The following is a text-only press release from the federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS). An HTML version of this release can
be read on the agency's Web site at
http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/091008b.shtm. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2008

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]

2.5 Million Dollars Awarded to Support Training and Development for the
Nation's Museum Professionals 

Washington, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the
primary source of federal support for the nation's museums and
libraries, is pleased to announce the eight recipients of this year's
21st Century Museum Professionals (21 MP) grants. The awarded
organizations will receive a combined total of $2,548,088 that will be
used to implement projects to strengthen leadership, management,
interpretation, and other important skills of thousands of museum
professionals nationwide.

"The museum field is constantly evolving and changing, and it is
important that museum professionals are offered the training they need
to not only remain current but also be prepared for the future," said
Anne-Imelda Radice, Director, IMLS. "21st Century Museum Professionals
grants are awarded to meet these needs by funding classes, collection
assessments, and pre-professional training programs for all interested
museum employees to ensure a savvy museum workforce." 

Many of this year's 21 MP projects will have long-lasting and national
impacts through the creation of web-based resources, publications, and
other materials. Examples of the 2008 awardees include the New England
Aquarium, which will coordinate a collaboration of five aquariums to
provide their educators with specialized training, materials, and tools
to increase public awareness of ocean change. By the end of the
three-year project, over 200 interpreters will be trained, a toolkit
will be developed for use with visitors, and a model training program
will be refined for adaptation by other aquariums. 

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), another 21
MP grant recipient, will provide training for museum professionals in
the fundamentals of project management to support education programs,
collections-related activities, and capital projects, and will develop
and present a series of on-site and web-based project management
workshops specifically geared to history museum professionals. To learn
more about the 2008 21 MP grant recipients, visit
http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/091008b_list.shtm. 

The next deadline for the 21st Century Museum Professionals program is
March 15, 2009. For more information, visit
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/21centuryMuseums.shtm. 

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of
federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.
The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that
connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the
national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to
sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and
innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about
the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

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