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

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