IMLS statewide planning grants

IMLS Calls for Applications for Connecting to Collections Statewide
Planning Grants

Deadline: October 16, 2008
<URL:http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/081308a.shtm>.

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
    *   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 (see <URL:http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/012308_list.shtm>)
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 at
<URL:http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/pdf/CtoC_2009.pdf>
(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, 2008 at 3pm EST
    Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 3pm EST

Please check
<URL:http://www.imls.gov/collections/grants/planning.htm> closer to
the date of the call for specific dial-in instructions.

For questions about the Statewide Planning Grant program, please
contact

    Christine Henry
    Senior Program Officer
    202-653-4674
    chenry<-a t->imls< . >gov

    or

    Mark Feitl
    Program Specialist
    202-543-4635
    mfeitl<-a t->imls< . >gov


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:10
                 Distributed: Thursday, August 14, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-22-10-008
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