FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2008

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

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 jackson@aaslh.org 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.