The following is a press release from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services: September 21, 2004 202/606-8339 Eileen Maxwell [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Mamie Bittner [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> $13.8 Million Awarded to Advance Innovation and Public Service at Nation's Museums and Libraries Washington, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal funds for the nation's museums and libraries, today announced grants in five categories of its prestigious National Leadership Grants. Over $13 million ($13,840,786) is awarded to 44 museum and libraries throughout the country in this highly competitive grant program. The recipients will match the awards with an additional $14,767,538. For contact lists of the National Leadership Grant recipients and project descriptions, please see <http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/stategrants0903nlg.htm>. "National Leadership Grants encourage nationally replicable, model projects that enable museums and libraries, either individually or in partnership, to advance innovation and learning for students of all ages," said Dr. Robert S. Martin, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. "The projects address issues of national interest such as literacy, the advancement of and instruction in science and technology, and the preservation of art, culture, and history." Grant projects include, among others, digitizing documentary films on American folk culture at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; developing a museum audio guide accessed through the visitor's own cell phone at the Walker Art Center of Minneapolis; and the Fort Worth Public Library collaborating with their public school system and local arts organizations to teach history through library research and observation of museum artifacts. The five grant categories announced today are National Leadership Grants for Libraries; Research and Demonstration and Preservation or Digitization categories; National Leadership Grants for Museums; Museums Online and Professional Practices categories; and National Leadership Grants for Museum and Library Collaborations. Museums and libraries nationwide sent in 199 applications requesting over $48 million from this prestigious grant program. About IMLS-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 log on to <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] Subscribe to Primary Source, the IMLS monthly e-mail newsletter, for important museum and library news: http://www.imls.gov/utility/subscribe.htm. ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).