FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2008
IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
IMLS Calls for Applications
for Connecting to Collections
Statewide Planning Grants
Deadline: October 16,
2008
Washington, DC—The
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites
proposals for the 2009 Connecting to Collections Statewide
Planning Grants. Applications for these collaborative
grants should address the recommendations published in
the Heritage
Health Index (HHI), which found that many collections
held in the public trust by libraries, museums, and archives
are at risk. This landmark study, conducted by Heritage
Preservation in partnership with IMLS, offered four recommendations
to collecting institutions:
• provide safe conditions for collections;
• develop an emergency plan;
• assign responsibility for collections care; and
• marshal public and private support for, and raise
public awareness of, collections care.
Institutions that follow these guidelines
report marked improvements in their ability to preserve
and conserve their collections.
Statewide Planning Grants foster effective
partnerships among organizations that have a strong commitment
to the collections stewardship goals of a given state,
commonwealth, or territory, and fund ongoing or new collaborations.
Projects must demonstrate how the participating institutions
(representing libraries, museums, archives, and other
relevant statewide organizations) will work together in
a planning process that moves the state closer to achieving
the recommendations of the HHI through an appropriate
and achievable plan for action. In 2008, IMLS awarded
these grants to 19 states and will continue to make
one grant to each eligible state or territory.
For the past two years, IMLS and its partners
have been drawing attention to the findings and recommendations
of the Heritage Health Index. The Connecting to Collections:
A Call to Action initiative has already resulted in a
successful national summit on conservation and preservation,
the distribution of 1839 IMLS Connecting to Collections
Bookshelves, and two Connecting to Collections National
Tour forums. The Statewide Planning Grants represent an
important component of this national initiative.
Application guidelines for the 2009 planning
grants are available
in PDF format here (623KB). Please note that the Statewide
Planning Grant Web page has a list of last year’s
awardees, as well as copies of their grant narratives,
which may expedite the application writing process.
IMLS has scheduled two audio conference
calls to give prospective applicants an opportunity to
ask IMLS staff questions pertaining to the Statewide Planning
Grants. The calls will be at the following dates and times:
Thursday, September 4 at 3:00pm EST
Wednesday, September 17 at 3:00pm EST
Please check the Statewide
Planning Grant Web page closer to the date of the
call for specific dial-in instructions.
For questions about the Statewide Planning
Grant program, please contact Senior Program Officer,
Christine Henry, 202-653-4674, chenry@imls.gov
or Program Specialist, Mark Feitl, 202-543-4635, mfeitl@imls.gov.
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