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 read on the agency's Web site at
http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/040910.shtm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2010

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

IMLS Announces 2010 Awards of Connecting to Collections Statewide
Planning and Implementation Grants

Washington, DC-Recent flooding in Rhode Island reminds us that everyone
needs an emergency plan, including cultural institutions. A Rhode Island
consortium will use its Connecting to Collections: Statewide
Implementation Grant, announced today by the Institute of Museum and
Library Services (IMLS), to develop tools and training for a statewide
disaster plan. 

Statewide implementation grants were offered for the first time this
year to support activities identified through Connecting to Collections:
Statewide Planning Grants. Planning grants have been offered for three
years, and today, IMLS announced 14 new planning grants to foster
networks among organizations in a state, commonwealth, or territory to
provide safe conditions for its collections, develop emergency plans,
assign responsibility for collections care, and marshal public and
private support for collections care. This brings the total number of
states and territories participating in the planning grants to 56. Both
of these programs are part of the IMLS Connecting to Collections
initiative designed to help libraries, museums and archives address
issues identified in the Heritage Health Index (HHI), a report on the
dire state of the nation's collections. The HHI survey, conducted by
Heritage Preservation with IMLS support, found that 80 percent of
collecting institutions did not have an emergency plan for their
collections or trained staff to carry it out, and approximately 190
million objects could be lost in just a few short years without
immediate attention.
 
In addition to Rhode Island, IMLS funded the implementation of plans in
California, Connecticut, Delaware, and North Carolina to train
professionals in museums, libraries, and archives to care for
collections that are important to their communities. The implementation
grants total $1,207,340, with matching funds of $576,749.

"We support Rhode Island's emergency preparedness project, which the
state's museums, archives, and libraries are undertaking despite
tremendous challenges created by the recent flooding. Dealing with this
real-life natural disaster will hopefully enable the state's cultural
institutions to address future emergency situations," said Marsha L.
Semmel, IMLS acting director. "These first statewide implementation
grants will test new models and best practices for collaborative
conservation and preservation projects. We are pleased that all 50
states and most of the territories are now participating in the
program."

Partner institutions in 14 state consortiums will receive planning
grants totaling $540,080, matched with $242,907 of non-federal funds, to
foster networks among organizations in a state, commonwealth, or
territory to provide more secure conditions for collections and marshal
public and private support for collections care. Grantees include one
museum association, five state libraries, one historical society, a
state agency that oversees museums and libraries, and six universities
and service organizations. Each of the principal grantees has several
partner organizations. Click here to view the winners of this year's
planning and implementation grants
http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/040910_list.shtm.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.imls.gov/collections/grants/planning.htm.IMLS intends to
issue additional implementation grants to statewide planning grantees in
2011. 

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.