IMLS Connecting to Collections

Thanks to a recent planning grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, VAM is partnering with the Library of Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Archives Conference, the Virginia Conservation Association, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources on several projects designed to address the needs in conservation and collections care identified by the Heritage Health Index study in 2005. Curators from the Virginia Historical Society, the Richmond History Center, the Manassas Museum System, and Morven Park are also involved in this effort.

Our planning grant runs through July of 2010. Check back often for updates and information on our progress.

What are we working on?

Circuit Rider Pilot Program

The idea for a Circuit Rider program arose from one of the stated needs of the Heritage Health Index: to provide for the safety of collections in museums. Our partnership designed the Circuit Rider program as a way to provide hands-on, personalized assistance to small museums across the state. A collections manager and a professional archivist serve as our “circuit riders”, and during the pilot project they will visit 10 small museums, archives and libraries throughout Virginia. Their goal is to tour the collections and exhibit areas, and speak with the staff or volunteers. Following this visit, the circuit riders issue a mini-assessment of the collection, and provide up to 10 priorities for conservation or collections care that stood out to them. They also provide a personalized set of resources to help the staff follow up on the determined needs. The hope is that this mini-assessment can help sites prepare for a MAP or CAP assessment.

How are the assessments going so far?

“I've just finished my initial reading [of our assessment] and must say this is absolutely fantastic! Exactly what we need to guide our actions going forward. I'm amazed at how you were able to distill so much information into concise recommendations, and in a format that I'm certain everyone can understand. I'll be forwarding this on to our Board and I'm certain it will generate needed discussion and action. I'm going to enjoy checking off the action-items for the next year or so.”

--Emma Young, Weems-Botts Museum

--photo of assessment at Lonesome Pine Regional Library

CONSERVATION³

COLLECTIONS | CONSERVATION | COMMUNICATION

October & November 2009

PROGRAM MISSION:
To provide marketing and public relations education and tools that help our member museums educate donors and the public regarding the importance of conservation and collections care, with the ultimate goal of increasing funding for this cause to individual museums across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Online Toolkit

Marketing Tools:
Marketing Collections Conservation Presentation
Developing Your Marketing Plan Presentation
“Homework” Assignment for November Seminar
Sample Marketing Plan

Media Relations Tools:
Communicating Your Story to the Media
Writing a Strong Press Release

Press Release Template

Sample Press Release

Sample Boilerplate

Sample Good Pitch to Reporters

Sample Flawed Pitch to Reporters

How to Annoy Reporters

2009 Media Guide