Museum News

The Morris Museum Receives National Grant

Treasured objects and artifacts held by the Morris Museum of Art, Reese Library of Augusta State University, and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books, DVDs, and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to each of these area institutions. IMLS is the primary source of federal funding for the nation's museums and libraries. IMLS and its co-operator, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), will award a total of 2,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf by the end of 2008.

“The Morris Museum of Art's library, the Center for the Study of Southern Art, houses thirteen discrete collections of artists’ papers and other archival material,” said Cary Wilkins, librarian and archivist at the Morris Museum of Art. “Fragile items, brittle and acidic paper, and deteriorating media, such as 16mm film, are just a few of the challenges facing the library. The IMLS Bookshelf will help us find the best possible ways to store and preserve this valuable part of our cultural heritage.”

“We have numerous challenges associated with the acquisition, storage, and care of our archival materials,” said Christine Miller-Betts, Executive Director of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. “The IMLS Bookshelf will assist us in developing a more comprehensive plan for preserving our valuable resources to insure the research availability for years to come. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for this award.”

“We are pleased to announce the first group of IMLS Bookshelf recipients. These small libraries and museums are taking up the charge to care for America's heritage,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, director of IMLS.“A recent national study tells a sobering story about the state of America's library and museum collections. Without immediate action we stand to lose important collections that are at the heart of the American story.”

The Morris Museum of Art's Center for the Study of Southern Art, Reese Library of Augusta State University, and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum are the only libraries in Augusta, and among the first in the nation, to receive this essential set of resources in response to an application from each organization that described the needs and plans for care of their collections. The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. It addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues.

The IMLS Bookshelf is a crucial component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a conservation initiative that IMLS launched in 2006. IMLS began the initiative in response to a 2005 study by Heritage Preservation that documented the dire state of the nation's collections. The multifaceted, multiyear initiative shines a nationwide spotlight on the needs of America's collections, especially those held by smaller institutions, which often lack the human and financial resources necessary to adequately care for their collections. IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. IMLS 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 IMLS please visit www.imls.gov.