100 Museums Showcase Their Commitment to Improvement
Washington, DC, 7/23/2008 -

Illustrative of a field-wide commitment to excellence and improvement, 100 museums across America have been selected to participate in the 2008 Museum Assessment Program (MAP).  A process of extensive self-study, peer review and implementation, MAP empowers museums of all types and sizes to improve operations in a range of areas, thereby enabling the institutions to better meet their commitment to serve the public.

 

MAP is administrated by the American Association of Museums (AAM) through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

 

The MAP “class” of 2008 includes museums from 37 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, encompassing large institutions such as the Detroit Science Center in Michigan, as well as smaller museums such as the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History in Bakersfield, Calif. The participants include all types of museums ─ art, history, science, historic sites, children’s, zoos, aquariums and public gardens. For a complete list of the 2008 MAP participants, visit www.aam-us/map.

 

 

“Recent surveys have shown museums to be among the most trusted public institutions,” said Ford W. Bell, president of AAM. “MAP facilitates museums earning that trust. The museums that apply for and are accepted into MAP each year demonstrate a commitment to excellence and the highest standards.”

 

Since 1981, MAP has provided more than 5,000 assessments to some 3,500 institutions across America.

 

MAP participants have found the program invaluable. “The Museum Assessment Program showed a remarkably accurate picture of the state of our museum,” wrote the New Smyrna Museum of History in Florida. “The report was helpful in suggesting strategies for growth and improvement . . . [and] provided a structure for evaluation of our operation. It was a very necessary exercise that otherwise would not have been done.”

 

MAP participants apply in one of four assessment categories: collections management, governance, institutional and public dimension. Over the years,

MAP participants have reported a range of results: a refining of institutional priorities; improved communication with the public and stakeholders; energized staff and governing authorities; and improved clarity concerning the museum’s mission.

 

“The MAP program has proven to be an extremely effective and efficient initiative,” said Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, director of IMLS. “Our agency is dedicated to enhancing the public service provided by museums and libraries. MAP is a direct, tangible vehicle for making that possible.”

 

MAP is administered through a cooperative agreement between AAM and IMLS.  For more information, visit www.aam-us.org/map, call 202/289-9118 or email map@aam-us.org.

 

About AAM

The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

 

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 122,000 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.

 

Press Contact:
Dewey Blanton
202-218-7704
dblanton@aam-us.org

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