At the last meeting we discussed developing a grant proposal for a survey, which would be done through the UW Survey & Analysis Center and reviewed by Wyoming’s Economic Analysis agency. Colorado Wyoming Association of Museums, the participating museums & libraries will write the survey.
The survey would be sent to all of the libraries (23) and museums (about 200) in the state. It would address the four concerns outlined in the Heritage Health Index but would be worded specifically to Wyoming. CWAM will apply for this grant with various partners from libraries and museums identified. The grant would also cover a part time position to administer the grant. This person would be hired through CWAM and work closely with the board members.
This plan is still in the early development ideas. If you have comments and/or suggestions, please click on "comments" below.
Our next meeting (everyone is welcome) will be during CWAM’s annual meeting in Sheridan. Come to the Best Western bar on May 9th at 4:45 if you wish to contribute or have questions.
CWAM's annual meeting info. can be found at: http://www.wyomingmuseums.org/2008_annual_meeting.html
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
What Can the Grant Funds Be Used For?
This first go-around, funds can be used for:
1. Cost for collaborative planning meetings
2. Databases
3. Supplies and postage
4. Travel/mileage expenses
5. Staffing the project
6. Consultants' fees
7. Needs assessments
The first award is up to $40,000 and can be used over a two year period.
1. Cost for collaborative planning meetings
2. Databases
3. Supplies and postage
4. Travel/mileage expenses
5. Staffing the project
6. Consultants' fees
7. Needs assessments
The first award is up to $40,000 and can be used over a two year period.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
GREAT insight into the Heritage Health Index and how it relates to Wyoming!
I was on the telephone with Kristin Laise from Heritage Preservation (HP) about another matter. So I took the liberty of asking her about the Heritage Health Index survey.
Kristin said that it is correct that the survey results can only be broken down by Rocky Mountain region. It cannot be broken down by state.
She said that the large museums and libraries in Wyo. received the survey. Smaller museum were sent the survey by random sample. HP sent 73 surveys to Wyo. and received 27 responses for a 37% response rate. (A pretty good response rate, she felt.) She also was not sure that the list HP used for the random sample was a full list of Wyoming museums.
She said that a lot of states are doing a collections survey to gather data about their state using the IMLS planning grants. HP has permission to let the states use their survey instrument in the state surveys. Kristin said that HP spent a lot of time researching the questions, working with heritage organizations to develop questions, making them applicable to museums and libraries, and making the answer choices relevant and valid. The survey instrument was tested for validity and more. HP felt the results of the survey were quite valid, very usable, and very helpful. HP found it did not use the answers to only a couple of questions. It did not have to throw out any of the questions for issues of survey validity or reliability.
Kristin said HP is requesting permission from IMLS to talk to the states planning surveys or to have a conference call (with each state or groups of states) about doing the surveys so that HP can share what it learned in doing the survey with states.
If Wyoming did a survey, timing would be important since so many of our county museums are seasonal and some do not have year round staff. And the museum and library participants would need to be sure that we captured all Wyoming museums.
The University of Wyoming has a department with great survey expertise. It did a survey for the Teton County Library for its strategic planning process a couple of years ago. The library seemed very pleased with the survey. (I can’t recall the department, political science or sociology. Deb Adams, the library director would know.) They would charge a fee for their services. Perhaps the grant could cover having them review the survey instrument, and administer the survey, and compile the results in a meaningful way.
You can pass this email along if you would like.
Lokey Lytjen
Executive Director
Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum
Kristin said that it is correct that the survey results can only be broken down by Rocky Mountain region. It cannot be broken down by state.
She said that the large museums and libraries in Wyo. received the survey. Smaller museum were sent the survey by random sample. HP sent 73 surveys to Wyo. and received 27 responses for a 37% response rate. (A pretty good response rate, she felt.) She also was not sure that the list HP used for the random sample was a full list of Wyoming museums.
She said that a lot of states are doing a collections survey to gather data about their state using the IMLS planning grants. HP has permission to let the states use their survey instrument in the state surveys. Kristin said that HP spent a lot of time researching the questions, working with heritage organizations to develop questions, making them applicable to museums and libraries, and making the answer choices relevant and valid. The survey instrument was tested for validity and more. HP felt the results of the survey were quite valid, very usable, and very helpful. HP found it did not use the answers to only a couple of questions. It did not have to throw out any of the questions for issues of survey validity or reliability.
Kristin said HP is requesting permission from IMLS to talk to the states planning surveys or to have a conference call (with each state or groups of states) about doing the surveys so that HP can share what it learned in doing the survey with states.
If Wyoming did a survey, timing would be important since so many of our county museums are seasonal and some do not have year round staff. And the museum and library participants would need to be sure that we captured all Wyoming museums.
The University of Wyoming has a department with great survey expertise. It did a survey for the Teton County Library for its strategic planning process a couple of years ago. The library seemed very pleased with the survey. (I can’t recall the department, political science or sociology. Deb Adams, the library director would know.) They would charge a fee for their services. Perhaps the grant could cover having them review the survey instrument, and administer the survey, and compile the results in a meaningful way.
You can pass this email along if you would like.
Lokey Lytjen
Executive Director
Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum
Monday, March 17, 2008
Agenda
Agenda for the March 20th, Initial Planning Meeting for IMLS Connecting to Collections Grant for Wyoming
Location: Albany County Public Library, 11 to ?
1. Greetings and Introductions
2. Appoint Chair, Co-Chair and Secretary for meeting
3. Confirm Working Group & Pass Out Sign In Sheet
a. Identify who is missing and needs to be involved.
4. Identify Leading Agency
a. CWAM – Laura & Matt report findings
b. WLA?
5. Goals for CWAM – Laura and Matt give a report of what is happening in Colorado.
6. Review Grant Goals (4): http://www.imls.gov/collections/grants/index.htm
a. Grant application: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/pdf/CtoC_2008.pdf
b. Heritage Health Index and specific stats for Mt. Plains region: http://www.imls.gov/collections/index.htm
7. Questions/Comments on reviewed material:
a. Successful Applications: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/012308_list.shtm
b. Review comments on prior application: http://wyimls.blogspot.com/2008/03/summary-of-first-application-wpeer.html
8. Timeline/deadlines in place and Action Plan for Working Group
a. Communicate thru blog: www.WYIMLS.blogspot.com
b. Timeline for comments
c. Meeting at AAM, April 29th ?
d. Meeting CWAM, May 8th or the 11th ?
www.wyomingmuseums.org
Location: Albany County Public Library, 11 to ?
1. Greetings and Introductions
2. Appoint Chair, Co-Chair and Secretary for meeting
3. Confirm Working Group & Pass Out Sign In Sheet
a. Identify who is missing and needs to be involved.
4. Identify Leading Agency
a. CWAM – Laura & Matt report findings
b. WLA?
5. Goals for CWAM – Laura and Matt give a report of what is happening in Colorado.
6. Review Grant Goals (4): http://www.imls.gov/collections/grants/index.htm
a. Grant application: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/pdf/CtoC_2008.pdf
b. Heritage Health Index and specific stats for Mt. Plains region: http://www.imls.gov/collections/index.htm
7. Questions/Comments on reviewed material:
a. Successful Applications: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/012308_list.shtm
b. Review comments on prior application: http://wyimls.blogspot.com/2008/03/summary-of-first-application-wpeer.html
8. Timeline/deadlines in place and Action Plan for Working Group
a. Communicate thru blog: www.WYIMLS.blogspot.com
b. Timeline for comments
c. Meeting at AAM, April 29th ?
d. Meeting CWAM, May 8th or the 11th ?
www.wyomingmuseums.org
Summary of First Application w/Peer Comments (in red)
Museum Training Network (MTN) 501 C3
Terri Schindel, Conservator and Founder
303 544-9632
terrischindel@gamil.com
February 29, 2008
Hello Everyone:
Re: IMLS Connecting to Collections Planning Grant, 2008 – 2009
I am Terri Schindel Conservator and Founder of the Museum Training Network, MTN 501 C3 and the author (unpaid) of this hastily written IMLS Connecting to Collections Planning Grant. I did it so we could get IMLS peer review feed back and use comments to engage the necessary agencies that were mentioned in the comments. You may read the criteria for this grant at imls.gov – go to grants category then by date – scroll to you see Oct 1 09’. You should read it before our meeting in March so we can formulate a revised or new proposal.
The MTN’s mission is to link providers/trainers, services with people working in small, rural, and tribal museums, libraries and cultural institutions to improve their capabilities. The nonprofit MTN is based on my work with this constituency in MT. WY, CO and AZ over the last 15 years. Together we have created training models that are now funded through federal grants to individual institutions and recognized on a national level. The MTN operates with private contractors who have an expertise in many topics and are experienced trainers. Training sites are located in WY and CO host institutions and each agrees to invite other institutions within a two-hour driving distance thus extending the reach of hands on training. The training topics follow CAP and MAP assessment recommendations and are specific to the host’s highest priority.
When the IMLS planning grant for Connecting to Collections was announced there was a 6 week turn around and as you can imagine a too quick to organize by state. I called around to see if anyone was planning or wanted to assist me in the planning and writing this grant. Five small museums agreed to be the host institutions and sponsor an onsite meeting, a one-day risk assessment and training opportunity. To reach all participants in the state I included opportunities to meet either in-person, onsite at host institutions or the Internet via Webinars and Skype technology. The MTN Mobile Museum, Training and Conservation Laboratory (MTN service) will be utilized to deliver services. I think the process of peer review gives us the opportunity to see that Washington DC wants this to be top-down management from the state level. I hope at the next meeting these people from state agencies are present and step up to the task of organizing the planning and grant efforts.
In this email I have included the abstract, excerpts from the grant, some of the peer reviewer comments in red. The reviewers commented on the hastily written grant and the disconnect between the goals and objectives and the fact that no state entity is involved. I use this document to show that everyone must somehow cooperate understand that this is an opportunity to resource collection care, training and conservation of collections. It appears the reviewers were not aware that there is no regional conservation laboratory, no conservators in the state of Wyoming (Carmen Bria is in the process of moving his private painting conservation business to Lander) and other than myself and the MTN there are no other providers of collections care/conservation services that I am aware of to the small, rural and tribal groups in Wyoming.
You will note that I chose risk assessment and DPRPlanning as the main goals and objectives. While this is mentioned in the criteria our planning proposal does not have to be single topic. There are no databases, surveys or documentation stating the condition of the collections and or collection needs in Wyoming. I chose risk assessment and onsite training as the main topic because it could lead to documenting need. This topic may or may not be the way we want to go.
Proposal: General peer comments about proposals that were funded: The best proposals, in addition to meeting, the review criteria, shared the following characteristics; project goals tied directly to findings of the Heritage Health Index; the application engaged a broad array of partners across the state, including museums and libraries of many disciplines, archives, representatives from the philanthropic community, and state government officials with relevant collections oversight or disaster preparedness responsibility. The proposed partnership coalition included the “major players” within the state and outreach to institutions of many sizes in an inclusive planning process.
The Museum Training Network’s, MTN 501 C3 initiative, Wyoming Connecting to Collections Risk Evaluation and Planning Proposal will be to assist small, rural, tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to assess risks, compile a statewide risk database and utilize onsite planning workshops and Webinar technology to develop a statewide plan to train, reduce risks, mitigate and respond effectively to emergencies. Peers thought the MTN could be a player in the planning and implementation but questioned the bottom-up proposal. They said several times this is a top down organizational partnership. While the MTN is a service organization for the constituents they are trying to reach, it should not be the sponsoring organization.
The Heritage Health Index, the first national survey of U.S. collecting institutions, found that “80 percent of U.S. collecting institutions does not have a written emergency/disaster plan that includes collections with staff trained to carry it out.” Further analysis reveals that 78 percent of museums and 92 percent of historical societies do not have an emergency plan that includes collections with appropriately trained staff. Wyoming data was compiled as part of the Mountain Plains Region and the region as a whole indicates equally grim statistics: 83% of museums and 93% of historical societies do not have an emergency plan with staff trained to carry it out. Peers thought there must be some Wyoming collection data somewhere which would make the risk assessment approach and collecting data from the object level not necessary. Does anyone know of a WY survey or data collection tasks to prove current conditions? The use of HHI data for the mountain plains region would be appropriate if the data was used to support the proposal.
The Museum Training Network, MTN a nonprofit service organization, developed as an outgrowth of Terri Schindel, Conservator and the people in small, rural and tribal museums and cultural centers in Wyoming and Colorado working together over the past 15 years. There are no conservation laboratories or collection care services provided in the state of Wyoming. Two peer reviewers (obviously never here or did not do their homework) insisted that Wyoming conservators and larger institutions could be expected to take this on a statewide Connecting to Collections project and that they must have programs that service small, rural, and tribal museums. Working together at a grass-roots level, Ms. Schindel and the people in Wyoming have developed excellent host institution training models that have been used to increase capabilities, share training and implementation opportunities and raise awareness in the communities for collection concerns. The programs have been funded to institutions by state and federal grants and recognized at local and regional museum association meetings as well as in publications such as Before and After Disasters: Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions; a FEMA publication. One of our peers thought this statement sounded like it came from a business plan for the MTN. Another peer thought there were collection needs in the state but the grant author did not state clearly what the needs are and how that was documented.
To accomplish the goals in this initiative, the MTN will launch its Mobile Conservation Laboratory and provide direct services onsite and via Webinar technology to other participants. The consultants will utilize the Mobile Unit’s equipment, exhibits, and technology and stop at 6 host institutions who have agreed to conduct a risk assessment, planning workshop, invite 20 to 30 institutions, area 1st responders, and community leaders thus extending the reach of the planning grant funds. Peers thought the use of a Mobile Lab to provide direct services was good but wanted to see the documentation stating it was needed and how it would be used by participants. The information about the condition of collections at 6 host institutions and the surrounding smaller institutions will be converted to a statewide database and Webinar presentation. Said this was too much to do in a planning grant but liked the use of technology to reach all groups in the state. It will include visual documentation, suggested ways to reduce risks and a list of resources that can be found at a local, state and regional level. The presentation, downloadable and available to everyone can be used to garner support for collections care and conservation in Wyoming. Detailing products such as this was good but no information was provided as to how this would get done and who would pay for it. No proof larger organizations were in on the development of such products.
Two conservation professionals peers wondered why they came from out of state will visit each site to conduct a risk assessment on the first day and a planning workshop the second day. The team, (from each host institution) will include the two consultants, Director and collection liaisons, who will assess their exposure to risks, share the initial results with the planning workshop participants and area 1st responders. The following three-month planning phase will then take into account which institutions have similar challenges, threats, and are in greatest need of attention. An interactive Webinar session will present the findings, suggested implementation plan and receive comments and suggestions. The consultants will then compile a final report and present to MTN and the Wyoming participants.
The goal of the planning phase is to assess risks, increase community awareness about collections care and conservation needs, compile risk assessment data, increase readiness of the institutions to implement and write a “Next Steps” document. By strengthening the host institutions, who will act as learning centers, we can reach additional small, rural, and tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions as well as local emergency management teams resulting in a future core group who are prepared to respond in an emergency. Each one of these items is useful, but how one leads to or informs the next is not evident. The proposed organizational agenda needs to focus on developing a statewide plan to address collections preservation needs and the grant criteria listed at imls.gov. The desired outcomes are “fuzzy”.
Notes from Terri 2/29/08: We now know that this planning proposal must be a top down and include state agencies. I do hope there are representatives from larger organizations that are authorized to take the lead and make decisions about their institutional commitments. While we must all work together to plan the planning phase there must be one agency willing to take the lead for Connecting to Collections.
I will see you all in Laramie. Thanks, Terri
Narrative: The Museum Training Network, MTN, a nonprofit service organization requests $40,000 to lead Wyoming Connecting to Collections Risk Evaluation and Planning Proposal. The funds will be used to assist small, rural, tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to hire conservation consultants, conduct risk assessment of six host institutions, network planning workshops and utilize Webinar technology to develop a statewide plan to participate in the national Connecting to Collections Initiative, CCI. The single topic ‘risk assessment’ approach to planning will result in the following multi-level project design: 1) Begin a statewide database entitled, “Risks to Collections in Wyoming”, (see 8.8a), 2) Group collection needs by topic and network for each region in the state (see 8.8b maps), 3) Participate in onsite host risk assessment and network local collection data (see 8.8c), through the host 4) Participate in onsite planning workshop to document needs, share successes, list local resources and brain-storm solutions (see 8.8d), 5) Share information via two Webinar presentations that will include statewide risk assessment results, state and local resources, case histories of collection successes and facilitated Webinar discussion. Outcomes will be a Webinar presentation that can be used by all participants to raise awareness about collection needs, six risk assessment reports and a summary report of collection priorities for the next implementation grant proposal. All products will be delivered digitally (or hard copy upon request) to participants
Terri Schindel, Conservator and Founder
303 544-9632
terrischindel@gamil.com
February 29, 2008
Hello Everyone:
Re: IMLS Connecting to Collections Planning Grant, 2008 – 2009
I am Terri Schindel Conservator and Founder of the Museum Training Network, MTN 501 C3 and the author (unpaid) of this hastily written IMLS Connecting to Collections Planning Grant. I did it so we could get IMLS peer review feed back and use comments to engage the necessary agencies that were mentioned in the comments. You may read the criteria for this grant at imls.gov – go to grants category then by date – scroll to you see Oct 1 09’. You should read it before our meeting in March so we can formulate a revised or new proposal.
The MTN’s mission is to link providers/trainers, services with people working in small, rural, and tribal museums, libraries and cultural institutions to improve their capabilities. The nonprofit MTN is based on my work with this constituency in MT. WY, CO and AZ over the last 15 years. Together we have created training models that are now funded through federal grants to individual institutions and recognized on a national level. The MTN operates with private contractors who have an expertise in many topics and are experienced trainers. Training sites are located in WY and CO host institutions and each agrees to invite other institutions within a two-hour driving distance thus extending the reach of hands on training. The training topics follow CAP and MAP assessment recommendations and are specific to the host’s highest priority.
When the IMLS planning grant for Connecting to Collections was announced there was a 6 week turn around and as you can imagine a too quick to organize by state. I called around to see if anyone was planning or wanted to assist me in the planning and writing this grant. Five small museums agreed to be the host institutions and sponsor an onsite meeting, a one-day risk assessment and training opportunity. To reach all participants in the state I included opportunities to meet either in-person, onsite at host institutions or the Internet via Webinars and Skype technology. The MTN Mobile Museum, Training and Conservation Laboratory (MTN service) will be utilized to deliver services. I think the process of peer review gives us the opportunity to see that Washington DC wants this to be top-down management from the state level. I hope at the next meeting these people from state agencies are present and step up to the task of organizing the planning and grant efforts.
In this email I have included the abstract, excerpts from the grant, some of the peer reviewer comments in red. The reviewers commented on the hastily written grant and the disconnect between the goals and objectives and the fact that no state entity is involved. I use this document to show that everyone must somehow cooperate understand that this is an opportunity to resource collection care, training and conservation of collections. It appears the reviewers were not aware that there is no regional conservation laboratory, no conservators in the state of Wyoming (Carmen Bria is in the process of moving his private painting conservation business to Lander) and other than myself and the MTN there are no other providers of collections care/conservation services that I am aware of to the small, rural and tribal groups in Wyoming.
You will note that I chose risk assessment and DPRPlanning as the main goals and objectives. While this is mentioned in the criteria our planning proposal does not have to be single topic. There are no databases, surveys or documentation stating the condition of the collections and or collection needs in Wyoming. I chose risk assessment and onsite training as the main topic because it could lead to documenting need. This topic may or may not be the way we want to go.
Proposal: General peer comments about proposals that were funded: The best proposals, in addition to meeting, the review criteria, shared the following characteristics; project goals tied directly to findings of the Heritage Health Index; the application engaged a broad array of partners across the state, including museums and libraries of many disciplines, archives, representatives from the philanthropic community, and state government officials with relevant collections oversight or disaster preparedness responsibility. The proposed partnership coalition included the “major players” within the state and outreach to institutions of many sizes in an inclusive planning process.
The Museum Training Network’s, MTN 501 C3 initiative, Wyoming Connecting to Collections Risk Evaluation and Planning Proposal will be to assist small, rural, tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to assess risks, compile a statewide risk database and utilize onsite planning workshops and Webinar technology to develop a statewide plan to train, reduce risks, mitigate and respond effectively to emergencies. Peers thought the MTN could be a player in the planning and implementation but questioned the bottom-up proposal. They said several times this is a top down organizational partnership. While the MTN is a service organization for the constituents they are trying to reach, it should not be the sponsoring organization.
The Heritage Health Index, the first national survey of U.S. collecting institutions, found that “80 percent of U.S. collecting institutions does not have a written emergency/disaster plan that includes collections with staff trained to carry it out.” Further analysis reveals that 78 percent of museums and 92 percent of historical societies do not have an emergency plan that includes collections with appropriately trained staff. Wyoming data was compiled as part of the Mountain Plains Region and the region as a whole indicates equally grim statistics: 83% of museums and 93% of historical societies do not have an emergency plan with staff trained to carry it out. Peers thought there must be some Wyoming collection data somewhere which would make the risk assessment approach and collecting data from the object level not necessary. Does anyone know of a WY survey or data collection tasks to prove current conditions? The use of HHI data for the mountain plains region would be appropriate if the data was used to support the proposal.
The Museum Training Network, MTN a nonprofit service organization, developed as an outgrowth of Terri Schindel, Conservator and the people in small, rural and tribal museums and cultural centers in Wyoming and Colorado working together over the past 15 years. There are no conservation laboratories or collection care services provided in the state of Wyoming. Two peer reviewers (obviously never here or did not do their homework) insisted that Wyoming conservators and larger institutions could be expected to take this on a statewide Connecting to Collections project and that they must have programs that service small, rural, and tribal museums. Working together at a grass-roots level, Ms. Schindel and the people in Wyoming have developed excellent host institution training models that have been used to increase capabilities, share training and implementation opportunities and raise awareness in the communities for collection concerns. The programs have been funded to institutions by state and federal grants and recognized at local and regional museum association meetings as well as in publications such as Before and After Disasters: Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions; a FEMA publication. One of our peers thought this statement sounded like it came from a business plan for the MTN. Another peer thought there were collection needs in the state but the grant author did not state clearly what the needs are and how that was documented.
To accomplish the goals in this initiative, the MTN will launch its Mobile Conservation Laboratory and provide direct services onsite and via Webinar technology to other participants. The consultants will utilize the Mobile Unit’s equipment, exhibits, and technology and stop at 6 host institutions who have agreed to conduct a risk assessment, planning workshop, invite 20 to 30 institutions, area 1st responders, and community leaders thus extending the reach of the planning grant funds. Peers thought the use of a Mobile Lab to provide direct services was good but wanted to see the documentation stating it was needed and how it would be used by participants. The information about the condition of collections at 6 host institutions and the surrounding smaller institutions will be converted to a statewide database and Webinar presentation. Said this was too much to do in a planning grant but liked the use of technology to reach all groups in the state. It will include visual documentation, suggested ways to reduce risks and a list of resources that can be found at a local, state and regional level. The presentation, downloadable and available to everyone can be used to garner support for collections care and conservation in Wyoming. Detailing products such as this was good but no information was provided as to how this would get done and who would pay for it. No proof larger organizations were in on the development of such products.
Two conservation professionals peers wondered why they came from out of state will visit each site to conduct a risk assessment on the first day and a planning workshop the second day. The team, (from each host institution) will include the two consultants, Director and collection liaisons, who will assess their exposure to risks, share the initial results with the planning workshop participants and area 1st responders. The following three-month planning phase will then take into account which institutions have similar challenges, threats, and are in greatest need of attention. An interactive Webinar session will present the findings, suggested implementation plan and receive comments and suggestions. The consultants will then compile a final report and present to MTN and the Wyoming participants.
The goal of the planning phase is to assess risks, increase community awareness about collections care and conservation needs, compile risk assessment data, increase readiness of the institutions to implement and write a “Next Steps” document. By strengthening the host institutions, who will act as learning centers, we can reach additional small, rural, and tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions as well as local emergency management teams resulting in a future core group who are prepared to respond in an emergency. Each one of these items is useful, but how one leads to or informs the next is not evident. The proposed organizational agenda needs to focus on developing a statewide plan to address collections preservation needs and the grant criteria listed at imls.gov. The desired outcomes are “fuzzy”.
Notes from Terri 2/29/08: We now know that this planning proposal must be a top down and include state agencies. I do hope there are representatives from larger organizations that are authorized to take the lead and make decisions about their institutional commitments. While we must all work together to plan the planning phase there must be one agency willing to take the lead for Connecting to Collections.
I will see you all in Laramie. Thanks, Terri
Narrative: The Museum Training Network, MTN, a nonprofit service organization requests $40,000 to lead Wyoming Connecting to Collections Risk Evaluation and Planning Proposal. The funds will be used to assist small, rural, tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to hire conservation consultants, conduct risk assessment of six host institutions, network planning workshops and utilize Webinar technology to develop a statewide plan to participate in the national Connecting to Collections Initiative, CCI. The single topic ‘risk assessment’ approach to planning will result in the following multi-level project design: 1) Begin a statewide database entitled, “Risks to Collections in Wyoming”, (see 8.8a), 2) Group collection needs by topic and network for each region in the state (see 8.8b maps), 3) Participate in onsite host risk assessment and network local collection data (see 8.8c), through the host 4) Participate in onsite planning workshop to document needs, share successes, list local resources and brain-storm solutions (see 8.8d), 5) Share information via two Webinar presentations that will include statewide risk assessment results, state and local resources, case histories of collection successes and facilitated Webinar discussion. Outcomes will be a Webinar presentation that can be used by all participants to raise awareness about collection needs, six risk assessment reports and a summary report of collection priorities for the next implementation grant proposal. All products will be delivered digitally (or hard copy upon request) to participants
Data used in initial grant application
Here is another section from the initial grant application.
"There are no conservation centers or services located in or near Wyoming. There are approximately 120 museums and 23 county library systems plus 25 academic libraries in Wyoming that have collections care and conservation needs. And more importantly, small museums/libraries, because they seldom can afford the travel and/or services of a conservator or regional center, their conservation needs go unmet. Issues that are relevant for Wyoming: (a) small museums lack strong mentored relationships with professionals and institutions to build administrative and management capabilities, (b) due to western geography, small museums in the Mountain Plains Region, lack access to training and/or mentored opportunities for building these capabilities, and (c) the majority of museums, libraries and cultural institutions do not have emergency plans.
The Conservation Assessment Program, CAP and Museum Assessment Program, MAP represents a substantial investment in helping museums (large and small) identify priorities for excellent collection programs, operations and visitor services. Yet, little effort is focused on helping these museums implement in a sustainable manner, an ongoing priority list. This is especially true for small museums that often lack the funding, expertise, and resources to sustain a capability building effort. One-time efforts and/or unfinished efforts lead to frustration in museum personnel and ultimately impact the value of collections for preserving and teaching history, science, art, and content of all these institutions. By utilizing the existing network begun in the 1990’s, strengthening the Wyoming host institutions through risk assessment, inviting additional small, rural, and tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to participate in the planning process we can build individual and statewide sustainable plans to implement collection care and conservation programs.
Data concerning emergency preparedness: The Heritage Health Index, HHI the first national survey of U.S. collecting institutions, found that “80 percent of US. collecting institutions do not have a written emergency/disaster plan that includes collections with staff trained to carry it out.” Further analysis reveals that 78 percent of museums and 92 percent of historical societies do not have an emergency plan that includes collections with appropriately trained staff. Data from Wyoming institutions was compiled as part of the Mountain Plains Region and the region as a whole indicates equally grim statistics: 84% of museums and 95% of historical societies do not have an emergency plans(see 8 10a) for HHI statistics on the complete range of institutions in the MPR without an emergency plan."
- Submitted by Terri Schindel, Museum Training Network
Comments, suggestions, questions? Please post, we are eager for feedback.
"There are no conservation centers or services located in or near Wyoming. There are approximately 120 museums and 23 county library systems plus 25 academic libraries in Wyoming that have collections care and conservation needs. And more importantly, small museums/libraries, because they seldom can afford the travel and/or services of a conservator or regional center, their conservation needs go unmet. Issues that are relevant for Wyoming: (a) small museums lack strong mentored relationships with professionals and institutions to build administrative and management capabilities, (b) due to western geography, small museums in the Mountain Plains Region, lack access to training and/or mentored opportunities for building these capabilities, and (c) the majority of museums, libraries and cultural institutions do not have emergency plans.
The Conservation Assessment Program, CAP and Museum Assessment Program, MAP represents a substantial investment in helping museums (large and small) identify priorities for excellent collection programs, operations and visitor services. Yet, little effort is focused on helping these museums implement in a sustainable manner, an ongoing priority list. This is especially true for small museums that often lack the funding, expertise, and resources to sustain a capability building effort. One-time efforts and/or unfinished efforts lead to frustration in museum personnel and ultimately impact the value of collections for preserving and teaching history, science, art, and content of all these institutions. By utilizing the existing network begun in the 1990’s, strengthening the Wyoming host institutions through risk assessment, inviting additional small, rural, and tribal museums, libraries, and cultural institutions to participate in the planning process we can build individual and statewide sustainable plans to implement collection care and conservation programs.
Data concerning emergency preparedness: The Heritage Health Index, HHI the first national survey of U.S. collecting institutions, found that “80 percent of US. collecting institutions do not have a written emergency/disaster plan that includes collections with staff trained to carry it out.” Further analysis reveals that 78 percent of museums and 92 percent of historical societies do not have an emergency plan that includes collections with appropriately trained staff. Data from Wyoming institutions was compiled as part of the Mountain Plains Region and the region as a whole indicates equally grim statistics: 84% of museums and 95% of historical societies do not have an emergency plans(see 8 10a) for HHI statistics on the complete range of institutions in the MPR without an emergency plan."
- Submitted by Terri Schindel, Museum Training Network
Comments, suggestions, questions? Please post, we are eager for feedback.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Planning Meeting: March 20th
Hello All!
Thought this would be an easier way to communicate as a group. One of the key goals of this project is to be inclusive. Everyone can blog!
For the meeting March 20th:
Due to the overwhelming level of support and interested parties, the location has been changed to the Albany County Public Library: 310 S. 8th St.
We will start at 11 with a lunch break at 12 and finish by 2.
Lunch will be delivered by Turtle Rock Cafe. Please follow the link to their "To-Go Order form", print a copy and indicate what you would like to eat. Then fax your order to : 307-745-8620, attn. Teresa. I need to have all the orders into Turtle Rock by MARCH 18th. Bring cash to the meeting to pay for your meal. http://www.turtlerockcoffee.com/to%20go%20order%20form.pdf
I'll be sending/posting an agenda tomorrow, but in the mean time, please review the following from IMLS:
The best proposals, in addition to meeting the review criteria, shared the following characteristics:
· Project goals were tied directly to the findings of the Heritage Health Index. (We will review the HHI at the meeting).
· The application engaged a broad array of partners across the state, including museums and libraries of many disciplines, archives, representatives from the philanthropic community, and state government officials with relevant collections oversight or disaster preparedness responsibility.
· The proposed partnership coalition included the “major players” within the state and will reach out to institutions of many sizes in an inclusive planning process. http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/012308.shtm
Summary of Successful Applications can be found at: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/012308_list.shtm
Goals of the Grant:
"IMLS invites proposals for statewide, collaborative planning grants to address the recommendations of the Heritage Health Index (HHI) which found the collections held in the public trust to be at great risk. The report offered four recommendations for collecting institutions:
-To provide safe conditions for their collections;
-To develop emergency plans;
-To assign responsibility for collections care;
and
-To marshal public and private support for, and raise public awareness about, collections care.
These grants will engage institutions in collaborative planning partnerships to address one or more of the HHI recommendations. Projects should demonstrate how the participating organizations (libraries, museums, archives, and relevant statewide organizations) will work together in a planning process that moves the state closer to achieving shared collections stewardship goals and an appropriate and achievable plan for action."
General Findings of the Heritage Health Index:
The initiative is grounded in the results of A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections, which reports that:
• 190 million objects need conservation treatment,• 65 percent of collecting institutions have damaged collections due to improper storage,• 80 percent of collecting institutions lack an emergency plan for their collections and trained staff to carry it out, and • 40 percent of institutions have no funds allocated in their annual budget for preservation and conservation. http://www.imls.gov/collections/index.htm
Questions? Feel free to comment below.
-Teresa
Thought this would be an easier way to communicate as a group. One of the key goals of this project is to be inclusive. Everyone can blog!
For the meeting March 20th:
Due to the overwhelming level of support and interested parties, the location has been changed to the Albany County Public Library: 310 S. 8th St.
We will start at 11 with a lunch break at 12 and finish by 2.
Lunch will be delivered by Turtle Rock Cafe. Please follow the link to their "To-Go Order form", print a copy and indicate what you would like to eat. Then fax your order to : 307-745-8620, attn. Teresa. I need to have all the orders into Turtle Rock by MARCH 18th. Bring cash to the meeting to pay for your meal. http://www.turtlerockcoffee.com/to%20go%20order%20form.pdf
I'll be sending/posting an agenda tomorrow, but in the mean time, please review the following from IMLS:
The best proposals, in addition to meeting the review criteria, shared the following characteristics:
· Project goals were tied directly to the findings of the Heritage Health Index. (We will review the HHI at the meeting).
· The application engaged a broad array of partners across the state, including museums and libraries of many disciplines, archives, representatives from the philanthropic community, and state government officials with relevant collections oversight or disaster preparedness responsibility.
· The proposed partnership coalition included the “major players” within the state and will reach out to institutions of many sizes in an inclusive planning process. http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/012308.shtm
Summary of Successful Applications can be found at: http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/012308_list.shtm
Goals of the Grant:
"IMLS invites proposals for statewide, collaborative planning grants to address the recommendations of the Heritage Health Index (HHI) which found the collections held in the public trust to be at great risk. The report offered four recommendations for collecting institutions:
-To provide safe conditions for their collections;
-To develop emergency plans;
-To assign responsibility for collections care;
and
-To marshal public and private support for, and raise public awareness about, collections care.
These grants will engage institutions in collaborative planning partnerships to address one or more of the HHI recommendations. Projects should demonstrate how the participating organizations (libraries, museums, archives, and relevant statewide organizations) will work together in a planning process that moves the state closer to achieving shared collections stewardship goals and an appropriate and achievable plan for action."
General Findings of the Heritage Health Index:
The initiative is grounded in the results of A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections, which reports that:
• 190 million objects need conservation treatment,• 65 percent of collecting institutions have damaged collections due to improper storage,• 80 percent of collecting institutions lack an emergency plan for their collections and trained staff to carry it out, and • 40 percent of institutions have no funds allocated in their annual budget for preservation and conservation. http://www.imls.gov/collections/index.htm
Questions? Feel free to comment below.
-Teresa
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