Landis Arboretum Among State Museums Selected to Receive IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf

WASHINGTON, DC (06/23/2009)(readMedia)-- Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), announced today that 907 museums, libraries, and archives have been selected to receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. She made the announcement during her opening remarks at the fourth and concluding Connecting to Collections forum, Stewardship of America's Legacy: Answering the Call to Action in Buffalo, NY. This is the third and final installment of the Bookshelf program, which has distributed 2,751 sets of books, online resources, and a user's guide to institutions in every part of the country. To see the list of recipients, click here.

Speaking on behalf of Landis, New York State's Capital Region Arboretum, Landis Board President Anne Donnelly welcomed the news. "We already know that the richness of experience and insight represented by the Bookshelf will be especially helpful in ensuring the sustainability of our noteworthy Collections. We are as honored to have been selected to receive this invaluable resource as we are with our association with the IMLS."

"When IMLS and our partners began the journey to help save America's collections three years ago, we knew that money and appropriate resources would prove major barriers between many of our nation's collecting institutions and proper collections care," said Dr. Radice. "With the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf initiative, we were able to offer these institutions tools to help them preserve and conserve their treasures for future generations. We commend them for answering this call to action."

The Bookshelf comprises resources for collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for living collections. It is a component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a strategic initiative by IMLS to address the challenges described in A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America's Collections, an IMLS-funded study conducted by Heritage Preservation.

Most recipients have small budgets and staff, and have demonstrated an urgent need for this permanent resource. History museums, historic houses, and academic libraries with special collections are especially well represented among the recipients, as are zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens, and nature centers.

The IMLS Bookshelf was made possible by a cooperative agreement with the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) with support from the Getty Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

"Given the Getty's longstanding commitment to the care of museum and archival collections, we are pleased to partner with IMLS and other foundations to provide key conservation resources to the institutions that most need them," said Getty Foundation Director Deborah Marrow.

"We are delighted to help make this important material reach so many institutions around the country," said Ellen Holtzman, Program Director for American Art at the Henry Luce Foundation.

"The Kress Foundation is delighted to be working with IMLS to ensure the broadest possible access to this important reference resource," said Max Marmor, President of the Kress Foundation.

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.

About the American Association for State and Local HistoryThe American Association for State and Local History is a non-profit membership organization comprising individuals, agencies, and organizations acting in the public trust, engaged in the practice of history, and representing a variety of disciplines and professions. It provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans. To learn more, visit www.aaslh.org.

About the Getty FoundationThe Getty Foundation provides support to institutions and individuals throughout the world, funding a diverse range of projects that promote the understanding and conservation of the visual arts. The Foundation is part of the J. Paul Getty Trust which also includes the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, and the Getty Conservation Institute. To learn more, visit www.getty.edu/foundation.

About the Henry Luce Foundation The Henry Luce Foundation was established in 1936 by the late Henry R. Luce, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc. With assets of approximately $750 million, the Luce Foundation supports American art, higher education, Asian affairs, theology, and women in science and engineering. To learn more, visit www.hluce.org.

About the Samuel H. Kress FoundationThe Samuel H. Kress Foundation was created in 1929 and devotes its resources to advancing the scholarship, conservation and enjoyment of works of European art. The Kress Foundation's programs focus on the preservation of significant monuments of European art and architecture, as well as the nurturing of professional expertise in art history and art conservation. To learn more, visit www.kressfoundation.org.

About the Landis Arboretum

The Landis Arboretum is a multifaceted natural jewel. Long a destination of choice among Capital District gardeners, environmentalists, nature lovers, hikers, perambulists, and birders, the Landis Arboretum may be one of the best-kept secrets among Capital Region residents.

The Landis Arboretum includes a nationally recognized collection of oaks and is registered with the North American Plant Collections Consortium (NAPCC). The Arboretum also is included in the New York State Route 20 Bluebird Trail, bringing even more birdwatchers to the site. The Arboretum's vast dark sky and wide horizons attract area astronomers to its meetinghouse and parking field for sky-watching events

The Arboretum is central to the New York State Wine and Spa Trails and in close proximity to historic Sharon Springs. And, it is a natural stop for those traveling to the high-volume tourist attractions between the Albany, Cooperstown, and Finger Lakes Regions.

For more information about the Landis Arboretum:

http://www.catskillmtn.org/publications/articles/2008-05-spectacular-beauty-sustainable-fun.html

The Landis Arboretum is located 1.5 miles off Scenic designated Route 20 in Esperance, NY, a beautiful and easy drive from within the Capital Region. For more information, call 518-875-6935; www.LandisArboretum.org.

Press Contacts

202-653-4632: Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov; Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

518-875-6935: Thom O'Connor, director@landisarboretum.org