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/2008/021908.shtm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2008

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]

851 Museums, Libraries, and Archives Selected to Receive IMLS Connecting
to Collections Bookshelf

WASHINGTON, DC-Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the Institute of
Museum and Library Services, announced today that 851 museums,
libraries, and archives, representing every state, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico, have been selected to receive the IMLS
Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. The contents of the bookshelf were
selected by a blue ribbon panel of conservation experts; it includes an
essential set of books, online resources, and a user's guide that can
profoundly impact the ability of small libraries and museums to care for
their collections.

To see the list of recipients, go to
http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/021908_list.shtm.

"We are pleased to announce the first group of IMLS Bookshelf
recipients. These small libraries and museums are taking up the charge
to care for America's heritage," said Radice. "A recent national study
tells a sobering story about the state of America's library and museum
collections. Without immediate action we stand to lose important
collections that are at the heart of the American story."

The IMLS Bookshelf was made possible by a cooperative agreement with the
American Association for State and Local History and with support from
the Getty Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Samuel H. Kress
Foundation. It is part of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a
strategic initiative by IMLS to address the challenge described in A
Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of
America's Collections. The report concluded that:

    * 190 million objects need conservation treatment,
    * 65 percent of collecting institutions have damaged collections due
to improper storage,
    * 80 percent of collecting institutions lack an emergency plan for
their collections and trained staff to carry it out, and
    * 40 percent of institutions have no funds allocated in their annual
budget for preservation and conservation.

Among the 851 institutional recipients, 236 are libraries or archives
and 615 are museums. Most of the recipients have small budgets and
staffs and have demonstrated an urgent need for this permanent resource.
History museums, historic houses, and academic libraries with special
collections are especially well represented among the recipients. Thirty
zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens, and nature centers are also
represented.

Recipients are located in 346 of the nation's 435 congressional
districts.

"The Getty Foundation is delighted to join with the Institute of Museum
and Library Services in support of the Connecting to Collections
Bookshelf," said Getty Foundation Director Deborah Marrow. "The program
will help so many small and medium-sized museums, libraries and archives
throughout the country to care for their important collections. The
Getty is committed to advancing the understanding and preservation of
the visual arts, and the IMLS project makes a clear contribution toward
these goals."

"The Luce Foundation is proud to support the IMLS Conservation Bookshelf
project, which will serve as a valuable resource for institutions around
the country and provide significant information on collections care,"
said Ellen Holtzman, Program Director for American Art at the Henry Luce
Foundation.

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 living collections. It addresses topics including
the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and
planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation
issues. Among the publications selected were The National Trust Manual
of Housekeeping (published by the British National Trust in 2005), the
Field Guide to Emergency Response (published by Heritage Preservation in
2006), and Essentials of Conservation Biology (published by Primack in
2006).

The last application period for the IMLS Bookshelf is March 1 - April
30, 2008, with recipients announced in July 2008. Instructions,
qualifications, and the content of the IMLS Bookshelf, along with the
online application form, can be found at www.aaslh.org/Bookshelf.
Applicants may begin applying on March 1, 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, please contact Terry Jackson at
[log in to unmask] or 615-320-3203.

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.

The American Association for State and Local History is a non-profit
membership organization comprising individuals, agencies, and
organizations acting in the public trust, engaged in the practice of
history, and representing a variety of disciplines and professions. It
provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and
interpret state and local history in order to make the past more
meaningful to all Americans. To learn more, visit www.aaslh.org.

The Getty Foundation provides support to institutions and individuals
throughout the world, funding a diverse range of projects that promote
the understanding and conservation of the visual arts. The Foundation is
part of the J. Paul Getty Trust which also includes the J. Paul Getty
Museum, the Getty Research Institute, and the Getty Conservation
Institute. To learn more, visit www.getty.edu/foundation.

The Henry Luce Foundation was established in 1936 by the late Henry R.
Luce, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc. With assets of
approximately $750 million, the Luce Foundation supports American art,
higher education, Asian affairs, theology, and women in science and
engineering. To learn more, visit www.hluce.org.

The Samuel H. Kress Foundation was created in 1929 and devotes its
resources to advancing the scholarship, conservation and enjoyment of
works of European art. The Kress Foundation's programs focus on the
preservation of significant monuments of European art and architecture,
as well as the nurturing of professional expertise in art history and
art conservation. To learn more, visit www.kressfoundation.org.

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