Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action
The National Tour is a series of four forums presented across the nation focusing on different areas of collections care and providing an opportunity for museum, library, archive, and historical society professionals to share lessons learned in the interest of making collections care a top priority.
“Collaboration in the Digital Age” was held on June 24 and 25, 2008 at the Denver Public Library, Colorado Historical Society, and Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado. You can:
- View the entire program’s webcast
- Browse our photo gallery
- Read about the program
“Preserving America’s Diverse Heritage” was held January 31 and February 1, 2008 at the High Museum of Art and Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. You can:
- View the entire program’s webcast
- Browse our photo gallery
- Read about the program
The remaining two forums will be held in 2009. On February 19 and 20th, zoological, botanical, and nature center professionals will meet in San Diego to explore “Care for Living Collections” at the Zoological Society of San Diego. Buffalo, New York will be the setting for the final forum: “Training in Collections Care” in June hosted by the Art Conservation Department Buffalo State College. Further information about registration for future forums may be found at http://www.imls.gov/collections/tour/index.htm as it becomes available.
The IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf
Museums and libraries may apply to receive the Bookshelf, which 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. Its texts address such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues.
New Grant Programs
The Statewide Planning Grants, an important initiative of the Connecting to Collections initiative, aim to foster partnerships among organizations in a state, commonwealth, or territory to implement recommendations of the Heritage Health Index.
Guide to Online Resources
The Guide contains links to the most trusted collections care resources on the Web. Use it to find answers to common conservation and collections management questions.
The National Conservation Summit
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Representatives of small and medium-sized museums and libraries from everystate, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, met with national leaders in the nation’s capitol on June 27-28, 2007.
Connecting to Collections Video
This video was developed to underscore the importance of collections held in museums, libraries and archives throughout the U.S., and to inspire communities to take action.