Midwest museums receive emergency assistance from IMLS and partners

Midwest Museums Receive Emergency Assistance from IMLS and Partners
<URL:http://www.imls.gov/news/2008/070208.shtm>

On June 28, the first of four teams of conservators was deployed to
the Midwest to provide immediate aid to museums in Iowa and other
states that have suffered significant flood damage to collections
and facilities, announced the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS) and project partner, the Foundation of the American
Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (FAIC).

   "Our hearts go out to Midwest museums and historical houses that
    have been affected by these floods," said Anne-Imelda M. Radice,
    IMLS Director. "Fast and effective response teams will provide
    museums with expertise, an emergency response, and the supplies
    to start salvaging collections and restoring operations."

IMLS approved reallocation of almost $16,000 to purchase supplies
for direct assistance and to stock depots established by the Iowa
Association of Museums in Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. IMLS
is contributing an additional $35,000 to support deployment of
AIC-CERT (Collections Emergency Response Team) members to Midwest
collecting institutions affected by the recent flooding.

In 2006, FAIC used a 21st Century Museum Professionals grant from
IMLS to create a team of "rapid responders" that can be mobilized to
provide emergency assistance to museums in the wake of hurricanes,
earthquakes and other natural and man-made disasters. FAIC conducted
high level training on emergency response procedures, damage
assessment methods, salvage techniques, and the organization and
management of a recovery operation.

A total of four teams will each spend five days each providing
emergency assistance to museums and testing the training they
received in the AIC-CERT project. Post-deployment evaluations from
AIC-CERT members will help to identify successes and gaps in the
training provided. These results will be used to plan and design
future refresher courses for AIC-CERT members as well as any future
training for new team members. Midwest museums that need assistance
from AIC-CERT members should call 202-661-8068 (24-hour monitoring).

In related news, Heritage Preservation is posting online information
on coping with water-damaged collections from the Field Guide to
Emergency Response DVD with financial support from IMLS and the
National Endowment for the Humanities. To view the chapter, see:

 <URL:http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/WaterSegmentFG.HTM>

The 10-minute segment combines hands-on demonstrations with concise
advice from preservation experts. Practical tips on safety,
equipment, and salvage priorities also make the video a useful guide
for rescuing family treasures. The Field Guide was published in 2006
with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:5
                  Distributed: Thursday, July 17, 2008
                        Message Id: cdl-22-5-003
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