FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4630
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Washington, DC—From October 28 through December 9, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in partnership with Heritage Preservation and the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), will be sponsoring a series of six webinars based on the national initiative Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action. The series has a dual focus: four of the webinars will help participants learn how to conduct outreach to the media, the public, and funders on behalf of collections; and two webinars will help participants derive maximum benefit from the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf.

Using the content of the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, forums, and workshops, these highly interactive webinars will connect participants with experts and colleagues to discuss issues of common concern. These free webinars are designed for staff of museums, libraries, and archives who have been part of this network and want to reconnect, and for those who have not previously been involved but are eager to participate.

Participants may sign up for the entire series or select only the sessions of most interest, and are encouraged to organize groups in their institutions or communities to participate in the webinar, then work together to put what they have learned in action. The series is being offered in association with Learning Times, and will be archived and available online for those who cannot participate at the scheduled time.

The schedule for the webinars is as follows (you must register in advance at http://learningtimesevents.org/c2c):

Thursday, October 28, 2010
The series is launched with a Double Feature!

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST
Telling the Story of Your Collections to the Press
 

• Presenter: Anne Edgar, Founder and Principal, Anne Edgar Associates, New York
• Commentator: Judith H. Dobrzynski, Freelance Arts Writer, New York

Do you feel that your collection is rich in stories, but no one is interestedω Publicist Anne Edgar, who has generated media coverage for museums large and small, will discuss how to attract the attention of journalists, especially for stories that don’t appear compelling at first glance. She will be joined by Judith H. Dobrzynski, freelance arts contributor to the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and other publications. Even if you are not responsible for public relations at your institution, their advice will help you present your collections’ stories in a way that will draw attention.

1:00 – 2:00 BREAK

2:00 – 3:30 PM
Using Social Media to tell Your Collections’ Stories

• Presenter: Nancie Ravenel, Objects Conservator, Shelburne Museum, Vermont
• Commentator: Colleen Dilenschneider, Museum and Non-Profit Blogger, California

While the morning session will focus on attracting the attention of journalists who will tell your story, this afternoon’s session on social media will help you tell the story yourself, directly to readers, through the ever-expanding worlds of Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Foursquare, and beyond. Nancie Ravenel, a conservator with an interest in social media, has taken the lead in using social media to share information about the Shelburne Museum. Colleen Dilenschneider writes the popular blog Know Your Own Bone, and helps museums and non-profits evolve through community engagement using social media.

Thursday, November 4, 2010
2:00 – 3:30 p.m., EST
Getting the Most from your Bookshelf: Care of Art and Objects

• Presenter: Kristen Laise, Vice President for Collections Care Programs, Heritage Preservation
• Commentators: Catharine Hawks, Objects Conservator, Virginia
• Deborah Long, Objects Conservator, Gerald Ford Conservation Center, Nebraska
• Margaret Holben Ellis, Eugene Thaw Professor of Paper Conservation, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University and Director, Thaw Conservation Center, Morgan Library & Museum, New York

More than 3,000 libraries, museums, and archives now have the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a set of collections care resources designed to assist small institutions in caring for their collections. While rich with information, the Bookshelf can be challenging to navigate. Kristen Laise, who organized selection of Bookshelf texts and prepared the User’s Guide, will lead participants through means to find the information they need in the Bookshelf and in its companion Guide to Online Resources. Catharine Hawks, a conservator of natural science collections who consults regularly with small museums, Margaret Ellis, author of The Care of Prints and Drawings, and Deborah Long of the Gerald Ford Conservation Center at the Nebraska Historical Society will answer questions about steps you can take at your own institution.
NOTE: While this session will be of primary interest to institutions that have the Bookshelf, others may well find it of interest. The Bookshelf Users Guide, available as a PDF, is a useful guide to resources for collections care for all, as is the Guide to Online Resources. It is recommended that all participants have both resources handy during the webinar.

Monday, November 22, 2010
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., EST
Funding for Collections Care

• Presenters: Debra Hess Norris, Chairperson, Art Conservation Department, University of Delaware
• Lee Price, Director of Development, Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia

One of the biggest challenges in moving ahead with collections care projects can be finding adequate funding. Donors, board members, and even your own development staff often see collections care as less than compelling. The speakers in this webinar have achieved success in raising funds for collections care, both on behalf of their own organizations and for others. Debbie Hess Norris will demonstrate how enthusiasm in making the case, coupled with a rich understanding of the stories behind your collections, can yield success in fund-raising. Lee Price will discuss strategies for successful grant applications.

Thursday, December 2, 2010
2:00 – 3:30 p.m., EST
Public Outreach and Collections Care

• Presenters: Susan Blakney, Chief Conservator, West Lake Conservation, Skaneatles, New York
• Beth Tice, Associate Director, Central Libraries, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
• Amber Kerr-Allison, Paintings Conservator and Limited-Term Researcher, University of Delaware, Art Conservation Department

Public awareness is the key starting point for building support --from individuals, from local government, from the private sector. When people have first-hand experience with the issues facing your collections, they can become effective advocates in the community. Susan Blakney has helped many small museums with which she has consulted involve their communities in their collections. Beth Tice has reached beyond the university community to show the residents of Waco ways in which the library’s collections and resources can help them preserve their own treasures. Amber Kerr-Allison has conducted public outreach activities at the Smithsonian’s Lunder Conservation Center.

Thursday, December 9, 2010
2:00 – 3:30 p.m., EST
Getting the Most from Your Bookshelf: Care of Paper, Photographs, and Audiovisual Collections

• Presenter: Kristen Laise, Vice President for Collections Care Programs, Heritage Preservation
• Commentators: Julie Page, Co-Coordinator, California Preservation Program
• MJ Davis, Conservator in Private Practice, Vermont
• Jean-Louis Bigourdan, Image Permanence Institute, Rochester, New York

More than 3,000 libraries, museums, and archives now have the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a set of collections care resources designed to assist small institutions in caring for their collections. While rich with information, the Bookshelf can be challenging to navigate. Kristen Laise, who organized selection of the Bookshelf texts and prepared the User’s Guide, will lead participants through means to find the information they need in the Bookshelf and its companion Guide to Online Resources. Julie Page, a librarian, consultant, and expert on emergency preparedness, Jean-Louis Bigourdan, a contributor to the IPI Media Storage Quick Reference, and MJ Davis, a paper conservator who consults regularly with small museums, libraries, and archives, will answer questions about steps you can take at your own institutions.

NOTE: While this session will be of primary interest to institutions that have the Bookshelf, others may well find it of interest. The Bookshelf Users Guide, available as a PDF, is a useful guide to resources for collections care for all, as is the Guide to Online Resources. It is recommended that all participants in this webinar have both resources handy during the webinar.
 

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute 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 the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.