This document summarizes the role of public libraries in providing digital resources and promoting digital inclusion. It discusses how the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides federal support for US libraries and museums through research, convening, and grants. IMLS works to expand digital access, literacy, and inclusion through various programs and partnerships aimed at education, workforce development, and civic engagement. Upcoming efforts include rolling out a framework for digitally inclusive communities and establishing a Digital Public Library of America.

1. Public Libraries in Action in the Digital Age Joyce Ray University College London Johns Hopkins University European Congress on E-inclusion 2011

2. Institute of Museum & Library Services Primary source of federal support for the 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums in the US, through research, convening and grant-making http://www.imls.gov/

3. IMLS Library Grant Programs Grants to States (formula funding) National Competitive Grant Programs http://www.imls.gov/

4. New York Public Library Staff blogs engage audiences http://www.nypl.org/voices

5. Learning Labs in libraries and museums supportstudents as creators Partnership of IMLS and The MacArthur Foundation Chicago Public Library YOU media Lab

6. Project Compass: Lifeline for the Unemployed Librarians learn online how to partner with community service organizations to provide comprehensive support services to the unemployed http://www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources

7. The Learner Web: Web-based Adult Learning http://www.learnerweb.org/infosite/index.html

8. Framework for Digital Inclusion National Broadband Plan issued by the Federal Communications Commission in March 2010, called on IMLS to provide leadership to libraries and community-based organizations IMLS Framework for Digitally Inclusive Communities establishes principles of digital inclusion to help communities assess their needs (partnership with University of Washington and International City/County Management Association) http://www.broadband.gov/

10. Public access

11. Accessibility

12. Adoption and digital literacy

13. Consumer education and protectionhttp://www.imls.gov/pdf/DIC-FrameworkGuide.pdf

15. Economic and workforce development

16. Civic engagement

17. Public safety and emergency services

18. Health care

19. Quality of lifehttp://www.imls.gov/pdf/DIC-FrameworkGuide.pdf

20. Next Steps in Digital Inclusion Roll-out events with community & leadership forums (Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, & Bangor, Maine) in September and October Online survey Final plan released January 2012 Possible certification program for digitally inclusive communities

21. Connecting Content Thru a New National Resource Digital Public Library of America http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/

22. Large-Scale Aggregation IMLS Digital Collections and Content Registry University of Illinois Urbana Champaign http://imlsdcc.grainger.uiuc.edu/

23. ConveningCommunities Libraries and Museums in the Digital Age http://www.imls.gov/