Omaha Public Library receives 2012 National Leadership Grant

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced that Omaha Public Library (OPL) will receive a National Leadership Grant totaling $407,175 toward its project “Creating a Collaborative Culture through Community Engagement.” This is one of 52 grants awarded in 2012, selected from 211 proposals to IMLS.

Grant funds will be used by OPL to produce a toolkit of useful resources and a replicable model to guide public libraries toward leadership roles in local civic engagement efforts. The project will also help libraries to measure and communicate the value they add to their communities. Upon completion of the two-year project, deliverables will include principles, practices and tools to help libraries engage with citizens and other organizations. In addition, OPL will produce a map of local needs and available assets, a portal of resources and guidelines to help position libraries as key community anchor organizations, and methods and metrics to help public libraries measure, evaluate and communicate the success and impact of their services and programs. The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research will collaborate with OPL to produce an assessment tool. 

“Public libraries have always been an integral part of the communities they serve. With this grant, we will be in a better position to serve Omaha and Douglas County residents, acting as a community nexus that encourages civic engagement and conversation,” said OPL Executive Director Gary Wasdin.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through grant making, policy development and research, the organization helps communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning. To learn more about IMLS, please visit www.imls.gov.