Athens, Ga. – Lynn Boland, Pierre Daura Curator of European Art at the Georgia Museum of Art has been selected by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to attend a national forum, entitled “Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action,” in Buffalo, June 16-17. He is one of more than 70 representatives of small and medium-sized museums and libraries nationwide invited to participate based on their leadership in the profession and in their communities.
“Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action” will explore how committed individuals, ranging from small-town librarians to directors of national conservation training programs, can work together to improve collections care and to inspire and inform others, be it nationally or within their own communities. Speakers will address ways to make the case for funding, address cutting-edge collections care topics, and describe how to use networks to tap into expertise and to engage the public in sustaining our nation’s collections.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to take part in a focused, national dialogue concerning these issues, which comes at an ideal moment for GMOA as we reevaluate our needs for the collection and thecommunities it serves in preparation for the museum’s expansion,” said Boland.
IMLS’s “Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action” is a multi-year, multi-faceted national program. The Buffalo event is the final in a series of four national forums held in 2008 and 2009. The meetings have been designed to raise awareness among leaders of small and mid-sized museums, libraries and archives about the importance of collections care and to give them practical information, tools and resources to inspire action nationwide.
IMLS is hosting this forum in cooperation with Heritage Preservation, the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and the Art Conservation Department of Buffalo State College, State University of New York.
The forum has received support from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Carol A. Fatta/The Fatta Foundation, the Baird Foundation, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. For a complete schedule, see http://www.imls.gov/collections/tour/buf_program.htm.
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 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute of Museum and Library Services’ 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, see www.imls.gov.
About Heritage Preservation
Heritage Preservation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States. By identifying risks, developing innovative programs and providing broad public access to expert advice, Heritage Preservation assists museums, libraries, archives, historic preservation and other organizations, as well as individuals, in caring for our endangered heritage. For more information, see www.heritagepreservation.org.
