The commenting period for this community ended on August 12 at 5:00 pm ET. Thank you for your participation.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is in the process of creating a five-year strategic plan and we want your ideas on how it can carry out our statutory responsibility “to support museum, library, and information services to meet the information, education, research, economic, cultural, and civic needs of the people of the United States.”
Through discussions with the National Museum and Library Services Board, IMLS stakeholders, and the public, we have developed five strategic questions to help envision future services. The strategic questions generated by these discussions are summarized under “Campaigns” on the left side of your screen. The strategic questions can be read in full by clicking on a “campaign.” We urge you to suggest answers to these questions by leaving your idea, commenting on ideas others have provided, and voting on the questions and ideas that have the greatest merit. If you have an idea that doesn't fit, you can add it using the last "campaign." The comment period will continue until Friday, August 12.
How do I add my idea or comment?
1. Start by selecting a strategic question (or “campaign").
2. You will need to have an IdeaScale account before your Idea can be submitted.
3. To create an IdeaScale account, click "Register Now." You will be asked to provide an email address and an email will be sent asking you to verify your address. You can register and create a password by using the link provided in the verification email.
4. You also have the option to create an IdeaScale account using your Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, or other social media account.
Having trouble? E-mail strategicplanning@imls.gov for technical assistance.
Browse Popular Ideas
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<h4><strong>Support lifelong learning for a competitive workforce and engaged public.</strong></h4>
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Our national education policy goal to have every child become a proficient reader will never be met without strong public and school libraries that set a high priority on reaching every child with books and programs to instill a love of reading. IMLS needs to encourage libraries to make this their highest priority. All public libraries need strong early literacy programs and summer reading programs. They need to reach
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Our national education policy goal to have every child become a proficient reader will never be met without strong public and school libraries that set a high priority on reaching every child with books and programs to instill a love of reading. IMLS needs to encourage libraries to make this their highest priority. All public libraries need strong early literacy programs and summer reading programs. They need to reach out to every child in their communities, especially the ones that never come to the library. And school libraries in every school need to promote the love of reading with incentive programs like Battle of the Books. There is no more important job for libraries. We are not seeing progress in reading proficiency in this country. Libraries need to be a big part of the solution to having every child become a proficient reader.
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Submitted by jscheppke 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote effective public access to physical and digital content.</strong></h4>
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I suggest IMLS support the continued access and preservation of physical content.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote museums and libraries as community anchor institutions.</h4></strong>
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IMLS should cultivate a culture of planning, evaluation and evidence based practice within the museum and library community.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Support lifelong learning for a competitive workforce and engaged public.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should fund more programs that demonstrate the relationship of information literacy to lifelong learning and how this impacts the development of a competitive workforce.
Submitted by rahodges_2000 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Support lifelong learning for a competitive workforce and engaged public.</strong></h4>
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I suggest that IMLS identify and disseminate best practices in learning to museums and libraries in order to support learning.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Model excellence in public management.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should streamline, from beginning to end, the grants management process.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Have an idea that doesn't fit?</strong></h4>
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Help build a strong foundation for all learning in the first few years of life-- the roots for future museum and library users and supporters.
Submitted by ChangTN 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote museums and libraries as community anchor institutions.</h4></strong>
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Especially through support of digitization and instructional exhibits/lessons, IMLS has a real opportunity to promote local history and artifacts. These are often unique and rare items that reflect both the local area and connections to broader contexts.
Submitted by andy.keck 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote effective public access to physical and digital content.</strong></h4>
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The answer for effective public access to physical and digital content is libraries is the same as it was back in 1956 when the Congress passed the first Federal aid for libraries and had the wisdom to partner with state library agencies in order to meet the unique needs in each state. There is no "one size fits all" solution to improving library services. For more than half a century, state libraries agencies have partnered
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The answer for effective public access to physical and digital content is libraries is the same as it was back in 1956 when the Congress passed the first Federal aid for libraries and had the wisdom to partner with state library agencies in order to meet the unique needs in each state. There is no "one size fits all" solution to improving library services. For more than half a century, state libraries agencies have partnered with the Federal government (most recently with IMLS) to share the cost of improving library services in every state and territory. Federal funds have leveraged state funds, and the result has been more improvement than would be the case if the Federal government had tried to go it alone. This proven model needs to continue.
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Submitted by jscheppke 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote policies that sustain information access for the American public.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should take a leadership role and raise awareness of national issues (e.g. broadband, literacy, open access) impacting the American Public’s access to information.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote museums and libraries as community anchor institutions.</h4></strong>
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I suggest IMLS identify, disseminate and promote adoption of best practices of community anchor institutions.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote effective public access to physical and digital content.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should develop & expand information infrastructure capacity in libraries and museums.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote policies that sustain information access for the American public.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should advocate for legislation which preserves citizens' freedom of access to information. Net neutrality, fair use and curbing the patriot act are all areas where IMLS should be vocal.
Submitted by pice 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote policies that sustain information access for the American public.</strong></h4>
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The key to "sustaining information access" in the next decade is to make sure every library makes a successful transition from atoms to bits. E-books and other e-content will soon be the preferred format for Americans. Libraries still have a ways to go in being able to offer comprehensive collections of downloadable e-content in a way that matches the selection and user experience of commercial e-content providers. Some
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The key to "sustaining information access" in the next decade is to make sure every library makes a successful transition from atoms to bits. E-books and other e-content will soon be the preferred format for Americans. Libraries still have a ways to go in being able to offer comprehensive collections of downloadable e-content in a way that matches the selection and user experience of commercial e-content providers. Some libraries have not even begun to make the transition, for various reasons. Their days are numbered. This should be a high priority, not only for IMLS, but for COSLA, ALA, the Gates Foundation, and others. All should be working together to get all libraries through the transition. The 160-year tradition of free public access to information in the US is at risk.
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Submitted by jscheppke 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Model excellence in public management.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should promote training and communication to create collaborative work culture, organizational development, performance and teamwork.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote museums and libraries as community anchor institutions.</h4></strong>
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I suggest IMLS advance partnerships with federal agencies at national level that can inspire and support partnerships at state and local levels.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Have an idea that doesn't fit?</strong></h4>
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Quantify and clearly articulate the impact libraries and musems make on improving the nations economy. Communicating return-on-investment or social ROI, for the public, could go a long way towards demonstrating value.
Submitted by adsmith63 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote policies that sustain information access for the American public.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should study bandwidth needs, create standards, and develop a system for libraries to catch-up on bandwidth needs. With so many essential services delivered delivered digitally and accessible within libraries, we must have adequate bandwidth to meet local needs.
Submitted by jdscott50 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote museums and libraries as community anchor institutions.</h4></strong>
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I suggest IMLS leverage assets of museums and libraries to develop partnerships linking public, non-profit and private sectors for furthering community sustainability.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Support lifelong learning for a competitive workforce and engaged public.</strong></h4>
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School library programs are hurting from budget cuts and negative perceptions by politicians--we have the Internet, no need for school library media programs. Or we have a library in a hand-held, no need to learn how to access and use the information. Public perception needs changing to advance Library & Technology Information Skills instruction in the K-12 public schools.
Submitted by maharkness 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Model excellence in public management.</strong></h4>
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I suggest IMLS expand the use of technology to support IMLS goals and maximize efficiency
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Promote effective public access to physical and digital content.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should ensure full participation for all including the underserved and people with disabilities.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
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<h4><strong>Support lifelong learning for a competitive workforce and engaged public.</strong></h4>
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IMLS should encourage museums and libraries to take a leadership role in convening communities to assess and support learning needs.
Submitted by IMLS Administrator 1 year ago
Displaying 1 - 25 of 125 Ideas
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