We are very excited to announce our participation in the 2018 Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program! The orientation materials even include a press release for us to use, which is pretty helpful (and it’s where I ripped off most of the text below). We’ll post more details as the process unfolds, but here’s the gist:

CAP helps museums improve the care of their collections by providing support for a conservation assessment of the museum’s collections and buildings. The museum will work with a team of preservation professionals to identify preventive conservation priorities. The final assessment report will help the museum prioritize its collections care efforts in the coming years.

I’m supposed to insert a quote from the director, me, here regarding the Frost Entomological Museum’s goals and/or how CAP fits into our greater strategic plan. Let me just say (ahem, write) that we take conservation very seriously. Part of our mission, in fact, is to “… preserve in perpetuity the collections of the Department of Entomology at Penn State and its partners”. Our NSF CSBR grant helped us take a GIANT leap towards that goal, with new storage units, as did my participation in the ECN’s collection management workshop in 2016. The latter experience really encouraged me to finalize our collections management policy document and our collections procedures (see “policies” link in menu above). More below from the press release:

“Simply by applying for the CAP program, the Frost Entomological Museum has shown a commitment to preserving cultural heritage,” said Tiffani Emig, Programs Director for FAIC. [And presumably natural history; we don’t have much in the way of “cultural” objects –ARD]

The CAP program is administered by FAIC through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal grant making agency that supports museums and libraries.

About FAIC

FAIC, the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works, supports conservation education, research, and outreach activities that increase understanding of our global cultural heritage. Learn more about FAIC at www.conservation-us.org/foundation. 

About IMLS

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and approximately 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .