The response from Idaho to the IMLS Western Regional Fellowship, Transforming Life After 50 has been tremendous. Librarians from Hayden in the north to Marsing in the southwest to Chubbuck in the eastern part of the state applied, and all 18 of our Idaho applicants were accepted into the fellowship. Congratulations to the following Idaho recipients of the Transforming Life After 50 Fellowship:

• Karri Alderson, Library Clerk, Chubbuck and North Bannock County, Chubbuck
• Valerie Bame, Children's Librarian, Burley Public Library, Burley
• Laura Burnett, Library Director, Jerome Public Library, Jerome
• Amy Campbell, Library Assistant, Marshall Public Library, Pocatello
• Erica Compton, Project Coordinator, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Boise
• Rachel Grimmett, Library Assistant, Snake River School Community Library, Blackfoot
• Jennifer Hills, Reference Librarian, Twin Falls Public Library, Twin Falls
• Sarah Kelley-Chase, Librarian, Boise Public Library, Boise
• Sharon Kimber, Library Director, DeMary Memorial Library, Rupert
• Rebecca Melton, Assistant Director, Post Falls Public Library, Post Falls
• Barbara Nolan, Outreach Services Coordinator, Coeur d'Alene Public Library, Coeur d Alene
• Twylla Rehder, Outreach Coordinator, Kootenai‐Shoshone Area Libraries, Hayden
• Diane Rice, Reference Librarian/Program Coordinator, Ada Community Library, Boise
• Heather Stout, Community/Youth Services Librarian, Lewiston Library, Lewiston
• Janna Streibel, Library Director, Lizard Butte Library, Marsing
• Sue Walker, Library Consultant, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Boise
• Julie Woodford, Library Director, Burley Public Library, Burley

The Fellowship will run from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 and introduce 93 selected public library professionals from eleven states to a new framework for serving and engaging midlife adults, ages 50+. Fellows will re-examine traditional views on aging and explore innovative ways in which public libraries can become centers of lifelong learning and civic engagement. The year-long program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. Fellows commit to: - an introductory webinar in July - a three-day institute in September - a six-month online learning community in building skills and applying lessons learned - completion of three online surveys over the course of the Fellowship Fellows will also implement Transforming Life After 50 (TLA50) approaches in their own libraries, including locally appropriate programs and engagement strategies; help disseminate the TLA50 concepts through professional and public presentations, conferences, and/or contributions to written resource materials; and become an active members of the TLA50 community of practice by sharing experiences and insights on the TLA50 Ning online community. For more information about the Fellowship, go to: http://www.transforminglifeafter50.org/innovators/imls-fellowship.