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/2007/121307b.shtm. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 13, 2007 IMLS Press Contacts 202-653-4632 Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask] Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask] IMLS and AASLH Distribute the First Free Sets of the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf -- The Monterey Public Library's frog-catching license belonging to Ed Ricketts, a real-life biologist-philosopher featured in several John Steinbeck novels. --The wedding dress of a trial elder's mother held by the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton, OR. -- The reconnaissance map of Omaha Beach made in preparation for the D-Day invasion during WW II held by the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Ft. Pierce, FL. WASHINGTON, DC-Many small and medium-size museums, libraries, and archives in every state will soon have the tools to preserve these and many other one-of-a-kind objects that physically connect us to our stories and our past. The IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf was shipped yesterday to 212 museum and library representatives who attended the national conservation summit in June 2007. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and its cooperator, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), will award a total of 2,000 free sets of the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf by the end of 2008. The IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf is a crucial component of the Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a conservation initiative that the Institute launched in 2006. IMLS began the initiative in response to a 2005 study by Heritage Preservation documenting the dire state of the nation's collections. The multi-faceted, multi-year initiative shines a nationwide spotlight on the needs of America's collections, especially those held by smaller institutions, which often lack the human and financial resources necessary to adequately care for their collections. For more information on the conservation initiative, visit http://www.imls.gov/news/2007/www.imls.gov/collections. The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. To view the IMLS Bookshelf bibliography, visit http://www.imls.gov/collections/bookshelf/biblio.htm. This permanent resource consists of 22 books, charts, online resources, bibliographic materials, and other resources essential for the care of collections; a User's Guide that describes each resource and answers common questions about collections care; and a Guide to Online Resources (http://www.imls.gov/collections/resources) containing more than 250 links. Museums, libraries, and archives wishing to receive the IMLS Bookshelf can apply by means of a simple, online application. The first deadline was November 15, 2007, and awardees will be announced February 15, 2008. The next application period runs from March 1, 2008 to April 15, 2008, with recipients announced in July 2008. Priority will be given to smaller institutions, but large museums and libraries with special collections are also eligible to apply. Federally-operated institutions, for-profit institutions, and libraries that do not hold special collections are not eligible to receive the IMLS Bookshelf. For more information on the IMLS Bookshelf, visit http://www.imls.gov/collections/bookshelf, email Terry Jackson at [log in to unmask], or call 615-320-3203. The IMLS Bookshelf has received generous support from the Getty Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation and expert assistance from Heritage Preservation. 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 http://www.imls.gov. ========================================================= 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).