Northern Kentucky University received $999,558 from the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, a grant that NKU says will expand online paraprofessional programs and provide scholarships and technology stipends to 50 library staff members who work in high-poverty rural areas.
NKU is just one of 33 universities across the U.S. that received the grant, though 111 schools submitted proposals.
Arne Almquist, NKU associate provost for library services, said they are "extremely excited" to be awarded the funding.
The grant will enhance existing programs for associate and bachelor's degrees, and it will provide scholarships to promote education and leadership among library staff in 50 targeted counties in eastern and far-western Kentucky. Those programs include Kentucky's compulsory online certification program, the online associate degree at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and a new NKU bachelor's completer program in library informatics.
"We need to do more to provide educational opportunities in areas of the commonwealth that suffer from severe poverty," Congressman Geoff Davis said. "In both western Kentucky and eastern Appalachian Kentucky, few library services are available, and many counties in these regions have disproportionately high illiteracy rates. I was pleased to support Northern Kentucky University in pursuit of this grant, which will increase educational opportunities, improve library services and promote increased literacy throughout rural Kentucky."
Western and eastern parts of Kentucky are in need of professionally trained library practitioners, as almost a third of the directors of county librarians throughout Kentucky do not have undergraduate degrees.
NKU reported that most librarians in those rural areas do not hold degrees because of financial barriers and location barriers. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant, however, will address both barriers with completely online programs, renewable scholarships and technology stipends that include laptop computers and Internet access.
