Western Kentucky University (Kentucky Museum)

The Kentucky Museum at Western Kentucky University will undertake a project to establish greater intellectual and physical control over its extensive holdings by conducting the first full inventory since it began collecting in 1939. Building on the success of previous IMLS-funded awards, the museum will use grant funds to hire a full-time Inventory Manager and several student interns, who will work in a digital-first, mentorship-based model that aligns with their mission as a teaching museum. Over three years, the project team will inventory collections housed at the museum’s off-site storage facility, where most collections are stored. This project is a key goal of the museum’s strategic plan and leads into several other goals including fulfilment of preservation efforts, revising the exhibit plan, and increasing faculty and student participation in programs.