Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford, announced Monday that the University of Houston-Clear Lake will receive a $906,104 federal grant to recruit, educate and train 30 individuals to serve as Houston-area librarians.
"Education through books is the greatest gift any person can receive.†Librarians are doing a service not only to the individuals they touch but the communities that are made better through their profession," Lampson said in a release.
The greater Houston area has a demonstrable need for school librarians, particularly those trained in collaborating with school administration to work with diverse student populations.
To help meet this need, UHCL will recruit and educate 30 school librarians with a special emphasis on collaborating with school administrators.
"The University of Houston – Clear Lake will be able to prepare a new generation of library professionals to meet the educational needs of our community," Lampson said in a release.
With the support of numerous financiers coming together in the name of education, the sponsors of the program hope to produce highly qualified librarians within every educational level throughout the entire nation, thereby increasing the quality of education within the U.S.
A portion of the funding is intended to come from the Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program, which will provide approximately $20.3 million in competitive grants. The monetary aid will contribute to the education and training of librarians and support grants for research related to library education, staffing needs and curriculum development across the nation.
The role of the Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program is to award grants directly to institutions of higher education. These awards are intended to enhance cooperation between school librarians and administrators and promote classroom integration of technology available in the 21st century.
Since its beginning in 2003, the Laura Bush 21st Century Library Program has funded the education and training of more than 30,000 students. The goal of the proposed project is to develop education in Houston-area school systems and aid the community at large.
