College Happenings

Look at this. Just as I was whining about how crappy the Bitterroot Libraries are.

This is from the Missoulian.

HELENA – The Bitterroot Public Library in Hamilton is one of two in the state that will receive $15,000 over each of the next two years from the Montana State Library Association to assist with hiring a professional librarian. The other recipient is Helena Public Schools.

Recipient libraries must match the stipend with their own funds and make every effort to continue the positions beyond the two-year grant period.

The Hamilton library plans to use the money to add a children’s-youth services librarian while Helena will use the funds to hire a full-time librarian at Jim Darcy Elementary School.

“Adding a children’s librarian will greatly increase our ability to address the needs of our growing community,�? said Gloria Langstaff, director of the Bitterroot Public Library. “An additional staff person will help us to provide more children’s and youth programming, outreach to local organizations and participation in family community events.�?

The $60,000 in stipend money is part of a $206,167 “Recruiting and Educating Librarians for the 21st Century�? award from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The three-year grant is funding a statewide promotion-recruitment campaign designed to attract Montana residents to the library profession, with an emphasis on recruiting more Native American librarians.

The State Library has also received an additional grant from IMLS in the amount of $460,189 which also is to be used to recruit future librarians and provide additional staffing in Montana libraries.

I am very happy to see the Hamilton library getting some much deserved money.