For press information, contact Dr. Robert Connolly, 901/785-3160

Valued objects and artifacts of the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).   IMLS has awarded almost 3,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf in cooperation with the American Association for State and Local History.

“We often think only in terms of the prehistoric artifacts excavated at Chucalissa,” said Dr. Robert Connolly, museum director. “However, we also have field notes and photographs documenting those excavations from as far back as the 1950s that are also critical to telling the story of the Chucalissa site. The Bookshelf Award will provide state-of-the-art standards for upgrading the curation of not just the artifacts, but also these associated material records housed at the C.H. Nash Museum.”

The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries’ special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. It covers such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues. 

The IMLS Bookshelf is a crucial component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a conservation initiative that the IMLS launched in 2006. IMLS began the initiative in response to a 2005 study it released in partnership with Heritage Preservation. The multi-faceted, multi-year initiative shines a nationwide spotlight on the needs of America’s collections, especially those held by smaller institutions, which often lack the resources necessary to adequately care for their collections.

The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its 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.