FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2005

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Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
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The American Association of Museums Honors Institute of Museum and Library Services Director Robert S. Martin, PhD for Distinguished Service

IMLS’s largest grant program for museums will award over $16 million to museums nationwide in FY2006

Washington, DC—The Board of Directors of the American Association of Museums presented a resolution honoring Dr. Robert S. Martin, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services at its annual meeting in Indianapolis yesterday. Appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the US Senate as director of the Institute in 2001, Dr. Martin’s term ends in July.“

On behalf of the entire museum community, the AAM Board of Directors wanted to recognize the extraordinary contribution made by a man who has proven himself to be a forceful and effective advocate of museums, said Edward H. Able, Jr., president & CEO of AAM. “Bob is a person who understands and appreciates the vital work that our institutions are engaged in and a leader who has worked tirelessly on behalf of museums and libraries for the past four years.”

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is a federal grant-making agency charged by Congress to support the nation’s 10,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. It is the primary source of federal funds for these important institutions. Prior to his appointment to the Institute, Dr. Martin was Professor and Interim Director of the School of Library and Information Studies at Texas Women's University. From 1995 to 1999, he was Director and Librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

I am deeply honored by this recognition,” remarked Dr. Martin. “During my tenure as Director of the Institute, I very much enjoyed working with the museum community. Museums and libraries are essential to education in America. I am proud of the work we've done at the Institute to help libraries and museums address issues of concern to our communities and to our nation. Together we have worked to improve literacy, further school reform, preserve artistic and cultural heritage, enhance global understanding, and stimulate creativity.”

During his four years as director, the Institute has awarded 4,318 grants, totaling more than $861 million dollars. These federal grants help museums and libraries advance their public mission with funding for educational programs, community outreach, leadership development, and care and digitization of collections. The Institute’s grant programs have been critical to maintaining the high standards that characterize America’s museums and libraries.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities. The Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's 17,500 museums and 122,000 libraries. The Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit of libraries and museums. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.

About the American Association of Museums
As the national service organization representing the American museum community, the American Association of Museums addresses the needs of museums to enhance their ability to serve the public. AAM disseminates information on current standards and best practices and provides professional development for staff to ensure that museums contribute to public education in its broadest sense and protect and preserve our cultural heritage. Since its founding in 1906, AAM has grown to more than 16,500 members, including more than 10,500 individual members, 2,700 corporate members, and more than 3,200 museums.

RESOLUTION HONORING
Robert S. Martin

WHEREAS ROBERT S. MARTIN has served with particular distinction as Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the past four years; and

WHEREAS he has led the agency tirelessly to help museums and libraries create a nation of life-long learners; and

WHEREAS he has not only helped bring museums and libraries together in new and productive ways so that they can serve more effectively their communities but also encouraged new connections between both and public broadcasting; and

WHEREAS he has continued to expand the role of IMLS as a leader in developing research about the museum and library communities; and

WHEREAS, due to his leadership, IMLS now plays a preeminent role in representing the United States in international discussions of the role of museums and libraries in the information age; and

WHEREAS he has been at the forefront in advancing programs and policies at other federal agencies via museums and libraries; and

WHEREAS he has demonstrated a rare capacity to be a bridge between the museum and library communities, and he is fully aware and supportive of the museum community’s vision of increasing educational opportunities for all Americans via museums;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the American Association of Museums offers its deeply felt gratitude and admiration on behalf of the whole museum community to Robert S. Martin for his wise, imaginative, collegial, and dedicated service to the American public through museums, and sends this resolution with every good wish for his continued success and with the hope that he will continue his distinguished public service.

Jeffrey N. Rudolph, Chairman
May, 2005