I have been asked to post the following information about the Institute of
Museum Services National Award for Museum Service because we are not receiving
as many inquiries as we have in the past.  Please help spread the word.  My
apologies to international Museum-L subscribers since this award is for U.S.
museums only.  (See eligibility requirements below.)

Past winners of the Award are the The Brooklyn Children's Museum, New York;
Brukner Nature Center, Troy, Ohio; Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens,
Jacksonville, Florida; The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago;  Missouri
Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri; Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich,
Vermont; and Wing Luke Asian Museum, Seattle, Washington.

Please contact Linda Bell for more information (see below).

Sincerely,
Tania Said
Public Affairs Assistant
Institute of Museum Services
[log in to unmask]

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1996 National Award for Museum Service Call for Nominations

The Institute of Museum Services National Award for Museum Service places a
national spotlight on museums that are central to the life of their communities.
It honors museums that demonstrate an institutional commitment to public service
with programs that address social, economic or environmental issues.  At IMS our
goal is to build support for museums by demonstrating the vital and integral
role of museums in their communities and in our society.  This award celebrates
museums that are woven into the fabric of their community through collaboration
with other community organizations and through meaningful public outreach.

The National Award for Museum Service celebrates the contributions museums make
to their communities.  Achievements that may be considered are:

y   innovative programming which addresses social, economic or environmental
issues;
y   positive effects of the museums' collaborations with other public
institutions and the community;
y   the effectiveness with which the museum has attracted new audiences.

Nominations will be accepted from any individual or organization.  To nominate a
museum please provide the following:

y   Name of the museum you are nominating, name of director and mailing address
of museum.
y   Narrative summary -- three pages that describe the project or program and
demonstrate the impact it has made on the museum's community within the past
three years.  Note: the project or program could have a long history at the
museum, but the impact must be recent.
y   Three letters of recommendation that demonstrate the museum's impact on the
community.
y   Your name and address.

Nominations should describe one or two specific projects or programs that
address the selection criteria.  Include a description of the audience served,
the impact on the community and, if available, any related material produced by
the museum (or other community institutions) that document how the outreach
effort will be sustained.

Nominations may include photographs, publications or other products that
document the success of the specific programs.  Nominations and accompany
materials cannot be returned.  The deadline for nominations is receipt on March
8, 1996.

Eligibility requirements:  Public or private nonprofit museums are eligible to
receive this award. Nominee museums must be open to the general public for at
least 120 days a year and be located in the United States, Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana
Islands, or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.  These types of museums
are eligible:  Aquariums, arboretums, art museums, botanical gardens, history
museums, children's/youth museums, nature centers, historic houses/sites,
natural history museums, planetariums, science/technology centers, zoological
parks, and general or specialized museums.

For additional information please contact IMS:

The National Award for Museum Service
Linda Bell
Office of the Director
Institute of Museum Services
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Room 510
Washington, DC 20506
Phone:  (202) 606-8637
E-mail:  [log in to unmask]