Friends of the Richmond Public Library

Today, American Library Association (ALA) President Maureen Sullivan joined Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with twelve government agencies and organizations, to sign the “Declaration of Learning,” a statement that formally announces their partnership as members of the Inter-Agency Collaboration on Learning.

Signed on the Treaty of Paris Desk at the Department of State Headquarters, the declaration recognizes participating institutions for their commitment to use historic artifacts in their collections to create digital learning tools for students and educators.

“As a representative of libraries that are using cutting-edge digital learning tools to teach students and patrons the skills that they need to succeed, I am pleased to take part in this critical partnership,” said Sullivan. “The Declaration of Learning helps to ensure that library patrons have access to digital learning resources from the historic Diplomatic Reception Rooms.”

Additionally, the signing ceremony honors Secretary Clinton for her role in the completion of the “Patrons of Diplomacy” initiative, which established the first permanent endowment for the Diplomatic Reception Rooms and the funding to launch education programs to share the Rooms and their objects with people around the world.

Susan Hildreth, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services signed the declaration, along with David Ferriero, archivist of the United States. Other institutions participating in the Inter-Agency Collaboration on Education include:

• Library of Congress
• National Park Service
• Smithsonian Institutions
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• National Endowment for the Arts, Newseum
• National Center for Literacy Education
• National Council of Teachers of English
• National Council for the Social Studies
• Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the U.S. Department of State

View the full Declaration of Learning. Learn more at www.state.gov.