Museum Assessment Program

 

To help museums assess their strengths and weaknesses, and to plan for the future. The Museum Assessment Program is supported through a cooperative agreement between the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the American Association of Museums.

Deleted 03/03/2014 (Archived.) 45.302 Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services Direct Payments for Specified Use
(Cooperative Agreements). In FY 07, 111 museums participated in the program. Museum and Library Services Act, codified at 20 U.S.C. Section 9101 et seq. A museum located in the 50 states of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, or the District of Columbia may apply for a grant under this Act. A public or private nonprofit organization, such as a municipality, college, or university which is responsible for the operation of a museum, if necessary, may apply on behalf of the museum. A museum operated by a department or agency of the Federal government is not eligible to apply. Under the IMLS definition, a museum is a public or private nonprofit institution which is organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational or aesthetic purposes and which, using a professional staff: (1) Owns or uses tangible objects, whether animate or inanimate; (2) cares for these objects; and (3) exhibits them to the general public on a regular basis. A museum must have at least one staff member, paid or unpaid, who devotes his or her time primarily to the acquisition, care or exhibition of objects. The definition makes clear that the term "museum" includes aquariums and zoological parks; botanical gardens and arboretums; nature centers; art, history, (including historic buildings and sites), natural history, children's, general and specialized museums, science and technology centers and planetariums. Public and private nonprofit museums benefit. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations also applies. The standard application forms as furnished by the American Association of Museums must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. To participate in the Museum Assessment Program, a museum must contact the American Association of Museums (AAM), 1575 Eye Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: (202) 289-9118. E-mail: map@aam-us.org. Proposals for participation are reviewed by the American Association of Museums. February 15. Five months. Appeals may be made in writing to the director of the American Association of Museums. Not applicable. To participate in MAP, a museum must contact the American Association of Museums, 1575 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: (202) 289-9118. E-mail: map@aam-us.org. The program provides technical assistance for four kinds of assessments: (1) collections management, (2) governance, (3) institutional, and (4) public dimension. Collections management assessment supports a review of collections use, planning, and policies and procedures in the context of overall museum operations. Governance assessment supports an examination of the roles, responsibilities, and performance of governing authorities and advisory boards. The assessment improves the ability of the museum's governing authority to fulfill its stewardship responsibilities and contribute to the success of the organization. Institutional assessment supports an overview of the management and operations of the entire museum and helps the museum set priorities, prepare for strategic planning, and operate more efficiently, thereby improving its services to the community and increasing its base of support. Public dimension assessment supports an evaluation of the way in which the museum serves its community and audiences through exhibits, programs, and other services, and communicates with its audience through public relations, planning, and evaluation. Participants submit a final report to the American Association of Museums. Audits not required for application. Grant and contract recipients will be required to maintain standard financial statements. MAP is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. MAP museums share a percentage of the cost of the assessment. Not applicable. None. Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M Street, N.W., Ninth Floor, Washington, DC 20036-5802. Contact: Christopher J. Reich, Senior Program Officer; Telephone: (202) 653-4685; E-mail: creich@imls.gov. www.imls.gov; www.aam-us.org. 59-0300-0-1-503. (Grants) FY 07 $442,000; FY 08 $434,278; FY 09 est $471,000. In FY 07, 111 museums participated in MAP. Grants were awarded in the following areas: collections management (26), governance (11), public dimension (27), and institutional assessment (47). See the IMLS Web site at www.imls.gov for the latest program data. The Museum Assessment Program funds all types of museums, including historic house museums, science and technology centers, botanical gardens, and art museums.