Nebraska public libraries are invited to apply to host rotating makerspaces as part of the
Library Innovation Studios: Transforming Rural Communities project. The Nebraska Library Commission along with partners University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Nebraska Innovation Studio, Nebraska Extension, and Regional Library Systems, are excited about the project, which was recently awarded a National Leadership Grant of $530,732 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The project, which will begin July 1, 2017 and conclude June 30, 2020, uses Library Innovation Studios (makerspaces) hosted by thirty public libraries to support community engagement and participatory learning experiences by providing access to technological and innovative learning tools not readily accessible locally. This strengthening of the maker culture in Nebraska communities is expected to stimulate creativity, innovation, and idea exchange to facilitate entrepreneurship, skill development, and local economic development.
Accredited Nebraska public libraries with a legal service area of less than 25,000 are eligible to apply. The deadline for the first application cycle—to identify twelve to twenty participating libraries—is
July 10, 2017. The balance of the participating libraries are expected to be selected in an application process sometime in 2018. For more information see
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/InnovationStudios/ or watch the recorded
NCompass Live webinar at
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=16370.
