of the family as an educational institution within the larger learning infrastructure. We also explore connections between the theory and practice of family 

learning in museums, featuring reflections written by three museum professionals, 

highlighting their perceptions of what the progress in research has meant for developing meaningful museum experiences for families. 

Shared Language, Beliefs, and Values of the Field A major shift in the last decade 

of family learning research in museums stems from the use of sociocultural theory 

in learning research and a recognition of its suitability for museum research. Such 

a perspective frames learning in and from museums as socially and culturally constructed through people’s actions within a specific community of practice. A community of practice shares a set of values, vocabulary, understandings, and assumptions 

(Wenger, 1998). A person’s actions and interactions are interpreted by members of 

their group (Green & Meyer, 1991; Gumperz, 1982), allowing them to construct 

meanings specific to the group through their conversations (Geertz, 1983; Green & 

Dixon, 1993). This shift may seem subtle, but the implications of embracing a 

81

sociocultural perspective are significant. Studies from this perspective focus not just 

on the immediate experiences of the family group in the museum, but more broadly 

on the ways in which the family group is situated within the larger social and cultural context. It necessitates understanding the shared meanings, processes, artifacts, symbols, and identities that families construct as they participate within a 

specific community of practice, more fully revealing the nature of the learning processes and products. 

Although there has been research on families’ conversations in museums for more 

than a decade (c.f. Astor-Jack, Whaley, Dierking, Perry, & Garibay in this volume), 

this research more generally described how families interact and talk about topics 

presented in exhibitions and programs. Family members talk about what they know 

from previous experiences, discussing what they see, hear, read, and do in relation 

to their family experiences and memories. This research also demonstrated that 

these discussions provide opportunities for family members to reinforce past experiences, family history, and to develop shared understandings. 

The recent dominance of sociocultural perspectives in museum research build on 

the early studies of family conversations and enables current investigators to pursue 

a depth of understanding about family conversations and their role in identity building and other social and cultural aspects not understood previously. In particular, 

these perspectives have afforded opportunities for more in-depth investigation of the 

meaning and uses of conversations (c.f., Leinhardt, Crowley, & Knutson, 2002). Recent studies of families’ conversations emphasize the processes families engage in 

to construct meaning and build identity, and the role of the museum experience in 

the family’s larger social and cultural context (Ash, 2003; Crowley et al., 2001; 

Ellenbogen, 2002). 

One study conducted as part of the Family Learning Initiative, a systemic research effort at The Children’s Museum (TCM) of Indianapolis, illustrates the recent 

theoretical focus on the family group and the shared meanings they construct 

through participation in the larger social and cultural context (Luke, Cohen Jones, 

Dierking, & Falk, 2002). The study (examined the long-term impact of two youthbased museum programs on young adults and their families. Findings demonstrated 

that these programs influenced participants’ attitudes, interests and awareness. 

However, the focus was not just on the impact at the level of the individual. The 

study employed a social systems approach to understand the long-term impact of 

participation in these two TCM program experiences within a larger sociocultural 

and developmental context. Within this expanded approach, findings demonstrated 

that these programs influenced family dynamics, giving young adults the opportunity to explore new roles within their family, gain new perspectives and identities 

within the family system, and learn new things about family members. There was 

evidence that interests that young adults developed within the program were carried over into the family context, resulting in shared family interests. 

Programs also influenced young adults’ contributions and connections to the larger sociocultural community, fostering a tolerance of other people and cultures, and 

cultivating a sense of civic responsibility. These results suggest that a research perspective informed by sociocultural theory highlights not only the learning of the individual, but also learning at the level of social groups, such as family and community. Such shifts in theoretical perspectives also allow researchers to understand 

learning that is broader than content knowledge, such as learning to communicate 

with others, learning new things about family members and the family dynamic, 

and learning a sense of civic responsibility. These findings are building a shared 

language and set of beliefs and values in the field and are evidence of the progress 

that has been made in family learning research in museums over the last decade. 

Realigning Methodologies In the last ten years, researchers have attempted to 

more broadly and deeply investigate the nature of family learning in and from museums utilizing a variety of methodologies. Some of these methodologies are borrowed directly from other disciplines; others are unique improvements upon what 

has been developed previously. This change in methodologies is a natural realignment that accommodates shifts in assumptions about how research is best conducted, what questions should be addressed, and what is agreed upon by the community as valid and reliable evidence of family learning. 

Researchers are adopting diverse methodologies that include discourse analysis, 

video and audio recording of moment-by-moment interactions, pre-, post-, and postpostinterviewing, journaling, talk-aloud cued visits, and providing family members 

with cameras as a documentation and meaning-making tool, all in an attempt to 

better understand and document the role that museums play in families’ lives. 

These innovations are due, in part, to the strength of recent funding catalysts in 

the field that have supported conferences and research collaborations. In addition, 

museum researchers have become more aware of cutting edge research on family 

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learning in other fields of research (e.g., Moussouri, 1997). Innovations in methodologies have also arisen organically as researchers draw upon their diverse training backgrounds and adapt preexisting methodologies to family learning research in 

museums. An example of the ways in which new methodologies have informed our understanding of family learning in museums is a multi-city, multi-museum study focused 

on exhibit characteristics, family behaviors, and family conversations designed to 

identify the characteristics of exhibits that encourage family interaction (Borun et 

al., 1998). Multiple testing of the audio-taping methods used to record families’ conversations resulted in a measure of the correlation between families’ physical and 

verbal interactions and their learning, as measured through an interview process 

after families left an exhibition. Findings suggest that families engage in three levels of discourse: identifying, describing, and interpreting and applying. Findings 

from the second phase of the project concluded that families are learning from museums, but parents’ mediating strategies are sometimes not the most effective for 

facilitating science learning. 

Another example is Personal Meaning Mapping (Falk, Moussouri, & Coulson, 

1998) which is based on concept mapping techniques and allows participants to respond to a concept, topic, or experience in their own way. Researchers then use a 

structured system to code responses and conduct a quantitative analysis of the qualitative data. In a study investigating families’ understandings of evolution (Luke, 

O’Mara, & Dierking, 1999), groups were encouraged to work together to write (or 

draw) anything that came to mind when they thought about a topic prompt. As they 

wrote and discussed their ideas, researchers recorded these negotiations to capture 

the family dynamic at work. Researchers used families’ responses as prompts for a 

follow-up interview with the group. In this way, PMM allowed researchers to start 

with families’ individual and collective perceptions of the topic and pursue their understandings in greater depth using their own language and terminology. 

The realignment of methodologies has also pointed to the need to extend research 

over time. Some of the earliest museum learning research (Robinson, 1936), as well 

as recent calls for such research designs (Falk & Dierking, 1995), note the importance of understanding what people do before and after their museum visit. Most 

commonly, an extended approach is taken by conducting a follow-up interview with 

families weeks, months, and even years after the museum visit. Researchers have 

repeatedly shown that many of the conversations that begin in the museum continue once families are back in the home (c.f., Astor-Jack, Whaley, Dierking, Perry, 

& Garibay in this volume). In addition, families are able to describe specific exhibitions and program elements without prompting, indicating the general durability of 

the museum experience. 

For example, a study of the impact of a genetics exhibition included follow-up telephone interviews with a sample of families who had visited the exhibition approximately six weeks earlier (Luke, Coles, & Falk, 1998). Families reported that they 

talked about the exhibition in the car on the way home, over dinner in the following 

weeks, or while engaged in some other activity, and described connections between 

the content in the exhibition and other circumstances or phenomenon in their lives. 

Ethnographic case studies that involved long-term relationships with a set group 

of families who visited museums frequently, allowing repeated observations and 

interviews before, during, and after museum visits (Ellenbogen, 2002, 2003), suggested that conversational connections among museum experiences and real-world 

contexts are frequent and pervasive. 

A More Holistic Understanding of the Family as a Learning Institution 

Shifting research to a new theoretical perspective and realigning methodologies 

are critical steps in moving family learning research in museums forward. The empirical work emerging in the last decade focuses on families and their conversations, 

and examines learning beyond the walls of the museum. However, this is not 

enough; with this approach we are in danger of only superficially documenting the 

nature of family learning. At a broader level, we must understand family culture 

as dominant, resituating the focal point of what we study from the museum agenda 

to the family agenda, understanding the family as a learning institution within the 

larger learning infrastructure they inhabit, and the culture in which they function. 

The term ‘family agenda’ (in contrast to ‘museum agenda’) highlights the need for 

museums to not only be aware of themselves as resources for learning, but also 

aware of what each family might choose to take from the experience and each family’s role in museum learning (Falk, Balling, & Liversidge, 1985; Hilke, 1987). This 

inverted point of view highlights the reality that families bring resources with them, 

which in turn influence the ways they interpret their museum experience. The term 

‘family agenda’ emphasizes the need to recognize and accommodate the resources 

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families bring to the museum in order to create a successful family learning context. 

Researchers have argued that families not only have agendas for their museum visits, but that these agendas directly influence the impact of the museum experience. 

A radical interpretation of the notion of family agenda suggests that research that 

strives to fully understand how families learn in and from museums should situate 

itself within the educational institution of the family. Once the family is the starting 

point, the museum becomes one of many learning resources that the family uses. 

From this point of view, the position of the museum within the learning infrastructure (Falk & Dierking, 2002; Lewenstein, 2001; St. John & Perry, 1996) depends on 

the culture of the family—a more realistic reflection of real-world experiences. 

When the focus of the research is resituated to a family-centric perspective, identity-building becomes more significant. Identity is socially situated with respect to 

people’s ongoing membership in specific communities of practice (Wenger, 1998). In 

Wenger’s view, people’s development of identities is an integral aspect of their participation in the practices of a community. Learners are members of a community 

to the extent that they have learned normative ways of thinking and acting that 

have been established by that particular community. Much of this learning is implicit and involves assumptions and rules about particular ways of speaking and 

participating in that community. 

Consequently, identities are not fixed or static, but in a constant process of formation (Holland, 1998; Kress, 1995; Wenger, 1998). People construct and contest identities through what they do and say. The development and negotiation of identity 

is influenced not just by community, but also by the organizations and institutions 

of the community. The museum, like all educational institutions (Bruner, 1996), can 

be seen as a place of enculturation (Pearce, 1994). Enculturation involves developing 

identity as a part of a community, and the museum is one of the organizations that 

influence this activity. From this perspective, (e.g., Ivanova, 2003) we can begin to 

examine museums and other institutions in the learning infrastructure as places for 

building and affirming identity. 

Consider the findings of a study investigating a partnership among The Franklin 

Institute Science Museum and three inner-city Philadelphia schools designed to cultivate collaboration between teachers and parents in support of elementary children’s science learning (Luke, Bronnenkant, & Dierking, 2003). Interviews with parents revealed that after only one year, participating families integrate elements of 

the program into their family life. In addition, parents feel that the program activities change their family learning dynamic, giving them an opportunity to step outside their traditional role as homework ‘dictator,’ to instead work alongside their 

children to do activities and feel comfortable not having all the answers. Similarly, 

in the ethnographic case studies of family learning described earlier (Ellenbogen, 

2003), families were found to use supporting interaction strategies across learning 

environments. Most interestingly, the families over time, used seemingly unrelated 

interactions in museums and at home to construct their family identity. 

Studying the families’ interactions across multiple learning environments provided a needed lens for understanding the complex motivations underlying the families’ practices in the museum. Findings suggest that museums can be tools for 

enculturation that families use to establish and negotiate their identity. In other 

words, the museum is context, not content. The subject of investigation thus becomes the ways in which family members come to make meaning through their 

interactions in a setting, rather than the setting dictating those interactions and 

any subsequent learning. The families themselves function as learning institutions, 

drawing upon museums as one of many tools they have to build family identity. 

This focus on the family as central to the meaning-making process is additional evidence for how the development of family learning research in museums over the last 

decade has led to a resituating of research foci, with the hope of ultimately providing useful insights that can shape exhibitions and programs that enable families 

to shape and affirm their identities. 

Conclusions 

The last decade has witnessed a marked increase in our understanding of how, 

what, when, and where families learn in and from museums. Three aspects of recent 

research provide evidence for the importance and relevance of this field and the 

progress that has been made. First, shifts in our theoretical perspectives, with a 

new focus on the family as a type of social group and the shared meanings they 

construct, have resulted in a shared vocabulary and set of beliefs, values, and understandings about what constitutes family learning in museums. Although classification and semantic arguments, such as the accuracy of indicators of learning, or 

the definition of the term ‘family,’ still occur, they are a natural outcome of an 

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emerging community of research which is vetted and debated by a group of researchers with shared interests, but different backgrounds and approaches. 

Second, a realignment of our methodologies, including the adoption of new and 

alternative strategies for documenting the role of the museum in family life, has 

united many of us in the pursuit of similar questions. Although there is variety in 

what constitutes valid and reliable evidence for family learning, shared values and 

ideas about how to best investigate it are emerging within the community. 

Third, ensuring that the family is the central focus of our research has resulted 

in an understanding of the family as a learning institution, utilizing the free-choice 

learning resources of an extensive learning infrastructure in order to construct and 

affirm individual and collective identities. The last decade of research has produced 

significant evidence of the ways in which the museum provides a context for such 

identity-building. There is growing agreement that family learning is best examined 

from the perspective of the family and the larger learning infrastructure. 

However, the real evidence that we are making progress in this arena will be a 

discernable difference in the next decade of family learning research and practice 

in museums, perhaps even an influence on research and practice in the broader museum community. A similar exercise of reflecting upon the last decade of research 

ten years from now should result in definitive evidence for changes in research and 

practice. What would constitute definitive evidence for these changes? 

First, we would see a well-established, shared vocabulary and set of beliefs, values, and understandings about what constitutes family learning. Although healthy 

debate would still be a natural part of this community of research and practice, the 

nature of the arguments would be different. The community would no longer debate 

the definition of the term ‘family’ or argue about indicators of learning; instead they 

would engage in conversations about the nuances and subtleties of family learning 

in museums and investigate questions such as: How do families appropriate the museum experience and use it to support their own needs? How do the experiences 

families have in museums relate to their other learning experiences? Practitioners 

would find the research useful to their practice and be able to utilize it to improve 

their abilities to support family learning and identity-building. The community of 

researchers and practitioners would be drawn together by shared interests, with respectful and productive ways of talking together and debating these issues. 

Second, we would see new and refined strategies for facilitating and documenting 

the role of the museum in family life. Although there would still be some variety 

in what constitutes valid and reliable evidence of family learning, there would be 

accepted ways of framing, facilitating, and investigating family learning within the 

community. There also would be some consistency in the important questions to be 

resolved in the field and the methodologies used to investigate these questions. 

Methodologies that are sensitive to social interaction, such as discourse analysis, 

video and audio recording of moment-bymoment interactions, journaling, and talkaloud approaches, would be well-established, commonly-used approaches. These approaches would be integrated into practice in meaningful ways also. 

Last, it would be understood that a meaningful examination of the nature of family learning in the museum, requires a central focus on the family. The family would 

be seen as a learning institution that utilizes the learning resources of an extensive 

learning infrastructure to build its individual and collective identity. No one would 

dispute that family learning is best examined and supported from the perspective 

of the family and the larger learning infrastructure. 

A key indicator of the progress made in family learning research over the last decade is the extent to which this empirical work informs the work of practitioners. 

What has family learning research meant to exhibition and program developers? 

How do they use this research to influence their work? Here are the reflections of 

three practitioners; we hope that their stories will provide useful information to 

other practitioners eager to integrate more research-based approaches into their activities and to researchers regarding investigations which are most helpful to furthering practice. 

Cathleen Donnelly, Exhibit Developer, and Leslie Power, Director of School Services & Family Programs, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (TCM) 

Both of us became a Family Learning Leader, by participating in a comprehensive 

professional development program designed to build internal capacity about 

familylearning among key management staff, representing educators and exhibit developers, but also membership, curatorial, visitor and volunteer services. The goal 

was to build our capacity in family learning and to help us develop skills to inspire 

our staff, andultimately to mentor and coach them in the principles of family learning. The training was rigorous, including four two-day seminars, advanced readings 

and assignments, field trips and a special project designed to integrate family learnVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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ing research into the specificday-to-day tasks of the Leader. Here are two examples 

of how this experience has transformed our work at TCM. 

Exhibitions Family learning research has changed the way we develop exhibitions 

at TCM. Previously, we developed, tested and evaluated our exhibitions based on 

their appeal to children. During the exhibit development process, we now consider 

the family a learning unit, and based on family learning research, we: • Test exhibition concepts with children and adults in focus groups made up of 

family members of a variety of ages. • Design interactives for family accessibility, collaboration and conversation. If we 

do not observe families playing and talking together, then the interactive is redesigned and re-tested. We developed a family learning matrix that incorporates a variety of family learning characteristics and is used as a tool by the core team as 

interactives are designed and tested. • Select objects based on what we hear and see families engaged with as they 

view informal artifact displays and interact with curators. If we can determine 

which objects spark interest, encourage conversation and help families make personal connections, we know we will be more successful in attracting and holding 

their attention within an exhibition. • Write labels to be read aloud—either between a parent and a child or a sibling 

and a sibling—and content is geared towards helping families make personal connections. Font style and point size are designed for a wide age range—from beginning readers to grandparents. 

School Services & Family Programs Family learning research has directly influenced my work developing family programs and school field trip programs at TCM. 

Based onfamily learning research and the museum’s mission of reaching children 

and adults, the education department decided to eliminate all school-age programming including summer day camps, replacing this programming with programs specifically designed forfamilies. The challenge and goal of the family programs is to 

provide a range of familylearning experiences that foster family interactions and 

meet the developmental needs of a variety of ages. We now offer family trips, family 

nights at the museum, family nightsat local schools, and programs for homeschoolers. 

The most exciting aspect of my work currently, which is a direct result of the 

Family Learning Initiative we have been engaged with in collaboration with the Institute forLearning Innovation, is the addition of a Public Scholar position at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). IUPUI and TCM collaboratively hired a Public Scholar of Museums, Families, and Learning in the fall of 

2005. This shared positionrequires a great deal of collaboration between IUPUI’s 

Museum Studies program andSchool of Education and TCM. One area of future 

study will investigate the role of chaperones with small groups of students, determining whether current research onfamily interactions in museums can be extended 

to such groups. 

Dale McCreedy, Director, Gender and Family Learning Programs, Franklin Institute 

Science Museum 

In considering how family learning research has informed my own practice, I 

needed to think back across my 18 years in the field. Although it is difficult to imagine my efforts within the field not being informed in some way by research, the 

question that arises for me, is ‘Which body of research has been most influential?’

In the early days of my work, gender research was most salient. This included 

the work of Sue Rosser, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), 

and many studies acknowledging the invisibility of females and minorities in texts, 

as role models, and within museum exhibitions. ‘‘My Daughter the Scientist,’’ an exhibition developed by Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry in the mid-80s, 

was a critical first step in bringing issues related to women and science into the 

public eye. As the importance of adults as gate-keepers to girls’ science learning 

emerged, the research in teacher education, parent support, and adult learning became more relevant, as did feminist learning theory. However, though this literature was helpful, it was only after sociocultural ideas about learning and meaning-making became more developed, and the negotiation of identities was articulated as learning, that there seemed to be a coherent link from this work to the 

arena of family learning in museums. 

Fortunately, what has emerged in more recently published literature within the 

field is the growing awareness of identity and learning as being interconnected and 

the critical role that a Community of Practice or sociocultural infrastructure plays 

in identity development. By using a sociocultural framework to inform our work at 

The Franklin Institute, we have been able to move beyond the individual as the 

focus of analysis to the interconnection of individual (s) and community, in ways 

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that take into account shared perspectives, understandings, and co-evolutions. To 

provide a specific example, our work with Parent Partners in School Science (PPSS) 

discussed earlier in this chapter, has benefited from cutting edge theories on family 

engagement in schools proposed in a 2004 study by Barton, Drake, Perez, St. Louis, 

and George. This study has led us to question the existing paradigms about parent 

involvement in schools and develop new questions about what parent involvement 

really means. As we continue to explore the impact of a program designed to build 

connections between home and school, we have begun to look more closely at what 

Barton, et al. propose—i.e., a shift away from the focus solely on what parents do 

to engage with their children’s school activities to a focus on how and why parents 

are engaged, and the complex ways in which their engagement occurs. In our efforts 

to understand the successes and challenges within PPSS, we are using this parent 

engagement framework to document the ways in which the program has brought 

teachers and parents together in support of children’s science learning in and outside of school. The consideration of impact within this theoretical framework was 

compelling to us because it helped us see parent engagement as a dynamic, relational phenomenon, not just about trying to get parents involved in schools, but 

rather, getting parents and teachers to engage with one another across home and 

school contexts. The success of this model in facilitating our work suggests that such 

changes in understanding dynamics and relationships have great potential for influencing the work of the entire museum community. 

[From the St. Pioneer Press, August 17, 2008]

Scientific Literacy—It’s Not Just for Scientists

By DR. ERIC J. JOLLY

No one would think it’s OK to be illiterate. No one would brag, ‘‘I don’t read.’’ 

But literacy doesn’t end at the back cover of a book. The need for essential science 

literacy—the ability to understand and engage in the issues of science and technology that shape our culture—has exploded in the past few decades. Our air, 

water, health and our economy are all profoundly affected by the choices we make. 

It’s simply not wise—no matter how long it’s been since your last chemistry class—

to say, ‘‘I don’t get science.’’

But don’t panic. We’re smart and capable in these parts. Let’s start with some 

definitions. What does it mean to be scientifically literate? Scientifically literate people don’t need to have a bottomless well of science knowledge. You don’t even need 

to have a mental file of science facts that you consult. What you need is a curious 

mind and critical thinking skills. 

Don’t worry as much about the science classes you took in college—think more 

about critical thinking skills, and ask lots of questions. 

A scientifically literate person knows there is power in language that needs to be 

understood; for instance, in science, a theory isn’t a best guess—it’s a formal hypothesis that’s been tested and revised. All research isn’t created equal—the best is conducted by scientists with a background in the area being researched and published 

in peer-reviewed journals. Sometimes the results are detailed and narrow, making 

them most important to other scientists; other times the study is broad, lengthy, 

and has more significance to the general public. And scientifically literate people 

know that most disagreement among scientists occurs in details, just as most scientific advancement is made by tiny steps. The Galileos and Einsteins are far outnumbered by scientists in labs conducting and replicating laborious research. 

It’s no surprise that advances in science and technology are everywhere. They’re 

in the key-card we use to access our office buildings or hotel rooms. They’re in the 

genetically modified foods we eat and the pharmaceuticals we ingest to keep our 

bodies healthy. We consume this technology every day, but using it isn’t the same 

as understanding it. As these advances creep into every part of our lives we’ve become increasingly less and less able to keep up with science policy and control how 

it affects our culture and our democracy. 

Yes, science really does affect our democracy. 

Let’s get one thing straight. Science literacy is different from reading and writing. 

Once you’ve learned to read, you can read forever. Science is changing. Constantly. 

The nature of the scientific method is to establish a base of knowledge and then 

constantly expand and adjust it. That’s why the best practices can change over 

time—30 years ago, doctors recommended babies sleep on their stomachs and drink 

formula. Now, doctors recommend babies sleep on their backs and drink breastmilk. 

When baby boomers were in school, space exploration to the moon was cutting edge. 

Today’s students learn about robotic spacecraft missions to Mars and beyond. Literate citizens can glean information from newspapers, magazines, websites, and 

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1Lake Snell Perry & Associates designed and administered this survey which was conducted 

by phone using professional interviewers. The survey reached 1000 adults age 18 or older nationwide. The survey was conducted from February 5th—8th, 2001. Telephone numbers for the 

survey were drawn from a random digit dial sample (RDD). The sample was stratified geographically by state based on the proportion of adults who live in each state. The data was 

weighted to reflect Bureau of the Census estimates of age, education and area of residence. The 

margin of error is +/¥ 3.1%. 

books about the issues at stake. But scientifically literate people can analyze the 

data and ask informed questions about the ethical, social, and economic implications. 

When we have dynamic civic engagement around issues of science, we do more 

than create a healthy environment and a better quality of life. We create economic 

opportunity and a better future. Science deserves the same vigorous debate as the 

economy or education; not surprisingly, the topics often overlap. 

A good example lies right outside the Science Museum of Minnesota, where a 

major effort is under way to devise a plan to clean the Mississippi River, which has 

been declared impaired. We know there are very high levels of phosphorus, which 

cause high levels of algae. We know there is enough sediment flow to fill a dump 

truck every 10 minutes. And we know that 90 percent of the pollution runoff comes 

from the Minnesota River watershed, even though only 25 percent of the water 

comes from that river. Why? Because the majority of the Minnesota River watershed 

is in agricultural row crops, which utilize pesticides. Two of our state’s great sources 

of pride—our agricultural heritage and our great river—sometimes represent competing interests, especially are sometimes in direct conflict as the market for ethanol 

and biodiesel fuels continues to grow. Repurposing crops we eat into crops we drive 

has huge economic and social impacts at home and abroad. How can we halt or reverse the damage to the river without hindering unnecessarily restraining the free 

market? It’s up to Minnesota’s scientifically literate citizens to decide. 

So how can we advance our science literacy? It’s easy to make small changes. We 

can start with simple things: asking our newspapers to cover more science, reading 

science magazines like Discover, Popular Science, National Geographic, and Scientific American, and tuning in to NPR’s ‘‘Talk of the Nation: Science Friday’’ and 

PBS’s ‘‘NOVA.’’

We can also look for comprehensive science-based solutions for issues that impact 

public policy. We can support the creation of a science advisor to the governor—

many states have one, Minnesota does not—and a science advisory panel for the 

Legislature. Science advisory panels not only help our leaders to be informed, but 

also help us track the key issues we face as a state by bringing legislative topics 

back into our communities. And we can ask candidates about their positions on 

these critical science issues during campaigns and debates. 

Minnesota has historically maintained a solid strong compass to guide the level 

of risk we are willing to take—and the price we are willing to pay—for an environment that’s healthy for our children. As a state we’ve always taken pride in our 

well-educated citizenry, quality schools, and arts and culture. Now, as we move 

though this new era of scientific revolution, there are more reasons than ever to 

gather knowledge and participate. 

Citizens can—and should—get involved in critical scientific debates that will direct how we live in the future. Join in the conversation. There’s plenty to talk about.

Dr. Eric J. Jolly is president of the Science Museum of Minnesota. The museum 

served more than 1.2 million Minnesotans in the past year, working to achieve 

science literacy through visits, classes, teacher development, outreach, and research. 

His e-mail address is eric.jolly@smm.org 

BOARD/INSTITUTIONAL MEMBER COPY

March 7, 2001

To: Ed Able, Jason Hall, and Pat Williams, American Association of Museums

From: Celinda Lake, Daniel Gotoff, and Thaddeus Windt, LSPA

Subject: Report on Findings of Research

The following memo summarizes key findings from a nationwide poll on Americans’ perceptions of museums, of their importance as an educational resource, and 

of their trustworthiness as sources of objective information.1 In a time of enormous 

cynicism about public institutions, museums are viewed as one of the most important resources for educating our children and as one of the most trustworthy sources 

88

of objective information. Furthermore, this confidence in museums is consistent 

among a broad range of demographic groups and in all regions of the country. 

Overview 

• Among a wide range of information sources, museums are far and away the 

most trusted source of objective information. No other institution has a similar level 

of trust. Books are the second most trusted source of information followed by television news. Newspapers, the Internet, radio, and magazines are not considered 

trustworthy by most Americans. • The public’s trust in museums is based on three themes: they present history, 

they are research-oriented, and they deal in facts. All Americans, regardless of the 

level of their trust in museums, cite history and facts as the top factors that make 

them consider museums trustworthy. It should be noted that the small minority of 

Americans who find museums less trustworthy see less emphasis on research. • People are almost evenly divided on whether museums are trustworthy because 

they present first-hand interaction with past events and history and/or because they 

offer independent and objective information. • While schools are number one, public libraries, and science centers and children’s museums comprise a top tier of institutions that people believe are important 

resources for educating our children. • One-third of Americans say they have visited an art museum, a history museum, an aquarium, zoo, botanical garden, or science and technology center within 

the past six months. Almost a quarter have gone within the past year. One in five 

Americans visited more than a year ago and about one in five last visited a museum 

more than five years ago. 

Sources of Information 

Among a wide range of information sources, museums are far and away the most 

trusted source of objective information. Thirty-eight percent of Americans believe 

museums are one of the most trustworthy sources and 87 percent believe they are 

trustworthy overall. Just 13 percent say that museums are not trustworthy, with 

only 1 percent saying that they are not very trustworthy. No other institution has 

a similar level of trust. Books are a distant second as a trusted source of objective 

information (18 percent one of the most trustworthy, 61 percent trustworthy, 36 percent not trustworthy). A majority of people do not trust the other more frequently 

used media. People split on television news (10 percent one of the most trustworthy, 

49 percent trustworthy, 50 percent not trustworthy) and rank newspapers (8 percent 

one of the most trustworthy, 34 percent trustworthy, 65 percent not trustworthy), 

the Internet (5 percent one of the most trustworthy, 23 percent trustworthy, 66 percent not trustworthy), radio (3 percent one of the most trustworthy, 28 percent 

trustworthy, 72 percent not trustworthy), and magazines (3 percent one of the most 

trustworthy, 22 percent trustworthy, 76 percent not trustworthy) as untrustworthy.

Americans of every demographic group, including gender, age, and education, as 

well as in every area of the country, believe that museums are a trustworthy source 

of objective information by at least 80 percent or more. Indeed, even some of the 


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most cynical audiences in our society such as younger non-college educated adults 

display a remarkable level of trust in museums (42 percent one of the most trustworthy, 87 percent trustworthy). Indeed the younger generation (under the age of 

30), which is the most Internet savvy, rates museums far more trustworthy (44 percent one of the most trustworthy, 87 percent trustworthy) than the Internet (8 percent one of the most trustworthy, 28 trustworthy, 66 percent not trustworthy). 

• Another reason why Americans consider museums trustworthy is that they are 

‘‘family-friendly.’’ Eighty-eight percent of parents find museums to be trustworthy 

and almost four in ten (39 percent) say that they are one of the most trustworthy 

sources of objective information. Eighty-six percent of dads and 89 percent of moms 

believe museums are trustworthy (39 percent each one of the most trustworthy). 

Demographically and regionally, the groups that tend to find museums most 

trustworthy are: 

• People under 30 (44 percent one of the most trustworthy, 87 percent trustworthy) 

• People who visited a museum within the last year (44 percent one of the most 

trustworthy, 89 percent trustworthy) 

• Mid-Atlantic residents (43 percent one of the most trustworthy, 90 percent 

trustworthy) 

• Service or retail employees (43 percent one of the most trustworthy, 87 percent 

trustworthy) 

• Younger non-college educated adults (42 percent one of the most trustworthy, 

87 percent trustworthy) 

Though solid majorities of these groups still find museums trustworthy, the 

groups that are least likely to intensely think museums are trustworthy are: 

• People living in the Midwest (34 percent one of the most trustworthy, 84 percent trustworthy) 

• Seniors (28 percent one of most trustworthy, 83 percent trustworthy) 

• Skilled blue-collar workers (28 percent one of the most trustworthy, 85 percent 

trustworthy) 

Sources of Trust 

The top three reasons people offer for why they find museums trustworthy are 

that they present history (28 percent), they are research-oriented (12 percent), and 

they deal in facts (10 percent). All other reasons offered by people were in the single 

digits.

Most Americans say presenting history is the main factor driving their trust in 

museums. However, younger college-educated people (19 percent), college-educated 

women (17 percent), moms (17 percent), rural residents (17 percent), college graduates (16 percent), parents (16 percent), younger women (15 percent), and people 

employed in white collar managerial jobs (14 percent) all say that research is the 

most important reason why they trust museums. 

Some of the specific things people say about research as a reason for museums’ 

trustworthiness are that: 

• ‘‘They have the experts who have time to research things thoroughly’’

• ‘‘The research that goes into the displays’’

• ‘‘I would expect that there is a lot of research involved before they put a display 

together’’


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Americans who find museums trustworthy, and those who do not, both cite history and facts as the top reasons for trusting museums. Those who find museums 

less trustworthy, however, place less emphasis on research than other factors. 

First-Hand Interaction with Past Events vs. Objective and Independent Source of Information 

There are two schools of thought as to why people believe museums are trustworthy. One school of thought says that people find museums trustworthy because 

they give people the opportunity to interact first-hand with objects, past events, and 

new information. It further contends that this type of direct, personal contact allows 

people to reach their own conclusions and think about the subject matter for themselves, with family and friends. 

Another school of thought says that people find museums trustworthy because 

they are more independent and objective than other sources of information. Museums are fairer in presenting different points of view because they are centers for 

research, whose central mission is to present the truth about their subject area. 

In fact, Americans are divided as to which school of thought comes closer to their 

own point of view. Forty two percent say that first-hand interaction with past events 

comes closer to their own point of view, while 40 percent say it is because museums 

have more objective and independent information. Because Americans are evenly divided between these two theories and the two are not mutually exclusive, it suggests that both viewpoints are valid.

Like the public overall, most groups divide. However, demographically and regionally, the groups that are most likely to say first-hand interaction comes closest to 

their own point of view are: 

• People employed in unskilled blue collar jobs (50 percent) 

• People employed in white collar managerial jobs (50 percent) 

• Seniors (49 percent) 

• People under the age of 30 (47 percent) 

• People who find museums less trustworthy (46 percent) 

• People who live out West (46 percent) 

• Southerners (45 percent) 

The groups that say objective and independent information comes closest to their 

own point of view are: 

• New England residents (45 percent) 

• People between the ages of 40-64 (45 percent) 

• People who last visited a museum more than 5 years ago (45 percent) 

• Residents in rural areas (45 percent) 

Resources for Education 

The vast majority of Americans perceive museums to be an important educational 

resource as well. Interestingly, non-parents are no less likely than parents to assign 

museums a high level of importance in this regard. Schools, not surprisingly, are 

the most important education institution (76 percent most important, 98 percent important). However, public libraries (36 percent most important, 93 percent imporVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK

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tant), and science centers and children’s museums (29 percent most important, 86 

percent important) also comprise a top tier of institutions that people believe are 

important resources for educating our children. Other types of museums are also 

rated as most important or very important to a high degree. 

Seniors, younger women (29 percent each most important), and New England residents (38 percent most important) put greater importance on art and history museums while Midwest residents put less emphasis on libraries (27 percent most important). Those people who indicate that teaching history is the main factor driving 

their trust in museums, not surprisingly, find museums even more important as an 

educational resource, especially science and technology centers, children’s museums 

(34 percent most important), and art and history museums (37 percent most important). 

When Americans Last Visited a Museum 

One-third of Americans (34 percent) say they have visited an art museum, history 

museum, aquarium, zoo, botanical garden, or science and technology center within 

the past six months. Almost a quarter (23 percent) visited within the past year. Additionally, one in five Americans (20 percent) have gone more than a year ago and 

about one in five (19 percent) last visited a museum more than five years ago.

Younger people, those under 30 (43 percent visited in the last six months), and 

college educated people (50 percent visited in the last six months) are more likely 

to have visited a museum recently, while seniors (19 percent visited in the last six 

months) and people without a college degree (26 percent visited in the last six 

months) are less likely to have visited. Those who work in professional white collar 

jobs are also more likely to have gone to a museum recently (50 percent visited in 

the last six months) while retirees are the least likely (17 percent visited in the last 

six months). 

Parents of younger children are also more likely to have visited recently. Fortytwo percent have visited in the last six months than compared to 30 percent of nonparents. However, dads (49 percent visited in the last six months) are more likely 

to say they have recently visited than moms (37 percent visited in the last six 

months). 

Across the country, people living in the Northeast (38 percent visited in the last 

six months) and the West (40 percent visited in the last six months) are the most 

likely to have visited a museum recently, while people living in the Midwest (31 percent visited in the last six months) and in the South (30 percent visited in the last 

six months) are less likely. Furthermore, people living in large cities (population 1 

million or more people) are the most likely to have visited a museum recently (42 

percent visited in the last six months), followed by people who live smaller cities 

(35 percent visited in the last six months). People who live in suburbs, small towns, 

and rural areas are less likely to have visited a museum in the last six months (32 

percent, 30 percent, and 30 percent, respectively). 

In conclusion, museums are not only perceived to be a very important resource 

for educating our children. They are also seen as the most trustworthy source of objective information available—even more than television, radio, newspapers, books 


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and the Internet. Furthermore, there’s remarkable consensus among all Americans 

as to the value they place on museums. Even among groups of people who visit museums less frequently, museums are seen as an important educational resource and 

extremely trustworthy. In an age of ever increasing cynicism, museums have the 

unique distinction of being one the few institutions that work to unite all Americans. 

Learning Outside of Schools

KIRSTEN ELLENBOGEN, PH.D., Science Museum of Minnesota 

By the age of eighteen, a child will have spent, at most, nine percent of his or 

her lifetime in school (U.S. Department of Education, 2000). This conclusion is comparable to estimates made more than three decades earlier (Jackson, 1968). Jackson’s argument is that if a child spends about six hours a day in school, and is 

present for each of the one hundred and eighty days required by most states, he 

will spend little over one thousand hours in school in a year. This is a low estimate 

of the time spent on schooling activities, as it does not consider time spent on homework. But it is a generous estimate as it assumes perfect attendance, and counts 

all of the time spent in school as a schooling activity, including activities such as 

lunch and recess. 

Eight to nine percent of a childhood is a great deal of time for one single activity 

such as schooling. But from the perspective of examining all opportunities for learning, it must be understood as a weak intervention or ‘‘low dose’’ (Sosniak, 2001). It 

is, upon reflection, commendable that schools have such an impact after only taking 

up eight to nine percent of childhood. It is worth adding that in a life of seventyfive years, barely two percent of a person’s time will have been spent in schooling. 

Other educational influences, such as home, community, media, and society must 

be considered in a complete survey of a person’s learning experiences. Herein lies 

the importance of learning outside of school. 

What are the learning possibilities of time-out-of-school? Examining the informal 

learning experiences of an eighteen-year-old requires the consideration of ninety one 

to ninety two percent of his or her time. Granted, the activities of playing and critical self-maintenance (e.g., sleeping, eating, and washing) take up a significant 

amount of time. But we are still left with an extensive educational infrastructure 

that includes non-school institutions (e.g., libraries and museums), organizations 

(e.g., community, church and scouting groups), and media (e.g., books, newspapers, 

magazines, television, film, radio, and the Web) (St. John & Perry, 1996). Although 

the existence of this infrastructure is contested (e.g., Luke, Camp, Dierking, & 

Pearce, 2001), significant evidence suggests that at the least, the groundwork has 

been laid for a series of connections across institutions, organizations, and communities that allows interaction, communication, and progress (Falk, Brooks, & Amin, 

2001; Lewenstein, 2001; St. John & Perry, 1996). Although the definition and extent 

of the learning infrastructure is contested, it is more readily agreed that the functions of the infrastructure resources for learning outside of school and for connecting 

to school-based learning are not well understood. 

REFERENCES

Falk, J.H., Brooks, P. & Amin, R. (2001). Investigating the role of free-choice learning on public understanding of science: The California Science Center 

L.A.S.E.R. Project. In Falk, J.H. (Ed.), Free-choice science education: How we 

learn science outside of school (pp. 115-132). New York: Teachers College Press. 

Jackson, P.W. (1968). Life in classrooms. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. 

Lewenstein, B. (2001). Who produces science information for the public? In J.H. 

Falk, (Ed.), Free-choice science education: How we learn science outside of 

school (pp. 21-43). New York: Teachers College Press of Columbia University. 

Luke, J.J., Camp, B.D., Dierking, L.D., Pearce, U.J., (2001). The first free-choice 

science learning conference: From issues to future directions. In Falk, J.H. 

(Ed.), Free-choice science education: How we learn science outside of school (pp. 

151-162). New York, Teachers College Press. 

Sosniak, L. (2001). The 9% Challenge: Educating in school and society. Teachers 

College Record, 103. 

St. John, M. & Perry, D. (1996). An invisible infrastructure: Institutions of informal 

science education, Volume I. Washington, DC: Association of Science-Technology 

Centers. 

U.S. Department of Education. (1991). America 2000: An education strategy, 

Sourcebook. Washington DC: Author. 

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[Additional materials submitted by Ms. LeBlanc follow:] 

[‘‘Quick Response Memo, Be Together, Learn Together,’’ July 28, 

2008, may be accessed at the following Internet address:] 

http://edlabor.house.gov/testimony/2008-09-11-

InstforLearningInnov.pdf 


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Kick Start

Long Island Children’s Museum

Background 

KICKstart (Kids Ideas Create Knowledge) is a groundbreaking learning initiative, 

launched in 2002, to strengthen the Museum’s programming for low-income children 

and families. KICKstart provides large scale, year round programming for all Head 

Start, second and third graders in four communities on Long Island (Hempstead, 

Roosevelt, Wyandanch, Central Islip) that are most in need of educational enrichment programs. Compared with State averages, these four school districts have a 

significantly higher percentage of students eligible for the free lunch program—as 

high as 84% in one district. 

Program objectives 

• Increase family and parental involvement in children’s learning, and 

• Increase hands-on, inquiry-based exploratory learning opportunities, 

• Increase access to Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) for families traditionally underserved by cultural institutions. 

Program components 

• Multiple visits for each student to LICM 

• Participation in specially designed staff-led curriculum based programs 

• Family Night and Summer Camp outreach activities in community centers and 

schools for students, teachers, parents and family members 

• Community Night programming at LICM 

• Professional development training for teachers 

• Free family museum memberships and free bus transportation for all programs 

• Bilingual curriculum materials and museum staff available 

Results 

• To date, 14,910 children and families have been served through KICKstart, 

with 42, 219 museum visits to date. In one year, 2,772 children participate. 

• Teachers reported that their interest and knowledge in inquiry learning and 

pedagogy increased due to their involvement in KICKstart. 


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• Parents expressed that the opportunities for creative expression that family 

event activities provided greatly added to their family learning experiences. • Pre-and post-program student drawings indicated a general increase in understanding of program vocabulary and concepts over a school year. • In addition to being a valuable piece of their curriculum, teachers felt strongly 

that the program was valuable in providing a ‘‘window’’ onto the world outside of 

students’ neighborhoods and the stresses of their everyday lives. • Parents, who in the first year of the program, indicated that they had never 

been to LICM or simply didn’t go to museums, had by the fourth year become very 

aware of LICM and visited it outside of KICKstart events utilizing their sponsored 

family memberships. 

Be Together, Learn Together: A Partnership of the Long Island Children’s 

Museum, the Nassau County Department of Health and Human Services 

and Nassau County Family Court 

1. Project Design 

Introduction 

The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) in Nassau County, NY, is requesting $150,000 from the IMLS Museums for America program to plan, research, prototype 

and evaluate the initial implementation phase of a new program designed to support children and families served by Nassau County social service agencies. The program, called Be Together, Learn Together, is being developed in partnership with 

the Nassau County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Nassau 

County Family Court, and a National Advisory Committee including a child psychologist and children’s museum peers who have developed related programs in their 

communities. Following this 2-year planning phase, the Museum will fully implement the new program with its partners. Be Together, Learn Together will 

strengthen the ability of the Museum to serve as a center of community engagement 

through new partnerships designed to respond directly to the needs of a specific 

group of families. Because of the time required for substantial partnership development, the need to create and utilize a National Advisory Committee, and the necessity of assessing and monitoring program impact, this proposal requests support for 

an in-depth planning and prototyping phase. 

The intended goals of the collaboration between LICM, DHHS and Family Court 

are 1) to develop a substantial and sustainable partnership between the organizations which enables each to meet key goals and/or aspects of their strategic plans, 

2) to positively impact the experience of client families by improving the delivery 

method and quality of the County’s preventative and supportive services, and 3) to 

introduce and establish the Museum as a new, accessible resource to those families 

who might not otherwise utilize its programs and exhibitions. This proposal requests funding for the first stage of the project: developing the structure of the partnership, and planning and testing the collaborative programs. Following the successful completion of this stage, the partner organizations will be prepared to fully 

implement the program, conduct additional evaluation and develop a plan for the 

program’s joint sustainability. The creation of Be Together, Learn Together is an 

important opportunity for LICM to continue to fulfill its strategic goal of ‘‘* * * expanding the reach of its mission by deepening the connection with Long Island’s 

communities and increasing the size and diversity of its audience.’’

The Partnership 

In September 2005 Nassau County opened a new, 219,000 sq.-ft. Health and 

Human Services Welcoming Center less than a 10-minute walk from LICM. The 

new facility houses eight agencies—previously located in five different sites throughout the County—under one roof. For its 1,000 visitors each day, the building is 

bright, positive, and welcoming and includes a children’s playroom and a library 

where books are given away. Most importantly, the new Center now provides a ‘‘single point of entry into the Health and Human Services system’’ for individuals and 

families in Nassau County. This initiative to consolidate the intake process, increase 

the efficient delivery of services and ensure an ‘‘outcome-driven approach to case 

management’’ was christened the No Wrong Door program. No matter where a client enters the human services system, that person will now have access to any other 

County or community service needed. 

Shortly after the move, Louise Skolnik, Director of Human Services, key DHHS 

department heads and Judge Hope Zimmerman (Family Court) approached the Museum. The group discussed ways in which they could work together to support families at the new Welcoming Center as well as those families engaged with Child ProVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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1 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Child Maltreatment Report 2004: Of 

1,860,070 investigations nationwide, 477,755 were substantiated (25.7%). [http://

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm04/table2—4.htm] This is the most recent national data 

available, issued in July 2006. 2 Comparison of Adoption and Foster Care Reporting and Analysis System data with NYS 

Summary of Characteristics of Children in Foster Care. 

tective Services (CPS), Preventative, Foster Care & Adoption Services and Family 

Court programs. All agreed that a partnership between the three entities could 1) 

better address the specific needs of these families, 2) take advantage of the close 

physical proximity between DHHS and LICM, 3) utilize the Museum’s expertise in 

providing high-quality educational experiences for families, and 4) capitalize on the 

momentum and success of No Wrong Door. 

Child Protective Services—CPS works collaboratively with the Family Court and 

Foster Care programs and is composed of several units overseeing cases which involve court-ordered supervision, sexual abuse investigation, foster care plans, court 

petitions, and night/emergency response. In 2005, of the 5,450 reports received, 

1,564 (29%) of the total reports alleging child abuse or neglect were substantiated, 

higher than the national average of 25.7%.1 Maureen McLoughlin, Director of Child 

Protective Services, describes the challenges she faces with parents, saying, ‘‘this client population can’t go to the usual mothers’ groups because they don’t have transportation and feel intimidated by their poverty and lack of education, employment 

or social skills. We must find ways to help rehabilitate them so they can care for 

their children.’’ Among other ideas, McLoughlin is interested in creating a supervised visitation program at the Museum. Instead of the ‘‘two-way mirror in a sterile 

office,’’ McLoughlin feels the Museum will offer a ‘‘new world’’ to parents where they 

can gather information through observation, forge new relationships with other parents and learn to play with their children. 

Preventative, Foster Care & Adoption Services—In Nassau County, there are 450 

children currently in foster care. (In addition, there are approximately 400 other 

children who are admitted or discharged from the system each year.) Compared 

with national statistics, these youth spend an average of a year longer in foster care 

situations, with 51% living in non-relative foster homes. Similar to national case 

goals, 54% of the cases are intended to result in the return of the child to the parent 

or guardian. Nassau County has almost twice the number of African-American children and substantially fewer Caucasian and Hispanic youths than national levels.2

Critical challenges are recruiting and maintaining an adequate number of foster/

adoptive parents, locating the needed preventative or rehabilitative services and motivating the parents and children to engage with and benefit from them. Joseph 

Malewicz, Director of Services to Children, recognizes the potential of this project 

to yield preventative programs, support foster care children and families, and 

heighten awareness of the need for foster/adoptive parents. 

Family Court—Judge Hope Zimmerman presides over the Family Treatment 

Court program which supports and monitors parents recovering from drug addiction 

and working toward regaining custody of their children. She recently traveled to the 

Providence Children’s Museum (RI) to learn more about their program for court-separated families, and has been an enthusiastic advocate for developing similar community-based collaborations in Nassau County. Zimmerman believes that in its capacity as a parent education program, this project can positively impact the recovery 

experience for many of the parents she sees who are suffering from the fact that 

they were not ‘‘parented’’ as children and now lack parenting skills. Although they 

are highly motivated to get their children back, they lack the ‘‘inner resources’’ to 

understand parenting as a ‘‘job’’ which requires specific skills. ‘‘I’d like to get to the 

young mothers and break this cycle—help them to discover their own resources. 

They want to be good parents.’’ Echoing McLoughlin, Judge Zimmerman wants parents to learn how to play with their children, and through that process, to be better 

able to understand and care for them. 

LICM—The Museum provides a range of specialized programs for children and 

families. Early childhood programs include a 1,700-sq.-ft. exhibition (TotSpot) and 

family resource room, daily parent/child workshops in music and movement, stories 

and art, ‘‘messy afternoons,’’ and parenting workshops such as ‘‘Parenting the 

Strong-Willed Child,’’ led by the Museum’s Early Childhood Program Manager and 

a child psychologist. Additionally, the 2002 launch of the KICKstart program with 

a $3.5 million multi-year grant from a software company, has enabled the Museum 

to serve more than 20,000 pre-school, second and third-grade students in four, highneed school districts. The program has increased access to, and awareness of, museums and other informal learning institutions for families who are traditionally underserved by cultural institutions; increased parental involvement in children’s 

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learning; and increased exposure to hands-on, inquiry-based, exploratory activities 

for children in underserved populations. These achievements parallel the desired 

outcomes of Be Together, Learn Together. 

Joint Planning Committee & National Advisory Committee 

The planning and development of Be Together, Learn Together will be accomplished by a Joint Planning Committee (JPC) and guided by the input and expertise 

of a National Advisory Committee (NAC). The JPC will be comprised of staff from 

each partner organization and representative families currently or recently having 

received services. The NAC will include Janice O’Donnell (Director, Providence Children’s Museum), Elaine Wideman-Vaughn (Vice President, Education and Community Services, Please Touch Museum), Jeri Robinson (Vice-President of Early Childhood Programs, Boston Children’s Museum), Marty Norman (Child Psychologist, 

Boston), Gladys Serrano (Executive Director, Hispanic Counseling Center, Nassau 

County), Terry Wood (Program Director, Family & Children’s Association, Nassau 

County), and Cheryl Kessler (Evaluator & Research Associate, Institute for Learning Innovation, Annapolis, MD). The NAC will review documents outlining the 

progress of this research and planning phase and provide input at key points. The 

benefit of their collective expertise in overseeing related programs at children’s museums and supporting children and families in transition, is crucial for the longterm success of this project. 

Be Together, Learn Together: Preliminary Scope of Project 

The purpose of this grant will be to support the research, planning, prototyping 

and evaluation of the initial implementation phase of Be Together, Learn Together. 

Senior staff at LICM, DHHS and Family Court feel this program could provide a 

valuable national model for other children’s museums and social service agencies 

forging similar partnerships to serve families in their communities. There are related family visitation programs at the Providence Children’s Museum and the 

Please Touch Museum. Because the planned scope of Be Together, Learn Together 

will encompass family visitation as well as several other kinds of programs to address related familial issues, project partners feel a successful planning phase can 

yield a new model. 

Although the JPC will develop the final package of programs for Be Together, 

Learn Together, the initial meetings between LICM, DHHS and Family Court staff 

resulted in the identification of target audience groups and preliminary programs 

ideas. There are three major family audience groups to be served by Be Together, 

Learn Together : 1) Parents in Family Court (parents whose children are either at 

risk of or have already temporarily been placed in foster care, or parents who are 

trying to regain custody), 2) Foster Care Families (families who have foster children 

placed in their care), and 3) Families utilizing the new Health and Human Services 

Welcoming Center for any number of other reasons. (Specialized units within Child 

Protective Services interface with audience groups 1) and 2) described above.) Programs for these audiences will most likely occur at Family Court, at the Center and 

at LICM. To support the partnership itself and to provide concrete information 

about proposed programs during the development process, programs will be 

prototyped during years one and two of this planning phase. 

Potential programs could address some of the general needs of these audiences 

as well as specialized needs, including: a.) parent workshops focusing on childhood 

development, the importance of play, and supporting pre- and early literacy skills, 

b.) supervised family visits at LICM which utilize the Museum’s exhibitions and 

general program offerings as a positive learning environment, c.) workshops designed for children and parents together which incorporate activities that allow 

modeling of parenting skills by staff, d.) seminars for foster parents about how to 

support foster children’s learning (addressing both social and academic aspects) and 

how to build confidence and comfort levels for children joining a foster care family; 

e.) a special Museum membership program for families with foster children; f.) facilitated round-table discussions for parents in Family Court; g.) memberships to 

LICM for newly reunited families, and h.) awareness days/events at LICM designed 

to increase public understanding of the need for more families willing and able to 

take foster children into their care. In addition to these kinds of programs, LICM 

exhibition staff will design and install cheerful interior design enhancements for the 

DHHS Welcoming Center and the Family Court day care center. 

Project Oversight 

Suzanne LeBlanc is the Executive Director of LICM and Project Director for Be 

Together, Learn Together. She will be ultimately responsible for managing the overall partnership with participating staff from LICM, DHHS and Family Court and 

the planning, prototyping and evaluation of the project. To enable effective project 

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management, several key review points have been built into the action plan outlined 

above. LeBlanc will direct members of the Joint Planning Committee to anticipate 

and consider potential challenges for the process and to discuss these with the group 

throughout the project. She has already identified three possible challenges: 1) because social service systems and their employees tend to be overworked and emotionally stressed, the prospect of changing existing systems of service delivery might 

seem overwhelming, 2) moving the project from a vision to a reality will require significant buy-in on all levels for each partner, and 3) clients receiving social services, 

whether mandated or voluntarily, tend to see it as an indication of their failure and/

or something about which they have no choice. LeBlanc’s experiences developing a 

program for parents of Head Start children at the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum in Las Vegas, and one at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for families living 

in transitional housing, will assist her in counteracting some of these challenges. 

Additionally, she will direct the JPC to design a general training session for staff 

at partner organizations not directly involved in the planning of this project, which 

could both identify points of resistance and emphasize organizational benefits. Also, 

families who are either currently receiving, or have recently received services 

through one of the project partners will participate on the JPC to provide feedback 

about how to address negative stigmas and make this new resource one that parents 

and families will want to take advantage of. Throughout the project, any major 

issue requiring a change in direction or tactic will be acted on accordingly. The completion of front-end and formative evaluation by the Institute for Learning Innovation will also uncover potential barriers to a successful outcome. 

Evaluation 

To insure that programs are developed to effectively serve and meet the specific 

needs of intended audiences, the Museum will contract with the Institute for Learning Innovation (ILI) to perform the evaluation for this project. ILI will design and 

conduct both front-end and formative evaluations. A major goal will be to provide 

information to the JPC about how programs should be prototyped so that meaningful data can be collected. In turn, resulting evaluation reports will inform the 

project’s development process. ILI is currently engaged in conducting summative 

evaluation and research for the Museum’s KICKstart program, focusing on program 

impacts on children, their families, and teachers. [See attached evaluation proposal 

from Institute for Learning Innovation.] 

2. Grant Program Goals 

The planning and initial implementation of Be Together, Learn Together directly 

addresses the MFA goal of museums serving as centers of community engagement 

because it will actively engage the Museum with both judicial and social service 

agencies to create needed programming for families in their shared community. The 

specific and complex needs of these families have prompted a collaboration between 

three entities that can bring their distinct areas of expertise to bear on the development of these programs. Further, through this project, LICM has identified a meaningful way to realize a high priority of its Strategic Plan, namely, to ‘‘offer inspiring, 

multi-disciplinary and socially relevant exhibits and programs to serve as catalysts 

for individual and community learning and action,’’ along with its related goal of 

developing ‘‘innovative program models and partnerships that serve as benchmarks 

for effective community engagement.’’

3. How the Project Fits into Strategic Plan and Mission 

Be Together, Learn Together supports the mission of LICM to be a ‘‘* * * learning laboratory that inspires children and adults through interdisciplinary, hands-on, 

fun experiences.’’ This project will advance the core of the mission by developing 

new and meaningful ways to address the needs of one of the most underserved segments of the Museum community’s audience—namely, families being monitored in 

Family Court and/or receiving services through DHHS. Further, LICM will continue 

to achieve its mission of being a learning laboratory, as it believes this program can 

enable these parents to discover and support their children’s unique learning processes. One example of how this is taking place may be found in a recent KICKstart 

program offered for third graders and their parents. A mother observed how an 

image-making activity ignited her son’s interest in a corresponding writing activity. 

The boy wrote more than the mother had ever seen him write unassisted. Thereafter, she used the method at home and with his teachers. 

The project also directly addresses key elements of LICM’s new Strategic Plan: 

Strategic Initiative I calls for LICM to ‘‘Offer inspiring, multi-disciplinary and socially relevant exhibits and programs to serve as catalysts for individual and community learning and action,’’ and Initiative II looks to ‘‘Deepen our connection with 

Long Island and surrounding communities and increase the size and diversity of our 

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audience.’’ Related goals for these Initiatives call for LICM to: 1) ‘‘Develop innovative program models and partnerships that serve as benchmarks for effective community engagement,’’ 2) ‘‘Develop strategic community partnerships to broaden our 

outreach to all, especially underserved audiences,’’ and, 3) ‘‘Develop a national reputation as a leader in the museum field.’’

LICM’s Strategic Plan was specifically designed to effect systemic change and 

growth and this project advances the Strategic Plan’s goals. The project also builds 

on LICM’s recent accomplishments: 1) the opening of its 40,000 sq. ft. facility in 

2002; 2) achieving and exceeding its initial attendance and programmatic goals; and 

3) hiring Suzanne LeBlanc as its new Executive Director in September 2005. LICM 

envisions that the partnership created with Family Court and DHHS for Be Together, Learn Together will establish the Museum as a major provider of educational enrichment services to targeted families, and strengthen the Museum’s relationship with the County. 

With the adoption of its new Strategic Plan in 2006, LICM committed to expanding its programs expressly for underserved audiences. Staffing and operating budgets were adjusted accordingly to make programming and exhibitions for this audience a major priority. To ensure the long-term success of this project after IMLS 

funding ends, the Museum will have hired new staff (the Program Manager for Be 

Together, Learn Together) and will seek additional funding from corporate and 

foundation sources. Further, with the recent launch of new programs targeting underserved audiences (such as Juntos al Kinder), the Museum has gained access to 

several foundations on Long Island that fund social service-oriented projects. 

LeBlanc and the Board believe these foundations will be very interested in this new 

partnership and in providing financial support. 

4. Strategic Plan: Process and Financial Resources 

LICM’s new Strategic Plan was developed upon the conclusion of a preceding plan 

which covered the four-year period of time following the opening of LICM’s new facility in 2002. During this time, LICM was successful in meeting its initial strategic 

goals. Following the hiring of Suzanne LeBlanc as the new Executive Director in 

September 2005, and the appointment of a Planning Committee by the Board of Directors, Denise McNerney was hired as a consultant to facilitate the process of developing the new Strategic Plan. McNerney has more than 25 years of experience 

in strategic planning, marketing, business operations, team dynamics, and customer 

relations in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. McNerney interviewed 

Board members, senior staff and community stakeholders, including funders. She 

then facilitated a Board and staff retreat. Strategic initiatives were identified for 

key areas, and corresponding goals and success measures were outlined. McNerney 

met several times with the Planning Committee (comprised of both staff and Board 

members), senior staff and the full Board to create a final document. The completed 

plan will be presented in mid-November. At that time, implementation and reporting mechanisms to ensure effective execution of the plan will be discussed and decided. 

Through the development of the Strategic Plan, the Board sought to build upon 

the success of the recently completed $17 million capital campaign to ensure the 

Museum’s future—both in financial and programmatic terms. The Plan directly addresses LICM’s long-term financial stability and incorporates the mechanism for its 

implementation through goals which outline the start of endowment and capital expansion campaigns. 

5. Appropriateness of Project for Institution, Audience 

As outlined in question #1, there are three specific audience groups to be served 

by Be Together, Learn Together. Currently, there are 450 children in foster care 

(and approximately 400 additional children who are admitted or discharged from 

the system each year), in 2005 there were 217 cases in Family Court, and 1,564 substantiated reports alleging child abuse or neglect. There are also approximately 

1,000 people that enter the Welcome Center each day. These numbers provide a 

sense of the total size of the targeted audiences. Project partners estimate that in 

its first years of full implementation, the program could impact approximately 5,000 

people. During this planning and prototyping phase, approximately 1,000 people 

would be served. 

Through the development of Be Together, Learn Together, LICM is continuing its 

efforts to make the Museum more relevant to its community by expanding the services it offers to underserved audiences. ‘‘Underserved audiences’’ are identified in 

Initiative II of the Strategic Plan as a target audience, although taken as a whole, 

the needs of underserved audiences are quite diverse. One of the strengths of this 

program is its ability to focus on a particular segment of ‘‘underserved audiences’’ 

112

through the partnership with DHHS and Family Court. These agencies have identified groups of clients who they believe can benefit from LICM’s participation in this 

partnership and its expertise as a children’s museum—namely, the ability to provide 

educational program in non-intimidating settings that allow for children and their 

caregivers to learn together. 

Needs Assessment 

Needs assessment reports are generated regularly within DHHS since an important aspect of their work and planning is the identification of unmet needs and barriers to service delivery. In addition to detailed quantitative information, assessment reports describe ongoing issues for clients served, including the need for: reunification of families whenever possible, as quickly as possible; rehabilitation of 

parents so they can care for their children; and recognition and treatment of behavioral and emotional conditions in children facing short and long-term separation 

from biological parents. 

Another perspective was provided in a 2/12/06 Newsday article entitled ‘‘Affluent, 

but Needy (First Suburbs),’’ which noted that the problems of Nassau County—one 

of the most prominent of America’s older, first suburbs—were beginning to draw national attention. The article states that Nassau County, and other ‘‘first suburbs,’’ 

are beginning to take on characteristics of urban areas: An influx of lower-income 

minority and foreign-born residents means that, like cities, these first suburbs increasingly will need more state and federal aid to keep up with a growing need for 

social services and affordable housing. At the moment, however, they fall through 

the cracks in a nation where government assistance has been directed for years at 

urban or rural areas. As Sen. Hillary Clinton said * * * ‘‘Long Island is the victim 

of its own success.’’ Nassau, as we all know, possesses major assets—proximity to 

New York City, extensive parkland and beaches, quality neighborhoods, a large 

number of highly educated residents with high income levels and a highly developed 

transportation network for commuting to the city. Its home values are among the 

highest in the nation. * * * Amid great wealth, growing pockets of poverty and 

communities of poorer and older residents are presenting needs that weren’t an 

issue in earlier years, when incomes and education levels were not as dissimilar as 

they are today. A county built as a haven for young, middle-class families with automobiles, most of whom who could afford single-family houses, is now home to a 

growing population with limited access to cars, a need for cheaper housing and a 

greater need for social services in order to succeed as members of the community. 

This information, in combination with DHHS assessment data, provides a clear picture of the needs of these audience groups. 

Nassau County Demographics 

In 2004, there were 1,339,641 people in Nassau County. According to the 2000 

census, the racial makeup of the County was 79.30% white, 10.09% African American, 0.16% Native American, 4.73% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.57% from other 

races, 2.12% from two or more races and 9.99% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 

The number of non-whites in Nassau County increased to 29% in 2004, up from 21% 

in just four years. Between 2000 and 2003 the African American population increased from 10.7% to 11.7% and during the same period, the Latino population 

grew from 10% to 11.7%. As of 2004, Nassau County was the richest county per capita in the State of New York and the sixth richest in the nation, with a median 

household income of $78,762. In sharp contrast, the County also contains many 

‘‘pockets of poverty’’ (as described in the Newsday article excerpt above) in communities served by and surrounding LICM and DHHS. At the time of the 2000 census, 

3.50% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 

5.80% of those under age 18. 

Program Promotion 

Following this planning phase, LICM will work with project partners to promote 

the program to appropriate families in Nassau County. Designing a plan for program promotion will be one of the important tasks of the JPC, with input from the 

NAC. The high level of commitment to this project demonstrated by DHHS and 

Family Court will help insure that the program is promoted. 

6. Project Resources: Time and Budget 

The Board of LICM is fully committed to the successful completion of this project 

and has demonstrated this by allocating immediate and future resources. LICM’s 

Executive Director, Suzanne LeBlanc, is undertaking this project as part of her 

mandate to expand the diversity of the Museum’s audience and increase access to 

programs and exhibitions. Her duties and work plan will have significant time dedicated to this major project. Further, the Museum will hire as a new position, a fullVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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time Program Manager to manage this important new initiative and coordinate the 

activities of the JPC. Further, LeBlanc will adjust the workloads of Museum staff 

participating on the JPC to insure that they have sufficient time to devote to this 

project. 

LICM is eminently qualified, both fiscally and programmatically, to complete Be 

Together, Learn Together as evidenced by the successful implementation of three 

major projects the Museum has undertaken recently: In 2002, the LICM launched 

KICKstart (Kids Ideas Create Knowledge), a program designed to address critical 

social and educational needs in four traditionally underserved Long Island communities. The program has enhanced education, strengthened community relations and 

resulted in more than 20,000 Museum visits from pre-school, second and third-grade 

students. [See attached Year 4 Evaluation Report conducted by ILI.] KICKstart is 

supported by a $3.5 million multi-year grant from the software company, CA. Juntos 

al Kinder (Together to Kindergarten) is a program the Museum instituted in 2006 

to meet the needs of local families from five Nassau County school districts with 

limited English proficiency. The program provides daily English language immersion and school-readiness classes for children of participating families, using the 

rich resources and environment available at the Museum. In addition, weekly classes taught in Spanish prepare parents for the culture of the U.S. classroom. Yearround resources are also provided to participants to encourage a long-term relationship with the Museum. Finally, Moving to Grow was the $17 million capital campaign that resulted in the opening of the Museum’s new facility at the Mitchel Center cultural complex. The success of these programs is due to the complete support 

of the Board of Directors—a level of support which is also present for Be Together, 

Learn Together. The Museum has a track record of sound financial management. 

Charity Navigator, the leading evaluator of charities in the United States has 

awarded LICM a four-star rating (its highest) for two of the four years the Museum 

has been open in its current location. The Museum possesses the resources necessary to successfully implement the proposed project, as it has a substantial budget 

and staff, strong earned income results and a history of successful fundraising. 

The total project cost is projected at $375,928. In addition to IMLS funding requested and in-kind support, the Museum will commit significant staff time and 

other resources in its FY 2008 and FY 2009 operating budgets. Additionally, the 

Museum will solicit support from Long Island foundations such as the Rauch Foundation, the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls, the Long Island Community 

Foundation and United Way, among others. As is normal and appropriate for laborintensive projects of this kind, a significant portion of the budget is devoted to staff 

time, benefits and consultants. 

7. Project Resources: Personnel and Technology 

LICM staff is highly qualified to accomplish this project. Suzanne LeBlanc is the 

Project Director. Before joining LICM, LeBlanc was Executive Director of the Lied 

Discovery Children’s Museum in Las Vegas for 14 years, Assistant Director at the 

Brooklyn Children’s Museum for 3 years, and served 15 years at the Children’s Museum, Boston. She is a graduate of the Museum Management Institute in Berkeley; 

holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College, and a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University. She has served as Vice-President of the Association 

of Youth Museums (now the Association of Children’s Museums) and as President 

of the Nevada Museums Association. Many of her articles have been published in 

professional journals, including a history of the children’s museum movement for 

Museum News and ‘‘Reaching The Underserved,’’ in A New Place For Learning 

Science—Starting and Running a Science Center. Her experience is especially relevant to this institution, given its strategic goal of expanding the diversity of its audience. 

When LeBlanc joined LICM, her first major action was to lead the process to create a new Strategic Plan. One key goal is to develop innovative programs and partnerships to facilitate effective community engagement and broaden LICM’s reach 

and impact, especially to underserved audiences. Be Together, Learn Together is an 

important step toward achieving this goal. As the Project Director, LeBlanc will design a master timeline incorporating all the project’s components, including the 

identification of key tasks & assignments. LeBlanc will insure that Museum staff 

on the JPC can accommodate the intensive work involved by adjusting current functions and hiring temporary part-time staff to assist full-time staff with their current 

duties. 

The JPC combines the necessary areas of expertise for the successful planning 

and initial implementation of this project and will be comprised of LICM staff and 

representatives from Nassau County DHHS and Family Court. The full-time Program Manager to be hired for this project will have appropriate qualifications in 

114

Museum Education and/or the Social Services field, and will be responsible for the 

coordination and implementation of the project. [See attached job description for 

Program Manager.] Using assessment tools designed by ILI, the JPC, as well as 

smaller groups within the JPC, will meet monthly throughout the project and will 

be responsible for carrying out all tasks. [See attached List of Key Project Personnel 

for detailed list of JPC and NAC members.] 

Since 2003, Edith Gonzalez de Scollard (Ph.D. ABD) has led a team of more than 

50 staff as the Director of Education. In this role, she spearheads professional development, community outreach, and educational offerings for the Museum, as well as 

cultivating community and institutional partnerships. She brings more than five 

years of museum experience and a strong background in teaching and research. She 

is currently in the Doctoral Program in Anthropology at The Graduate Center, City 

University of New York. 

Heather Petrie DeTommaso earned a M.S. in Elementary/Childhood Education 

from Columbia University, Teachers College (NY). As the Museum’s Early Childhood Educator, her responsibilities include program development, coordination, and 

management, content development for publications, and parent education. She also 

has extensive experience as a facilitator of Professional Development Workshops for 

classroom teachers. Prior to coming to the Museum in 2002, Heather was herself 

an award-winning public school teacher and 1995 nominee for New York State 

Teacher of the Year. 

Aimee Terzulli earned a B.S. in Art Education from Long Island University (NY), 

and has served as Outreach Program Manager for the Museum since 1993. In this 

capacity, she has been responsible for coordinating the community outreach department, developing and teaching school and community outreach programs, and procuring and organizing program materials. 

Cheryl Kessler, Research Associate with The Institute for Learning Innovation, 

will be the evaluator for this project. ILI was established in 1986 as a not-for-profit 

learning research and development organization and is led by John H. Falk and 

Lynn D. Dierking. ILI collaborates with a variety of free-choice learning institutions 

such as museums, other cultural institutions, public television stations, libraries, 

community-based organizations such as scouts and the YWCA, scientific societies 

and humanities councils, as well as schools and universities, striving to better understand, facilitate and improve their learning potential by incorporating free-choice 

learning principles. 

[November 29, 2004]

Suozzi Unveils ‘‘No Wrong Door’’ for Nassau County Residents

Innovative Health and Human Services Smart Government Program Means Better Services and Lower Costs 

Mineola, NY.—Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today announced ‘‘No 

Wrong Door,’’ an innovative smart government program that will provide significantly enhanced service to Nassau County’s human services clients, while at the 

same time allowing the County’s eight health and human services departments, 

which will be consolidated into a single facility with a simplified intake process, to 

operate more efficiently. ‘‘No Wrong Door’’ is a new model for Nassau County and 

is on the cutting edge of government service delivery nationwide. 

‘‘ ‘No Wrong Door’ is a dramatic step forward in making Nassau County government both more compassionate and smarter. Through this enhanced service delivery 

system, the County will better serve the public, and at the same time, save taxpayers money in the long run by putting an end to inefficiency and waste,’’ said 

County Executive Suozzi. ‘‘By having all our health and human services departments in one location, we will provide better services to countless county residents 

who no longer will have to travel from building to building to receive all the services 

they need. I am proud that we are launching a program that is both the right thing 

to do on a human services level and the smart thing to do fiscally.’’

The eight health and human services departments include the Departments of Social Services, Health, Mental Health, Drug & Alcohol, Senior Citizen Affairs, Youth 

Board, Veterans Service Agency, and the Office for the Physically Challenged. The 

planned move of these departments to 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale, which is expected to be completed by the Summer of 2005, makes it possible 

for the County to deliver improved government services in a cost-effective manner. 

The move to the new Health and Human Services Center is the first major step 

in County Executive Suozzi’s comprehensive building consolidation plan. Currently, 

the five existing buildings housing the eight departments are riddled with structural 

problems; including a leaking roof, asbestos and a dangerously insufficient electrical 

system and many are non-compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 

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1990. In addition to all the benefits associated with ‘‘No Wrong Door,’’ the move of 

these departments is necessary to avoid the cost of rehabilitating these buildings, 

which has been conservatively estimated to cost more than $40 million. 

The ‘‘No Wrong Door’’ system of care will enable the County to meet a continuum 

of needs for each resident through a single point of entry. The new building will 

also feature a comfortable and inviting waiting room and a welcome desk staffed 

with trained customer service professionals to greet and guide residents. 

‘‘Countless pieces of legislation that created the American Welfare State were well 

intentioned but not necessarily well-implemented. But that era taught us that you 

cannot legislate compassion, you cannot legislate common sense and you cannot legislate practical thinking,’’ the County Executive said. ‘‘Today we begin a long journey to provide better, more effective services to our residents most in need. We will 

do so, not by spending more money but by management better, communicating better and coordinating our existing resources more effectively. In the long run we will 

better help people and save money.’’

‘‘Nassau County’s ‘No Wrong Door’ will incorporate co-location of services, consolidated intake function, and an outcome-driven planning process,’’ said Dr. Mary Curtis, Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services. ‘‘It will be a model 

system which was developed collaboratively by a diverse group including Nassau 

County Health and Human Services leadership, departmental staff, communitybased organizations and local colleges and universities to better serve those in 

need.’’

[Additional materials submitted by Ms. Nunez follow:]

[From the Arizona Daily Wildcat]

Turning the page

UA program helping minority students put new faces on librarians

By CLAIRE CONRAD

The UA is working to reshape the image of librarians. 

The stereotype of the grumpy middle-aged white woman is being combated by the 

Knowledge River program, based in the School of Information Resources and Library Science. The program offers financial assistance to Hispanic and American Indian students pursuing master’s degrees in information resources and library 

science. And, yes, the group includes men. 

By graduating more minority librarians, libraries are better able to work with a 

community’s needs and create a more equitable access to information, said Patricia 

Montiel Overall, an assistant professor of library science. 

The need for more minority librarians is evident. 

American Indians represent less than 1 percent of all librarians and Latinos represent only 2 percent, according to a diversity report issued by the American Library Association based on the 2000 U.S. Census. 

Graduates of the UA’s library science program are a youthful, more technologyoriented group, said Jessica Hernandez, a Knowledge River student. Alumni have 

created a MySpace.com group through which they can blog about their experiences. 

Commitment to community is a value many of the librarians share, Overall said. 

‘‘Generally, our students are very committed to community, social justice issues,’’ 

she said. ‘‘You get a cadre of people who all just support each other in trying to 

improve social issues for everybody.’’

Since its inception in 2001, the program has also been working toward bridging 

the gap in information access. 

Knowledge River student Paulina Aguirre hopes to use her degree to improve the 

lives of those in her native Hopi reservation. 

‘‘We don’t have a library, a fully functioning and operating library on the Hopi 

reservation, so I figure I could do something about getting one,’’ she said. 

In the Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch Library, where Knowledge River student 

Sol Gomez works, it can be difficult for Spanish-speaking adults and children to 

learn computer skills when classes are taught in English. 

Gomez works on developing programming for the mainly Hispanic South Tucson 

community, including computer classes in Spanish. Gomez had never considered a 

career in librarianship until he heard of the Knowledge River program from his sister-in-law, a graduate of the program. 

‘‘I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but once I did, I was very happy 

I did,’’ Gomez said. ‘‘I was always into working with the community, so once I was 

in library school, I thought this was the place I belong.’’

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Knowledge River also helped Aaron Valdivia find his place in the Tucson community. 

Valdivia, a Knowledge River student from Phoenix, is working alongside six other 

program students and a group of 12 Sunnyside High School students to develop 

presentations and posters about common health issues students in Southern Arizona face, with a focus on Hispanics and American Indians. 

Because the School of Information Resources and Library Science offers distance 

courses, Valdivia said, he could have completed all the work from Phoenix. 

Knowledge River required him to take classes in Tucson, and he’s glad he did. 

‘‘It’s like I actually see the effect I’m having on the community, rather than just 

sitting on the computer,’’ Valdivia said. 


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APPENDIX 2

WE Search Progress: Final

By AARON J. VALDIVIA, CECILIA TOVAR, PAULA MAEZ, ADRIANA RENDON, ARIC VILLARREAL, IRENE MORALES

This is our final progress report for the WE Search project 2007. Much of what 

follows is a review and summation of the entire semester, with the final module 

project included: 

As was mentioned in our first progress report we broke down the semester into 

modules, the completion of each being a step closer to our larger goal. This was broken down even further: each Knowledge River mentor was responsible for teaching 

his or her mentees the information that was the topic of the module which the 

whole group was working on. In summation, the semester went as follows: 


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MODULE 1

Our mentees learned the information that we wanted them to learn in the first 

module: 

• Health disparities facing Latinos and Native Americans, and the causes of those 

disparities. 

• Becoming familiar with quality resources that expose those disparities and 

other sources of research on health issues (Center for Disease Control, U.S. Census 

Bureau, etc.) 

MODULE 2

The goal of the second module was likewise achieved. This was developing a familiarity with free resources that can be used learn about ways to curb the health 

disparities examined in the first module: 

• The students/mentees all learned about the various consumer health resources 

that are available to the public via the World Wide Web. They also learned about 

the importance of the library as a resource for getting access to the web, or access 

to consumer health information materials that are available in print. 

• There are ‘‘special libraries’’ available to the public (law libraries, medical, 

etc.—emphasis was given to medical, given our health focus). 

• Creation of informative pamphlets and brochures that could be given out to people as a form of information on specific diseases and health issues. 

(Also during this module we started to take what we learned to classrooms at 

Sunnyside High School, to disseminate the information to our mentees/students’ 

peers) 

MODULE 3

The third module goal was to do something positive for the community with the 

knowledge and resources from the first two modules: 

• The students/mentees participated in at least one outreach event each. The outreach events were a time to see, first-hand, the impact that knowledge of such resources as mentioned above have on the community. 

• There were three events that we participated in: The Junior Scientists Kids Day 

at the University of Arizona, the Tucson HopeFest, and Academic Night at Sunnyside High School. 

• Each event was a chance for our mentees/students to prove to their Knowledge 

River mentors that they were capable of applying what they had learned to reallife outreach situations; essentially, that they (the high school students) have become knowledgeable enough to teach others about the resources they studied 

throughout the semester up to this point. 

MODULE 4

We also wanted to create a permanent resource for the students to reflect back 

on, and for their peers and the rest of the community to be able to use in a practical 

way after we finished our program: 

• We have created a Web page that will be our permanent resource. This is a prototype for the program that was created at basically no cost since we used free Web 

2.0 tools. This page was created using the free webpage-creating software 

‘‘Googlepages’’. 

• Googlepages allow one to choose between four different ‘‘layouts’’ for the page, 

and numerous different ‘‘designs’’. While such has its limitations, it was very useful 

for our purposes in that it: 

• Illustrated for our mentees the positive uses that can be attained from Web 2.0 

tools (something that is greatly stressed and used by professionals working in the 

library science field) 

• Gave us a way to house a bibliography of usable resources in some permanent 

fashion 

• Allows us to have a digital documentation of our work and of the program 

When we first started the planning for WE Search last spring we had mentioned, 

in a meeting, that we would like to tie in social software and its positive applications to the achievement of our own goals for WE Search. Myspace, Flikr, Facebook, 

Youtube, and others were all discussed. However, the commercial advertisements 

that come with each of those (and other potential problems) presented too many 

complexities (many of the mentees already have personal Myspace accounts, the 

content of which could potentially conflict with the professional appearance that we 

hoped for our program site). We did utilize blog software. Each student/mentee was 

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allowed to comment on the blog, but the comments had to be approved by one of 

the Knowledge River mentors. 

(Our blog can be viewed at www.wesearch.wordpress.com). Our blog also gives a 

chronological timeline of our activities throughout the program. 

Building on the idea of teaching the students/mentees about free Web 2.0 tools, 

we decided to use the free Googlepages to create our permanent resource. Our 

webpage required much thought and planning; not in the design and layout (those 

are set templates provided by Google), but the content and the logistics as far was 

what is linked to what had to be considered. We knew we wanted three primary 

links on our ‘‘homepage’’: something that told about us, a section that explains what 

we do, and a permanent usable resource section that would demonstrate the 

mentees/students’ work, and could be used by the public. The ‘‘about us’’ we titled 

‘‘Who WE are’’; the sections that tells what we do is called, simply enough, ‘‘What 

WE do’’; and the permanent resource link is ‘‘For YOU!’’ For each linked section the 

content is broken down as follows: 

Who WE are: 

Each student/mentee was required to write a short bio and basically tell about 

what they got out of the WE Search program. We asked them to think about what 

they learned about doing quality research, evaluation web resources, the importance 

of consumer health information, and the impact that doing public outreach can have 

on their community. We allowed the mentees/students to include one picture of 

themselves, in addition to a picture of them participating in the program. The 

Knowledge River mentors also created individual web pages so there are eighteen 

pages in all linked to this section. Each page tells web users who we are as participants in the WE Search project. 

What WE do: 

We have pictures from various stages throughout the semester on this page. 

There are images of the entire WE Search group participating in our weekly 

Wednesday morning health activities (such as yoga and cardio kickboxing), most of 

which were courtesy of Pima County Public Libraries’ ‘‘Teens Fit for Life’’ program. 

There are miscellaneous images of the Knowledge River mentors and their students/

mentees working in the career center at Sunnyside High School. There are pictures 

from two of our outreach events: Junior Scientists Kids Day at the University of Arizona and the Tucson HopeFest. Also, there is a link to our blog on this page so any 

user looking at this site can find more information about the progress of WE Search 

and see a bit more about what we did throughout the semester. 

For YOU: 

This is a basic annotated bibliography. We had each of the students/mentees pick 

one of the consumer health websites that we examined and used throughout the semester; and the student/mentee wrote a brief description of the site. This being the 

case, we have twelve resources listed. We also linked to the actual websites from 

our bibliography. The annotation for each site was written by the student/mentee 

that chose that resource and it was reviewed by a mentor before being added to the 

Google page. The purpose for this section of the webpage was for the students to 

get an idea of what it means to create an annotated bibliography (which none of 

them had previously done) and they can see how such can be a resource to benefit 

the public (their own community). 

(The site can be viewed at http://wesearch07.googlepages.com/) 

This basically summed up the content for this year’s program. The final thing we 

did was to give performance reviews to each of the mentees; and we had them fill 

out an online survey on Survey Monkey so that they could give the mentors feedback too. We rated the students/mentees on a five point Likert scale for their performance and the survey that the mentees filled out regarding what they thought 

of the program was also a Likert scale. We have yet to compile all of the results 

from both surveys. The students all performed well. There were no ‘‘below average’’ 

overall ratings for any of the students/mentees. 

The last thing to consider for this year’s WE Search program is what we (Knowledge River mentors) call ‘‘future prospects’’ for this program, should it continue next 

year and possibly (hopefully) for years beyond that. This is essentially the work of 

a brainstorming session in which the Knowledge River mentors considered the future of the WE Search project; what could be done to improve it, what should stay 

the same, etc: 

Future Prospects: 

• Shortening of the 1st and 2nd modules (1 week), lengthening of the 3rd and 4th 

modules (1 week). 

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• We believe that the first two modules could be shortened to approximately two 

weeks each, and the 3rd module (outreach) could be lengthened to accommodate 

more outreach events (see below). The 4th module could be lengthened likewise, to 

allow for more time working on teaching the mentees technology skills (we had envisioned teaching them basic HTML to give them an idea of how web page building 

really works, but time did not permit this year—it would be beneficial to the students/mentees to incorporate such in to the program). 

• A number of the students/mentees indicated that they would have liked to have 

done more outreach events outside of their own school. 

• This got the largest response from the students/mentees. We only really did two 

major outreach events outside of the school. Investigation of more events like 

HopeFest and Junior Scientists Kids Day could be a part of the next year’s WE 

Search groups’ tasks for the start of the semester, for the first two modules. Since 

there are already resources now created for this project (laminated poster board materials, trifold pamphlets, etc.) more time can be spent actually outside of the school 

at different events. All of the students responded well to the actual ‘‘doing’’ part of 

this program: getting outside of the school and putting what we were learning to 

use for the community. 

• Keep a roster of those students who are juniors so they may be contacted to 

possibly become volunteer peer mentors for the new WE Search group(s). 

• This would greatly enhance the experience for the students. Our 2007 WE 

Search group did not have the contact information for the previous year’s high 

school students who were involved in the project. The project is for juniors and seniors. If we had the support of the previous year’s juniors (now seniors) it may have 

helped our own students/mentees in that they would have a peer-to-peer contact. 

• Mentors should take careful role and state student/mentee expectations in advance; maybe even by having each of the students/mentees sign a contract. 

• This was one of our only minor setbacks/concerns; students being late or absent. 

Especially since we did our outreach outside of the school on weekends or nights, 

it was sometimes difficult to explain to the students how much this counts towards 

their final pass/fail status. It has been suggested that careful role be taken by having students sign in and out during the class period and for the outreach events. 

Also, while it is required that the students/mentees contribute 10 hours of work per 

week, this should be more clearly expressed in a contract they sign at the start of 

the program. It should be highlighted and stressed to the students that they will 

be required to participate in at least two outreach events for which they must set 

aside time outside of regular class time.; whether they pass or fail the program and 

their payment should depend on this. 

(We did have all of the students participate in at least one outreach event, 

though—clearly stated written requirements and expectations would make this a 

much easier goal to relate) 

• More collaboration and communication with other programs liked WE Search. 

• There is the VIVA project in Texas that is similar to WE Search. While the 

Knowledge River mentors did communicate with the members of that project in 

early on, it would benefit the high school students to do so likewise throughout the 

semester. Since the overarching goal of the WE Search program is to increase quality of life for underserved populations in border areas, it makes sense to collaborate 

with other programs with similar goals. VIVA in south Texas is a good starting 

point. Research to find other similar programs could be one of the tasks of the forthcoming WE Search groups. 

In conclusion, while we feel that this project was a success, we also believe that 

achieving the true goal of a project like WE Search really requires long-term commitment. The overarching objective for the semester was to have a positive impact 

on quality of life for specific underserved populations in the South Tucson and Tucson neighborhoods; to curb health disparities among historically underserved 

ethnics groups, like Latinos and Native Americans. Much research is needed to see 

what the impact of a project like WE Search would be on achieving such a goal over 

the long term. However, a step in the direction towards this goal is promotion of 

projects like WE Search. On a micro scale the project for the 2007 fall semester was 

a definite success. Our students/mentees are knowledgeable enough to be mentors 

themselves and this will have a definite impact on those they interact with: their 

families, peers, communities. Through continuation of a project like WE Search we 

will see a macro impact on the target communities of such a project. 

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[From the Tucson Citizen, January 4, 2007]

UA Pushes for More Minority Librarians

Federal aid drying up; private funding sought

By CLAUDINE LOMONACO

Sol Gomez’s favorite book is ‘‘The Count of Monte Cristo,’’ the tale of a wrongly 

imprisoned man who avenges himself using the education he gains from a priest, 

and fellow inmate, while behind bars. 

Gomez, 29, took the story to heart. 

‘‘Education is your only revenge,’’ said Gomez as he stood between stacks of books 

at the South Tucson Library. 

Gomez grew up doing construction jobs with his father but now is a head librarian, dishing out knowledge, books and computer skills to as many people as he can 

lure through the library doors. 

As a Hispanic and librarian, Gomez is a rarity. Hispanics make up 2 percent of 

all librarians but 12.5 percent of the population, according to a recent study by the 

American Library Association based on the 2000 census. 

American Indians are similarly underrepresented, and comprise less than 1 percent of all librarians. 

A master’s program in library science for Hispanics and American Indians at the 

University of Arizona is working to improve the statistics. 

The Knowledge River program is the only one of its kind in the country and has 

enrolled or graduated nearly 100 Hispanic and American Indian students since it 

began in 2001. 

They have gone on to work everywhere from community libraries to the nation’s 

premier institutions in Washington, D.C., but the program faces an uncertain future. 

Its federal funding, about $200,000, will end within two years, and administrators 

are gearing for an uphill battle to raise the private dollars needed to save the program. 

For many people who don’t have other access to books and technology, libraries 

can be the gateways for information, knowledge and empowerment, said Patricia 

Tarin, who directs and helped start the program. 

‘‘But many won’t use a library if there’s nobody there that shares their culture 

or speaks their language,’’ she said. ‘‘Institutions must have the face of the communities that they serve.’’

Each year, Knowledge River enrolls about 18 Hispanic and American Indian students who receive full tuition and a part-time library job to cover living expenses. 

The aid is crucial to attracting minority students, Tarin said. 

‘‘Most do not have a lot of financial resources to begin with,’’ she said. ‘‘Many of 

them acquire a lot of debt in undergraduate school, so the idea of going to graduate 

school without financial aid is very, very difficult.’’

The program offers the chance to go through school with a ‘‘cohort,’’ or tight-knit 

group of fellow students. That way, support and networking opportunities once they 

leave school are available. 

It also offers multicultural coursework, such as Latino children’s literature. 

Roberto Trujillo, who directs Stanford University Library’s special collections department, taught a course for the program in 2005 on archival material, with a 

Mexican-American emphasis. 

‘‘Frequently, libraries don’t collect that material,’’ he said. ‘‘If you have people 

with a sensitivity and sensibility towards those literatures and those histories, the 

likelihood of that record becoming part of library collections is much greater.’’

The program brings in national figures such as Trujillo to give students a broad 

perspective on what they can accomplish. The program is designed not only to 

produce librarians, but to turn out leaders poised to ask fundamental questions 

about how libraries can better serve Hispanics and American Indians. 

‘‘You show students the possibilities by introducing them to people and having 

them think of themselves as an advocate,’’ Tarin said. ‘‘If you’re not going to work 

on problems that lead to a better situation for your community, who is?’’

Graduates from the program have an impressive track record. 

In October, Gomez was one of 25 librarians tapped for national training funding 

from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on how librarians can reach out to the 

Hispanic community even if they don’t speak Spanish. Tips range from knowing the 

correct Hispanic last name to use on a library card since many Hispanics use two 

last names, to partnering with community groups that can help libraries reach out 

to Hispanics. Gomez will conduct workshops for local librarians throughout 2007. 

Knowledge River graduate Roberto Zapata, who manages a midsizelibrary in 

Houston, was one of 10 librarians asked to serve on the selection panel for the presVerDate 0ct 09 2002 17:08 Nov 10, 2008 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 G:\DOCS\110TH\HFC\110-109\44215.TXT HBUD1 PsN: DICK
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tigious Caldecott Award, which honors the best illustrated children’s books each 

year. Zapata was also named one of the American Library Association’s emerging 

leaders for 2006. 

Oscencio Tom, who graduated with Gomez in 2004, is completing a two-year fellowship at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Md. 

Tom, 26, was born and raised on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona by 

a single mother with an eighth-grade education. The first in his family to graduate 

from college, he plans to take the technology he’s learning in his fellowship back 

to his reservation one day. 

‘‘We need to bridge the digital divide, not just for Navajos but for all minorities,’’ 

he said. ‘‘Librarians can make a huge difference there.’’

Knowledge River echoes two similar efforts in the 1970s, one at California State 

University, Fullerton and the other at the UA. Both folded when their federal dollars dried up. 

‘‘The federal government will fund you for four or five years and then they’ll cut 

you loose,’’ said Trujillo, who graduated from the Fullerton program in 1975. ‘‘And 

if the local school can’t pick it up on its own, then it just dies. And then it gets 

resurrected somewhere else.’’

Years can go by in the process, and schools are forced to build new programs from 

scrap. 

Tarin hopes to avoid that fate by raising private funds over the next year. She 

has worked to reduce the program’s cost to about $200,000, 50 percent less than the 

first year, when students weren’t required to work. 

Those who have gone through the program say they never would have become librarians without it. 

‘‘I didn’t even know it was a career until I heard about it,’’ Gomez said. ‘‘But once 

I got in, I loved it. I saw other students like myself and I felt comfortable. When 

I went to college, I thought librarians were that elderly woman with gray hair and 

glasses you would never want to talk to because she was always mean to us.’’

Gomez is a different breed of librarian, one just as likely to listen to Snoop Dog 

or teach a computer class en espanol as to read Alexandre Dumas, who wrote ‘‘The 

Count of Monte Cristo.’’

‘‘I want to be a role model for kids and teens,’’ he said, ‘‘and let them know the 

importance of education. The kids see me and they think I’m one of them. But then 

they realize I went to school and got degrees. If they see that I did it, then they 

know it’s a possibility.’’

[Additional materials submitted by Ms. Radice follow:] 

[‘‘Charting the Landscape, Mapping New Paths: Museums, Libraries, and K-12 Learning, August 2004, can be accessed at the 

Institute of Museum and Library Services Internet address as follows:]

http://www.imls.gov/pdf/Charting—the—Landscape.pdf 

[‘‘InterConnections: The IMLS National Study on the Use of Libraries, Museums and the Internet,’’ Conclusions Summary, February 2008, can be accessed at the Institute of Museum and Library Services Internet address as follows:]

http://interconnectionsreport.org/reports/ConclusionsSummaryFinalB.pdf 

[‘‘True Needs True Partners,’’ 2002 Survey Highlights, can be 

accessed at the Institute of Museum and Library Services Internet 

address as follows:]

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http://www.imls.gov/pdf/m-ssurvey.pdf 

[‘‘Nine to Nineteen, Youth in Museums and Libraries: A Practitioner’s Guide,’’ April 2008, can be accessed at the Institute of Museum and Library Services Internet address as follows:]

http://www.imls.gov/pdf/YouthGuide.pdf 

[Additional materials submitted by Ms. Zales follow:]


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[‘‘School Libraries Work!’’ Research Foundation paper, updated 

2008, may be accessed at the following Internet address:]

http://librarypublishing.scholastic.com/content/stores/LibraryStore/pages/images/

SLW3—2008.pdf 

[Whereupon, at 11:00 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

Æ


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