Recipient: Maine Historical Society
Location: Portland, ME
Grants: 2002 National Leadership Grant, 2003 Learning Opportunities Grant

The Maine Memory Network, a digital museum launched by the Maine Historical Society in 2001, is a centralized online gateway to Maine history. Supported by an IMLS Learning Opportunity Grant, this project provides Maine’s cultural organizations with the resources they need to share images and items from their own collections, while also training teachers, students, and community members to help them research, prepare, scan, and upload historic materials from their own communities. Learn more.

The President has asked all agency heads to chair the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) at their agencies, and I am excited to take on that role at IMLS. The CFC is an important way for federal employees to support thousands of worthy charities. Public servants not only contribute to the campaign but also assume leadership roles to ensure its success.

The staff of IMLS has shown enthusiastic support for the campaign over the years. The agency has consistently exceeded its goal and even achieved 100 percent participation in some years. I am encouraging everyone on the staff to take part and I’ve asked Robin Greer, whom many of you may know for her fine administrative support at the Institute, to take a leadership role managing the CFC for IMLS this year.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently heralded “A Year of Big Gains” with its annual Philanthropy 400 survey, noting that the largest charities saw donations rise 13 percent in 2005. Many of these gifts are attributed to wealthy individuals and innovative fundraising approaches. But giving is not just for Bill Gates and Warren Buffet; everyone has something to give, whether it is money, time, expertise, or contacts. Those of us who work in cultural and educational fields know how essential small donations are to the efforts of not-for-profit organizations.

Giving in the workplace is a convenient, gratifying, and particularly effective way to support the good works of charities. I know that our staff is going to make the Institute proud during this year’s campaign, and I urge you to encourage charitable giving at your places of work.

Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director, IMLS

“Moving Your Museum toward Tomorrow with Funding from IMLS,” Dan Lukash, Senior Program Officer, Association of Science-Technology Centers Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY, 10/27-30

"Science TV and Museum Partnerships 2006" (Roundtable Session), Marsha Semmel, IMLS Deputy Director for Museums & Director for Strategic Partnerships (participant), Association of Science-Technology Centers 2006 Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY, 10/28.

"Moving Your Museum toward Tomorrow with Funding from IMLS,” Steve Shwartzman, New England Museums Conference, Hartford, CT, 11/7-9

"Grant Opportunities for LIS Research, Institute of Museum and Library Services," Joyce Ray, IMLS Associate Deputy Director for Library Services, American Society for Information Science and Technology 2007 annual conference, Austin, TX, 11/8.

“IMLS Funding for Technology Projects,” Dan Lukash, Senior Program Officer (with Sharon Leon, IMLS grantee, George Mason University), Museum Computer Network Annual Meeting, Pasadena, CA, 11/8-11

“Heritage Preservation 2006 Annual Meeting- Heritage Health: Strategies Toward the Preservation of America’s Collections,” Dr. Anne Radice (keynote speaker), IMLS Director, Washington, DC (Smithsonian Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture), 11/15.