Fogler Library Friends - The OliveTree

VOLUME 18 NUMBER 2, FALL 2010

The University of Maine in Partnership with Academic and Public Libraries Statewide Awarded Prestigious Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the University of Maine, in collaboration with eight partner institutions, will develop a strategy for a statewide, multi-type library program for managing, storing and preserving print collections, while expanding access to existing digital book collections through print-on-demand (POD) and other services. The “Maine Shared Collections Strategy” will also develop policies essential for the management of shared print and digital collections. Grant partners are Colby College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Bangor Public Library, Portland Public Library, Maine State Library, the University of Southern Maine, and Maine InfoNet.

“The IMLS funding will enable the partner libraries to work on a project that will create a model of collection management and new ways of delivering resources to our users,” said Joyce Rumery, Dean of Libraries at the University of Maine. “We are very pleased with this opportunity.”
“National Leadership grantees help us better understand and advance best practice in museums, libraries, and archives,” said IMLS Acting Director Marsha L. Semmel. “We look forward to much exciting work, including projects that will study the effects of climate change on plants; bring new health information to visitors through partnerships with the local research community; and develop new models for serving the Baby Boom generation.”

The largest museum and library joint grant program administered by IMLS, National Leadership Grants support projects that will advance the ability of museums and libraries to preserve culture, heritage, and knowledge while enhancing learning. This year’s National Leadership Grant recipients will generate new tools, research, models, services, practices, and alliances that will positively impact both the awarded institution and the nation.
National Leadership Project Grants Vital Statistics:
Number of applications: 211
Total amount requested: $80,723,475
Number of awards: 34
Total amount awarded: $17,311,078
Total recipient match: $14,924,811

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.

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