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Public Information and Communication

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 21, 2009

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Beth Goble
402-471-4015
800-307-2665

Nebraska Library Commission Offers Conservation Resources

Treasured objects and artifacts held by Nebraska libraries and museums will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS has now awarded nearly 3,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf, in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).



"When IMLS launched this initiative to improve the dire state of our nation's collections, we understood that the materials gathered for the Bookshelf would serve as important tools for museums, libraries, and archives nationwide," said Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of IMLS. "We were both pleased and encouraged by the overwhelming interest of institutions prepared to answer the call to action, and we know that with their dedication, artifacts from our shared history will be preserved for future generations."



The Nebraska Library Commission received this essential set of resources based on an application describing the needs for the care of its collections and plans to share these resources with museums and libraries across Nebraska. The IMLS Bookshelf 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. It addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collection management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally-specific conservation issues.



Libraries and museums are encouraged to contact Nebraska Library Commission Information and Reference Services to borrow these resources. Call: 800-307-2665 (Nebraska only) or 402-471-4016 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST; fax: 402-471-6244; or e-mail. A list of the materials in the collection is available on the Nebraska Library Commission blog at nlc.nebraska.gov/blogs/nlc/2009/08/connecting_to_collections_book_1.html.



The IMLS Bookshelf is a crucial component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a conservation initiative that the Institute launched in 2006. IMLS began the initiative in response to a 2005 study released in partnership with Heritage Preservation, A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America's Collections. The multi-faceted, multi-year initiative shines a nationwide spotlight on the needs of America's collections, especially those held by smaller institutions, which often lack the human and financial resources necessary to adequately care for their collections. For more information on the Connecting to Collections initiative, see www.imls.gov/collections.



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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission home page, nlc.nebraska.gov, search on News Releases. As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, "bringing together people and information."



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 .


For more information, contact Tessa Terry.