Hi fellow listers. Thanks, John, for your comments. I had to respond to the last line of your message (here): < I am convinced that there is no museum, no matter how small or how disorganized, that cannot benefit from participating in MAP.> -- John E. Simmons, Museologica I have been reading about MAP and hearing kudos about its value for several years now, though frustrated by our organization's inability to meet the requirement of being open 90 or more days a year. I am curator of our town's Historical Museum, where the collection is owned by the town but managed by the Historical Society. We are only open one Saturday a month during the temperate months (April through October), with researchers, visitors and school classes coming for another dozen or so days by appointment, getting us to maybe 45 days open to the public. I am certainly working in the museum enough additional days to meet the 90-day requirement, but if the museum was "open" those days, I would not get my work done, and there is a lot of it. There are many great local history museums in the towns that surround us in Western Mass, with impressive and historic items in their collections, but many can afford to be open even less than we are. Some are open only one day a year for their "open house," and by appointment. Most of these museums, like ours, are run by volunteer staffs, where the towns either don't have the money to pay a collections manager, or don't see the value, or both. I wish there was a program that was really geared to help small history museums (run by town historical societies or commissions) work to the point where they COULD be eligible to participate in MAP or one of the other grant programs (like NEH's PAG, with a 120-day min. requirement) to help us move to the next level. As has been stated here, sometimes an organization or a town just needs the push of recommendations from a credentialed group like IMLS or AAM to turn the tide of community apathy and/or hopelessness. We have big dreams, and are trying many angles to get there, but it is very slow and lack of momentum is a problem. Any grant suggestions/ideas for museums that are both small AND disorganized, but ineligible for MAP? Best, --Kathie Gow Oral History Producer <http://www.wordspicturesstories.com/> http://www.wordspicturesstories.com Curator, Hatfield Historical Museum <http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com/> http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John E Simmons Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 11:37 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] MAP Webinar and Application Deadline - Help is on the Way for Museums! I have been involved with MAP for a very long time, both as a staff member at two different museums undergoing the MAP process, and as a MAP reviewer. MAP is a terrific program that provides invaluable guidance for improving your museum, helps you establish clear priorities for moving forward, and the MAP report will strengthen your applications for grant funding. Going through the MAP process and receiving the report sends a clear message to your board concerning the value of the museum and what is needed to make it better. I am convinced that there is no museum, no matter how small or how disorganized, that cannot benefit from participating in MAP. John E. Simmons Museologica 128 E. Burnside Street Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010 [log in to unmask] 303-681-5708 www.museologica.com and Adjunct Curator of Collections Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery Penn State University University Park, Pennsylvania and Lecturer in Art Juniata College Huntingdon, Pennsylvania _____ To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L <http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1> &A=1 ========================================================= 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).