IMLS grant awarded to Media MashUp project

 The Institute of Museum and Library Services recently announced that the Media MashUp project will receive funding.

The three major focuses of the project include:

  1. To demonstrate the viability of rich media development workshops as a positive youth program in public libraries
  2. To measure and assess the 21st century literacy skills that youth learn as participants in these workshops
  3. To investigate and develop best practices around public library implementation of innovative technology programs.

Starting in November 2008, staff from Hennepin County Library and partner libraries (Public Library of Charlotte & Meckelenburg County, Free Library of Philadelphia, Seattle Public Library, Memphis Public Library and Wilmette (IL) Public Library) will learn how to use Scratch software; a game design and animation program.

Lead training, implementation and evaluation partners are the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Institute for Learning Innovation.

The second phase will involve libraries implementing their training into workshops for their patrons and to evaluate the literacy aspect of the programs. Reports and evaluation will be developed in the final phase.

For questions or more information, contact Jennifer Nelson at (jrnelson@hclib.org).