A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94

Chapter 609

Library Education & Human Resource Development--Discretionary Grants to and Contracts with Institutions of Higher Education and Library Organizations or Agencies

(CFDA No. 84.036)

I. Program Profile

Legislation: The Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, Title II-B (Section 222), as amended (20 U.S.C. 1021, 1022, 1023, 1031, 1032, and 1034) (expires September 30, 1997).

The Higher Education Amendments of 1992 changed the title of this program from the Library Career Training Program to the Library Education and Human Resource Development Program.

Purpose: To help institutions of higher education and library organizations and agencies train persons in the principles and practices of libraryship and information science, including new techniques of information transfer and communication technology.

Funding History Appropriation

Fiscal Year Appropriation Fiscal Year Appropriation
1966 $1,000,000 1986 $612,000
1970 4,000,000 1987 659,000
1975 2,000,000 1988 410,000
1980 667,000 1989 400,000
1981 667,000 1990 570,000
1982 640,000 1991 651,000
1983 640,000 1992 5,000,000
1984 640,000 1993 4,960,000
1985 640,000 1994 4,960,000

II. Program Information and Analysis

Population Targeting

In FY 1992, fellowships were targeted for individuals seeking an advanced degree in library and information science, specifically: (1) persons seeking training in areas of library specialization where shortages exist, such as school library media, children's and young adult services, science reference, and cataloging; and (2) persons who want to become library educators, with an emphasis on planning, evaluation, and research.

Target groups were the same in FY 1993, except that under (1) above, persons needing training in library management were also targeted. Also in FY 1993, library institutes were funded and the population targeted to receive such training was library personnel--primarily school and public librarians--pursuing the following studies: (1) areas of library specialization where there are currently shortages, such as school media, children's services, young adult services, science reference, and cataloging; and (2) serving the information needs of people who are elderly, illiterate, disadvantaged, or residents of rural America.

Services

Five million dollars were awarded in FY 1992 to support 73 grants made to 38 higher education institutions to support 416 fellowships for post-baccalaureate degrees in library and information science. Training emphasis at the doctoral level included specialization in library education, research methodologies, and planning and evaluation; at the post-master's level, advanced training was pursued in science reference and library services to youth; and at the master's level, training was given for school library media specialists, children and young adult services personnel, cataloging and science reference librarians, and network managers. In all, 104 fellowships were awarded at the doctoral level, 12 at the post-master's level, and 300 at the master's level.

In FY 1993, funding remained at the same level, and 115 grants were made to 47 institutions of higher education to support 298 fellowships. In addition to the fellowships, in FY 1993 there were 17 grants to institutions of higher education or library organizations to support institutes or training workshops primarily for school and public librarians. Approximately 1,700 individuals received training through the institutes.

Outcomes

Since the beginning of the program in 1966, fellowships for training in institutions of higher education have assisted 1,361 persons at the doctoral level, 282 persons at the post-master's level, 3,311 persons at the master's level, 16 at the bachelor level, and 53 at the associate level. During this same period, 102 institutes for training and retraining of librarians were also funded under this program. In fiscal year 1993, 47 institutions of higher education received almost $4 million to provide fellowships in library and information science for the academic year 1993-94. The 115 grants awarded will support 159 master's, 17 post-master's and 122 doctoral fellowships. Also, approximately 1.1 million was awarded to support 17 institutes in training workshops, primarily for school and public librarians, 1993-94 academic year.

III. Sources of Information

  1. Program files.

IV. Planned Studies

None.

V. Contacts for Further Information

Program Operations:
Louise Sutherland, (202) 219-1315
Program Studies:
Brenda Long, (202) 401-1958

-###-
[College Library Technology and Cooperation Grants] [Table of Contents] [Library Research and Demonstrations--Discretionary Grants and Contracts]