IMLS Announces 19 Connecting to Collections: Statewide Planning Grants

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has awarded 19 Connecting to Collections: Statewide Planning Grants that will be used to create conservation plans for collections held in libraries, museums, and archives. The Statewide Planning Grants are an important component of the IMLS initiative, Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action. View the winners of this year's grants here.

Under the new program, 19 states will receive $720, 497, matched with $527,930 of non-federal funds, to implement recommendations of the Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America's Collections.

"These 19 projects represent movement toward collaborative thinking among collection-holding institutions that have a strong commitment to collections stewardship," said Anne-Imelda Radice, IMLS Director. "IMLS funding will assist these relationships in blossoming into powerful alliances that will serve collections and the people who use them for years to come."

In the first year of this two-year initiative, IMLS received 26 applications from 23 states and territories requesting more than $1 million. Over the next two years, IMLS hopes to make one grant to each eligible state or territory; the next deadline for applications is in October 16, 2008.