Twelve Heritage Institutions In The Dakotas
Selected To Receive Free Collections Assessments & Host Workshops

April 4, 2012

Bismarck, N.D. - The Dakota Collections Care Initiative (DCCI) has selected 12 heritage institutions in North Dakota and South Dakota to receive free collections assessments and host collections care workshops this summer. These institutions were chosen through a competitive process that drew applications from more than 40 museums, archives and libraries across the two states.

Selected North Dakota institutions include Griggs County Historical Society in Cooperstown, Ox Cart Trails Historical Society in Drayton, Northwest Art Gallery at Minot State University in Minot, Lewis and Clark Trail Museum in Alexander, Stoxen Library at Dickinson State University in Dickinson, and Pioneer Trails Regional Museum in Bowman. Selected South Dakota institutions include Gregory County Historical Society in Dallas, Yankton County Historical Society in Yankton, Fort Sisseton Historic State Park in Lake City, Timber Lake and Area Historical Society and Museum in Timber Lake, Tri State Museum in Belle Fourche, and Keystone Area Historical Society Museum in Keystone.

"The number of applications received shows the commitment of staff and volunteers to improve the preservation of heritage collections across the two states," says Mark Ryan, project co-director for DCCI and director of collections and operations at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo. "These assessments and hands-on workshops will increase understanding of best practices in collections care at small- and mid-sized heritage institutions and build a network of individuals committed to good stewardship of collections so they are available to future generations."

Free workshops open to all staff and volunteers from area museums, libraries and archives will be held at the host institutions in North Dakota in May and June and in South Dakota in August and September. Workshop details and registration information will be available by mid-April on the State Historical Society of North Dakota website.

DCCI partners include the Association of South Dakota Museums, North Dakota Library Association, Plains Art Museum in Fargo, South Dakota State Historical Society, South Dakota State Library, and State Historical Society of North Dakota. Terri Schindel, a conservator affiliated with the Museum Training Network, will lead the institutional assessments and training workshops.

The project is made possible by a two-year Connecting to Collections implementation grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. To learn more about the Institute, visitwww.imls.gov.