FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Updated, July 29, 2005

Press Contacts
202-653-4632 
Eileen Maxwell, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]

IMLS Releases National Report on Status of Museums' Data Collection
Activities:  
Offers Analysis and Extensive Compendium of Reports about Museums 

Washington, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
released its June 8, 2005 Museum Data Collection Report and Analysis, a
national study on the status of America's museums' data collection
activities. The report updates a similar study commissioned by IMLS in
1998 and focuses on data collected and reported by museums between 1999
and 2004 (or planned through 2006). 

"The U.S. Congress charges IMLS to analyze museum and library trends and
needs to provide reliable data for the development of good policies that
will inform federal support for these institutions," said Mary Chute,
Acting Director of IMLS. "The release of the 2005 Museum Data Collection
Report and Analysis will also help museums advance professional
practices and heighten awareness of the public value of museums in
America's communities." 

The report looked at a wide range of museum data, both qualitative and
quantitative, including case studies, strategic plans, benchmarking, and
best practices research. Surveying 490 sources, the report found that
many museum studies are available on the internet and includes 246 of
the studies in the report itself constituting an extensive compendium of
museum data information. Categorized by annual reports, directories and
surveys, economic impact studies, facilities, finance (financial
reports, cost analyses and salary surveys), funding trends, and general,
museums nationwide are encouraged to use the compendium as a new
research tool. 

The report notes the problems and difficulties, as well as the value and
benefits of data collection efforts and cites the World Wide Web as
having enormous potential for gathering and sharing museum data (a
significant difference from the study done in 1998). The report also
outlines needed areas of growth and further research for museums notably
in the area of performance and outcomes measures, diversity, and small
and rural museums.

Among the recommendations for museums in the report are the creation of
a collaborative working group tasked with different areas of research,
standardization of definitions and data categories for conducting
surveys, and collaborations with other organizations that collect data
on museums. The report also recommends museums build platforms to
showcase their value and share data collection efforts.

Museum Data Collection Report and Analysis is free and available online
at http://www.imls.gov/pubs/pdf/Museum_Data_Collection.pdf.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal
grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of
learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities. The
Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by
supporting the nation's 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. The
Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit
of libraries and museums. To learn more about the Institute, please
visit http://www.imls.gov. 



Eileen Maxwell
Public Affairs Officer
Institute of Museum and Library Services
1800 M Street, NW
9th Floor
Washington, DC  20036-5802
202-653-4632
202-653-4600(fax)
[log in to unmask]

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