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 viewed on the agency's Web site at
http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/021909.shtm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2009
Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]
IMLS Announces 2009 Award of 23 Connecting to Collections: Statewide
Planning Grants
Washington, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) today
awarded 23 Connecting to Collections: Statewide Planning Grants that
will be used to create statewide conservation plans for collections held
in libraries, museums, and archives. To view the winners of this year's
grants, please go to http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/021909_list.shtm.
"I applaud these grantees as they take action to combat the crises in
collections care that threaten to rob our heritage," said Anne-Imelda
Radice, IMLS Director. "They represent a wide array of approaches to
planning, from a system of conservation "circuit-riders" in Virginia
working with small institutions across the state to the first-ever
statewide preservation assessment of material culture collections in
Utah."
Under the program, 23 states will receive $908,206, matched with
$621,073 of non-federal funds to foster partnerships among organizations
in a state, commonwealth, or territory to provide safe conditions for
its collections, develop emergency plans, assign responsibility for
collections care, and marshal public and private support for collections
care. Grantees included eight museums and museum associations, five
state libraries, two historical societies, five state agencies that
oversee museums and libraries, and three universities and service
organizations.
Funded projects included:
* Maine, with its large geographic area and relatively sparse
population, will create a collaborative and multi-disciplinary working
group that will compile, organize, and analyze the existing
collections-based information and create associated databases on a
statewide basis. It will also create a feasibility assessment of
existing organizations to steward the collections and create a values
assessment ranking system to assist institutions in targeting limited
resources.
* Kentucky will develop and conduct a survey to determine the needs of
cultural and heritage collecting institutions in the state. It will
develop and execute a pilot project with three to five collecting
institutions that will inform the development of a statewide collections
management plan. It will also conduct disaster planning and preparedness
workshops that will provide instructions and guidelines for writing a
disaster plan and inform the development of a statewide disaster
response team.
* The University of Utah will work with seven partners to develop and
implement the state's first formal preservation assessment of museums,
libraries, and archives. In keeping with the findings of the Heritage
Health Index report, the results from this survey will be disseminated
through four preservation forums that will be used to improve
preservation-related educational and funding opportunities statewide.
This is the second year IMLS has awarded Statewide Planning Grants, an
important component of the IMLS initiative, Connecting to Collections: A
Call to Action. IMLS launched the initiative in response to the 2005
Heritage Health Index report on the dire state of the nation's
collections. According to the report by Heritage Preservation,
approximately 190 million objects could be lost in just a few short
years without immediate attention. The report also found that 65 percent
of collecting institutions report damage to collections due to improper
storage and 80 percent did not have an emergency plan for their
collections or trained staff to carry it out.
Over the next two years, IMLS intends to award a grant to each eligible
state, commonwealth, or territory to advance their collective
conservation goals guided by the Heritage Health Index recommendations.
The next and final deadline for the statewide planning grants is October
16, 2009. For more information, please visit:
http://www.imls.gov/collections/grants/planning.htm.
IMLS intends to issue a limited number of implementation grants to
statewide planning grantees in 2010.
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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