IMLS Grants awarded

Institute of Museum and Library Services Awards Almost $3 Million to
Support Conservation Efforts at Nation's Museums

<URL:http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/050109.shtm>

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced today
the 35 recipients of $2,994,748 million in Conservation Project
Support (CPS) grants. These grants are awarded to museums that are
committed to identifying conservation needs and priorities, and
performing activities to ensure the safekeeping of their
collections.

   "These 35 museums, by preserving and conserving their
    collections, are ensuring the longevity of our nation's
    treasures for the education and enjoyment of all Americans,"
    said Anne-Imelda Radice, Director, IMLS. "IMLS is proud to be a
    part of their efforts."

This year, the Institute received 129 applications from museums
across the country that aspire to develop and implement a logical,
institution-wide approach to caring for their living and material
collections, and have identified a project that meets one of their
highest conservation needs. Of these applicants, the 35 awarded
institutions plan to delve into a wide range of conservation
projects, including:

    *   The purchase and installation of programmable central
        control for water management of The Coastal Maine Botanical
        Gardens' living plant collections. This project is part of
        the garden's environmental sustainability initiative and
        will reduce water usage by 25 percent over the current
        manual system.

    *   The completion of a general conservation survey of The
        Toledo Museum of Art's art and archive collections. Results
        of the survey will provide information to implement the
        first museum-wide conservation plan, using a holistic
        assessment of conservation activity to inform museum staff
        of what measures need to be taken to streamline management
        and conservation efforts.

    *   The purchase and installation of new compact storage units
        for approximately 36,000 botany and 250,000 entomology
        specimens at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Activities will
        include updating of botanical scientific names following
        modern taxonomic standards, construction of archival storage
        containers for at-risk specimens in acidic bags and boxes,
        inspection and freezing of specimens to deter pests, and
        updating the collections database for better access.

    *   The conservation of the most important Renaissance tapestry
        in The Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester's
        permanent collection, Trellised Garden with Animals. The
        project comprises treatment, research, publication-grade
        photography, and preparation of materials for use by the
        education department.

    *   The purchase and installation of a humidity control system
        for the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs' site enclosure. The
        museum is built over a Pleistocene sinkhole and preserves
        the remains of numerous animals that wandered the South
        Dakota landscape about 27,000 years ago. The building
        enclosing the bone bed protects the bones, tusks, and other
        specimens from the elements so they can remain where they
        were discovered and continue to inspire wonder in visitors
        and researchers alike.

Please go to <URL:http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/050109_list.shtm>
for the full list of CPS grantees and descriptions of their grants.

IMLS would also like to acknowledge the participants in this year's
Conservation Assessment Program, which is funded by an IMLS grant
and administered by the Heritage Preservation

    <URL:http://www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP/09recipients.html>


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:64
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
                       Message Id: cdl-22-64-016
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