For Immediate Release from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Contact: Eileen Maxwell, IMLS Public Affairs Specialist, [log in to unmask] ,
202-606-8339
IMLS Announces New Funding Opportunity
Washington, D.C. IMLS is announcing a new opportunity for museums. All
museums are encouraged to apply.
In FY2003, IMLS will offer Learning Opportunity Grants. This grant
opportunity is part of an evaluation and redirection of the General
Operating Support (GOS) program. While the goal of improving museum
operations will remain unchanged, IMLS will continue the transition away
from unrestricted grants for operating support, taking into account aspects
of that program that were strongly supported by the field in the recent IMLS
survey on this issue. Some aspects of the new program include:
* a streamlined grant application form;
* more opportunity for smaller awards;
* grants to strategically improve museum operations;
* clear goals and opportunity to leverage achievements;
* assistance with evaluation.
For FY2003, the Learning Opportunity Grants will offer funding for museums
to address one or more strategic goals:
* building public access;
* expanding educational services;
* reaching families and children, and
* using technology more effectively in support of these goals.
For the past 18-months IMLS has been engaging the museum community in an
evaluation of GOS. Evaluation will continue through FY2003. The evaluation
consists of conversations at regional and national museum association
meetings, a facilitated focus group and a nationwide survey.
In FY 2004, IMLS expects to introduce a comprehensive new funding program,
building on the one-year interim Learning Opportunities Grants, as well as
on results of the evaluation. GOS, the oldest funding program at IMLS, will
be replaced by an updated program that will focus on building institutional
capacity to meet changing issues in the 21st century. IMLS anticipates that
the both the Learning Opportunities grant and the new FY 2004 program will
maintain many of the benefits that were rated highly for the General
Operating Support program while seeking to enhance capacity of museums to
articulate public benefits of their service.
IMLS is structuring the new program to maintain flexibility in use of funds
and to support all types and sizes of museums. In addition, IMLS seeks to
support a greater number of museums by offering grant amounts as small as
$5,000. The largest grant amount for Learning Opportunities Grants will be
$150,000. IMLS will also provide support for program evaluation so that
benefits can be identified and leveraged.
The Learning Opportunity Grant application and guidelines and the results of
the GOS survey will be available on the IMLS Web site in September. See
http://www.imls.gov.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - IMLS is an
independent Federal agency that fosters leadership, innovation, and a
lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's museums and libraries.
Created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, P.L. 104-208, IMLS
administers the Library Services and Technology Act and the Museum Services
Act. For more information contact IMLS at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,
Washington, D.C. 202-606-8536, or http://www.imls.gov.
###
Eileen Maxwell
Public Affairs Specialist
Institute of Museum and Library Services
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8339
202-606-8591 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
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