CHICAGO, OCTOBER 26, 2009 -- The Newberry Library is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000 one-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for staff development and training. The award will support staff development in two important areas: increasing the Library’s digital technology capacity and enhancing its ability to generate research and learning in the humanities.
The Newberry will use a portion of the grant for a suite of activities and training opportunities for key staff members to learn relevant digital skills and to develop a collaborative, knowledgeable digital leadership team. In addition, the grant will support a series of staff development workshops with distinguished scholars and librarians, focusing on cross-disciplinary, integrated support for the development of the collections, scholarship, and teaching in areas of the Newberry's greatest strengths.
“We are very thankful to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for recognizing how vital ongoing staff development and training is to the productivity of an independent research library,” said Hjordis Halvorson, vice president of library services. “Enabling the staff to use digital technology with more sophistication will undoubtedly improve users’ access and understanding, and the workshops with scholarly experts will harmonize the work of our staff and bring our collections, service and scholarly strengths into closer alignment.”
In related news, the Newberry recently received a $130,000 grant from an anonymous donor to redesign its public Web site – www.Newberry.org. The new Web site will increase functionality, usability and appeal while also improving public access and efficiency. The redesigned Web site is expected to launch in December 2011, in readiness for the Newberry Library’s 125th anniversary celebration in 2012.
ABOUT THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY
The Newberry Library, a preeminent humanities research and reference institution, is home to a world-class collection of books, manuscripts, maps, music, and other printed materials related to the history and culture of Western Europe and the Americas. The collections span many centuries and feature items such as illuminated medieval manuscripts, rare early maps, rich genealogical resources, and the personal papers of Midwest authors. The Newberry offers exhibits based on its collections, theatrical performances, lectures and discussions with today's leading humanists, seminars and workshops, and teacher programs. Visit us in-person at 60 West Walton St., Chicago, or at www.newberry.org to learn more.