The Computer History Museum (CHM) announced today that it is a recipient of Connecting to Collections Bookshelf award from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This program extends the Museum's ability to perform its mission of preserving and presenting the artifacts of the information age.
Several museums, libraries, and archives were selected to receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf award. The Bookshelf comprises resources for collections typically found in history museums and in libraries' special 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. 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.
"We're honored to have received such important recognition and resources from IMLS," said John Hollar, CHM's President and CEO. "The Computer History Museum continues to strengthen our stature within the Museum industry — and, as one of the most rapidly growing museums in the world, this program helps us achieve our mission more effectively."
A key goal for the Museum this year is to revise the Museum's collections management policies, to strengthen acquisitions and preservation strategies, and to increase overall professional knowledge. The Bookshelf program delivers best practices widely accepted by the American Association of Museums and the American Association for State and Local History, and are being utilized by the Collections and Exhibitions Department staff toward addressing this goal.
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: http://www.imls.gov.
To browse CHM's collection, please visit: http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/search/.
The Computer History Museum (CHM), in Mountain View, Calif. is a nonprofit organization with a four-decade history. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of computer history, and is home to the largest international collection of computing artifacts in the world, encompassing computer hardware, software, documentation, ephemera, photographs and moving images.
CHM brings computer history to life through an acclaimed speaker series, dynamic website, onsite tours, as well as physical and online exhibits. Current exhibits include "The Silicon Engine," "Charles Babbage's Difference Engine No. 2," "Mastering the Game: A History of Computer Chess," "Innovation in the Valley" -- a look at Silicon Valley startups -- and the unique "Visible Storage Gallery," featuring over 600 key objects from the collection.
The signature "Computer History: The First 2,000 Years" exhibition will open in late 2010.
For more information, visit www.computerhistory.org or call (650) 810-1010.
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