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 viewed on the agency's Web site at
http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/011510.shtm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2010

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

Thirty-three Institutions with Living Collections To Receive IMLS
Connecting to Collections Bookshelf

Washington, DC-Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS), announced today that 33 institutions
with living collections will receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections
Bookshelf. Institutions with living collections of plants and animals
include aquaria, arboreta, botanical gardens, nature centers, historical
houses with gardens, living history farms, and zoos. 

"From aquaria to zoos, living collections cultivate in all of us an
appreciation for the natural world and an understanding of the need to
protect it," Radice said. "We trust that the IMLS Bookshelf will provide
these institutions valuable resources to help care for their plant and
animal collections."

The institutions are located in 19 states, with the Midwest and
Southeast states representing the largest number of applications. More
than half (19) of the awardee institutions are zoos. Other types of
institutions receiving the Bookshelf include four arboreta/botanical
gardens, one aquarium, and two nature centers. 

This special round of awards completes the competitive process for U.S.
institutions to apply for the Bookshelf, which consists of a core set of
12 resources, including several items developed especially for the
Bookshelf. In addition to the core resources, institutions with living
collections will receive six texts specifically designed to address
collections care issues related to plants and animals. The contents of
the bookshelf were selected by a blue ribbon panel of conservation
experts with valuable curation and selection advice provided by Heritage
Preservation.

The IMLS Bookshelf is a component of Connecting to Collections: A Call
to Action, a strategic initiative by IMLS to address the challenges
described in A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on
the State of America's Collections, an IMLS-funded study conducted by
Heritage Preservation.

Distribution of the IMLS Bookshelf was made possible through a
cooperative agreement with the American Association for State and Local
History (AASLH), IMLS's cooperating partner. IMLS also received support
from the Getty Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Samuel H.
Kress Foundation.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of
federal support for the nation's 123,000 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.

About the American Association for State and Local History
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.

About the Getty Foundation
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 http://www.getty.edu/foundation. 

About the Henry Luce 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. 

About the Samuel H. Kress Foundation
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.