FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2007

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Museums Urged to Take Online Survey;
Hearings on Museum Funding Announced

WASHINGTON, DC--Museums of all kinds, from art to zoos, are encouraged to participate in an important new study on public funding in the United States. The survey will provide a detailed look at the size and scope of public support for museums from federal, state, and local governments. The 30-minute confidential survey is being conducted by The Urban Institute, a non-partisan economic and social policy research organization based in Washington, D.C. through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The survey is part of a larger study which will examine how public funding impacts museum services in the United States. To fill out the survey, please go to www.museumpublicfinance.org by December 21, 2007, 5 p.m. EST.

IMLS, the primary source of federal support for the nation’s museums and libraries, embarked on the study to examine how the country’s museums are being encouraged and supported in significant ways, and how closely they follow the expectations set forth in the Museum Services Act.* The study will examine the way in which public funds are used, and whether there are gaps between expectations for the Institute’s authorizing legislation and the capacity for museums to meet their public service role.

Public Hearings to be Convened
As part of the same study, IMLS also announced today that it will hold public hearings in three cities to collect opinions and perspectives how museums can best serve the public. Testimony will be solicited from community leaders, educators, public officials, and representatives of regional, state, and local organizations. The hearings will be open to the public and, in addition to invited testimony, time will be provided for comments from the public. Details about participation in the hearings will be released in early February 2008. The hearing schedule, subject to change, is as follows:

• March 10, 2008 The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH
• March 12, 2008 The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
• March 14, 2008 The Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA

About the Study
In addition to the information collected from the online survey, the study includes an analysis of data by the Urban Institute about federal funding for museums provided by IMLS and other federal agencies; federal appropriations legislation that directs funding to particular museums; and information from the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics, which tracks finances of non-profit organizations. The Urban Institute is also conducting interviews with museum professionals and museum funders in selected states to compare the impact of different funding mechanisms. The public hearings will be the last in the series of information-gathering efforts that will be part of a report IMLS will issue in the summer of 2008. This report will examine the following questions:

• What mechanisms are currently used to deliver public funding to museums from the federal government and the state government in selected states?
• For what purposes are state and federal public funds allocated to museums in those states?
• How do delivery mechanisms impact the quality of services? Are there gaps?
• Are there alternative funding models that could make a significant impact in addressing any identified gaps in museum services?

The report will describe the extent to which museums are encouraged and supported in their formal and informal education roles, and will include perspectives about the expectations of the museum-going public as well as the experiences of museum professionals and recommendations.

For questions about the online survey, please e-mail or call one of the Urban Institute principal investigators: Carlos Manjarrez at cmanjarr@ui.urban.org or (202) 261-5821; or Carole Rosenstein at crosenst@buffalo.edu (716) 645-2437x1468.

For questions about the public hearings, please contact Mamie Bittner at mbittner@imls.gov or Celeste Colgan at celestecolgan@comcast.net.

*The Museum Services Act authorizes IMLS to fund activities that:

• encourage and support museums in carrying out their public service role of connecting the whole of society to the cultural, artistic, historical, natural, and scientific understandings that constitute our heritage;
• encourage and support museums in carrying out their educational role, as core providers of learning and in conjunction with schools, families, and communities;
• encourage leadership, innovation, and applications of the most current technologies and practices to enhance museum services;
• assist, encourage, and support museums in carrying out their stewardship responsibilities to achieve the highest standards in conservation and care of the cultural, historic, natural, and scientific heritage of the United States to benefit future generations;
• assist, encourage, and support museums in achieving the highest standards of management and service to the public, and to ease the financial burden borne by museums as a result of their increasing use by the public; and
• support resource sharing and partnerships among libraries, schools, and other community organizations.

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.

About the Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research and educational organization established in Washington, D.C., in 1968. Its staff investigates the social, economic, and governance problems confronting the nation and evaluates the public and private means to alleviate them. Through work that ranges from broad conceptual studies to administrative and technical assistance, Institute researchers contribute to the stock of knowledge available to guide decision-making in the public interest. To learn more about the Urban Institute, please visit www.urban.org.