MacArthur and IMLS Announce Plans to Create 30 New Learning Labs at Libraries and Museums Across the Country

The MacArthur Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced plans to create 30 new youth learning labs in libraries and museums across the country.

Inspired by an innovative new teen space at the Chicago Public Library called YOUmedia and innovations in science and technology centers, these labs will help young people become makers and creators of content, rather than just consumers of it. These labs will be based on new research about how young people learn today. With $4 million in funding MacArthur and IMLS will begin a planning process to launch a national competition to create 30 new learning labs across the country. As the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums, IMLS also will help to increase the capacity of museum and library staff to develop programming based on the most recent research about how young people learn today. Other partners — including the, C. S. Mott, Grable, John S. and James L. Knight, Mozilla and Pearson foundations, and the Chicago and New York Community Trusts — will provide additional resources to support the new learning labs. The competition application process, which will include a request for proposals, will be announced in 2011.