Media contact: Kate Fitzwilliams, Marketing/PR Specialist, (608) 356-9462 ext. 147
The International Crane Foundation (ICF) was recently awarded a $71,410 Museums for America Program Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). With the new funding, ICF will design and implement a management system for its collection of more than 35,000 digital assets to make them available online to the scientific community, teachers, students, media, and the general public. Using an open-source web-publishing platform called Omeka – the new digital collection and online galleries will offer users an expanded selection of images, video, and sound files, as well as a more robust and interactive interface for searching and viewing. From the researcher in Zambia working with limited resources on a dissertation – to the fourth grade student in Alaska interested in the Sandhill Cranes migrating overhead – all will benefit from enhanced accessibility to ICF’s unique offerings.
“I’m thrilled and honored to receive IMLS funding,” said Project Manager, Betsy Didrickson. “ICF’s strength and uniqueness arise from its identity as a small organization located in a rural landscape, yet with global reach. Because only a small fraction of our global community can visit Baraboo – using technology to manage our exceptional and sought-after resources helps us leverage this global reach.”
Including ICF’s award for $71,410, IMLS announced 152 Museums for America Program Grants totaling $18,113,376 – chosen from 470 applications requesting $52,296,907.
“Congratulations to the Museums for America grantees,” said IMLS Director Susan Hildreth. “This year’s funded projects reflect the wide array of museum types in the country. In every case IMLS funds are supporting initiatives that advance an institution’s strategic plan for the benefit of the community it serves.”
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. Through grant making, policy development, and research, IMLS helps communities and individuals thrive through broad public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning.
Founded in 1973, ICF is a non-profit conservation organization committed to a future where all crane species are secured in the wild – a future where people cooperate to protect and restore wild populations and their ecosystems.