Grants
Current Projects
Expanding Education Options for Alaska's Library Workforce
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21), Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Recipient, RE-256626-OLS-24. $150,000
This planning grant project (2024-2027) will identify the training needs of the library workforce across the state of Alaska and develop coursework for their professional development. The project will assess the needs of library staff and explore the feasibility, curricular content, and delivery modes for an online professional development credential emphasizing skills development for library paraprofessionals in underserved communities throughout the state. As a result of the project, as needs dictate, we will develop a workforce readiness curriculum and affordable online microcredential aligned with the American Library Association (ALA) Core Competencies and the Alaska Library Association Culturally Responsive Guidelines for Alaska Public Libraries. Full proposal.
Project Personnel:
- Jennifer Ward (Principle Investigator), Professor of Library Science & Outreach Librarian, Contact Info
- Jonas Lamb (Co-PI), Professor of Library Science & Access Services and Open Education Librarian
- David Cox (Co-PI), Associate Professor of Library Science and Technical Services Librarian
- Kaia Henrickson, Associate Professor of Library Science and Information Literacy Librarian
Project Objectives and Status:
- Objective 1: Conduct an Environmental Scan (Complete)
- Objective 2: Seek Stakeholder Input (In Progress, Spring 2026)
- Objective 3: Synthesize Findings of Environmental Scan and Stakeholder Input (Summer 2026)
- Objective 4: Pursue Professional Development
- Objective 5: Develop Curriculum (Fall 2026)
- Objective 6: Pilot Course (Spring 2027)
- Objective 7: Share Methods & Findings (Summer 2027)
Support for Open Education Initiatives
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Open Educational Resources State Subgrants, $5,000
These funds supported the participation of five UAS faculty and a UAF PhD candidate at the 2025 Open Education Conference, participation of one UAS faculty member in the 2026 Creative Commons Certificate for Educators program and 2026 access to the JSTOR Path to Open program. PI Jonas Lamb.
Past Projects
Alaska State Library, Interlibrary Cooperation Grant, $19,440.
- PI Jonas Lamb
- Supported travel for Bren Smith, author of Eat Like a Fish, to Juneau and Sitka for class visits, campus and community events.
- 111 book copies purchased and distributed to students for free.
University of Alaska Faculty Initiative Fund award, $10,000
- PI Jonas Lamb
- Egan Library acquired an archival quality book scanner to digitize fragile, rare and/or out of copyright, curricular resources currently owned by the Alaska Native Arts, Languages & Studies Program and items in the Cyril George Indigenous Knowledge Collection.