Congressman Fattah Announces $500,000 Grant to Free Library of Philadelphia

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) announced today that the Free Library of Philadelphia will receive $499,974 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The funding will support a new project, part of the library's Maker Jawn Initiative, designed to help residents gain access to technology and participatory education, while encouraging interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) at libraries in underserved areas of North Philadelphia.

The Free Library initiative was one of only 31 projects chosen nationwide to receive a National Leadership Grant from IMLS.

"As a longtime champion of STEM and STEAM education, I am thrilled to see IMLS recognize this innovative new program created by the Free Library of Philadelphia. For more than 100 years, the Free Library has been a bedrock of learning and discovery for Philadelphians of all ages," Congressman Fattah said. "This grant allows them to further their mission with an innovative new project to drive creativity in the community with a focus on the uniqueness and diversity of our city's neighborhoods."

The project, "Maker Jawn: An Intergenerational Library STEAM Initiative," will create on-the-floor makerspaces and use mentors to guide community members in creating cross-disciplinary electronic art projects. The spaces will encourage visitors to design digital and physical objects that capture the richness and diversity of their neighborhoods. The Library plans for the project to eventually provide a scalable model for libraries and museums to adapt across the country.

Fattah added, "This has been an exciting week for the Free Library, and I congratulate their recently announced $25 million grant from the William Penn Foundation. The Free Library of Philadelphia continues to innovate and evolve as a 21^st century institution, and these grants are a reflection of both their current success and vision for the future."

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a federal agency that works to inspire libraries and museums to advance lifelong learning, cultural and civic engagement, and innovation. They support the 35,000 museums and 123,000 libraries across the United States through research, policy development, and grant making.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah