Posted by:
Tania Said, Public Affairs Assistant, Institute of Museum Services, E-mail
[log in to unmask]


Contact:    Tania Said      (202) 606-4646
            Mamie Bittner   (202) 606-4648

For Immediate Release:
March 15, 1996

INTERNET ACCESS IMPROVES SERVICE TO MUSEUM PROFESSION BY THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM
SERVICES

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Institute of Museum Services (IMS) now offers two means of
Internet access--electronic mail (e-mail) at [log in to unmask] and the World-
Wide Web at http://www.ims.fed.us.  Launching the IMS web site on the World-Wide
Web of the Internet is the result of a survey conducted by IMS to determine how
we can best serve museums electronically.

"This year we are celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Institute of
Museum Services.  Establishing a presence on the Internet is a very fitting way
to mark this milestone. The programs and services of the Institute are the
result of an open dialogue with the public. This site will provide one more way
to ensure effective communication," said Diane B. Frankel, Director of the
Institute of Museum Services.

Recently IMS surveyed museums about their access to the Internet and the types
of IMS information that they would like to access on-line.  In response to the
survey IMS web pages include deadlines, descriptions and eligibility
requirements for grant programs, the IMS newsletter and lists of awards.  IMS
plans to include links to other web sites of interest to museum professionals
and others who would like to know more about museums on the Web.  Survey results
are available on our web site, by e-mailing [log in to unmask] or by calling IMS
at (202) 606-8536.

About the Institute of Museum Services (IMS)--IMS is an independent Federal
agency established in 1976 to increase and improve museum services. There are
over 8,000 museums in the United States and they host about 600,000,000 visitors
each year.  IMS supports all types of museums, including aquariums, arboretums
and botanical gardens, art museums, youth museums, general museums, historic
houses and sites, history museums, nature centers, natural history and
anthropology museums, planetariums, science and technology centers, specialized
museums, and zoological parks.

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IMS-06-96