Press Release - AVL Receives Conservation Bookshelf

Treasured objects and artifacts held by the Amargosa Valley Library will be preserved for future generations with help from the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books, DVDs, and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funding of the nation’s museums and libraries. IMLS and its cooperator, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), will award a total of 2,000 free sets of the IMLS Bookshelf by the end of 2008.

Items held in the Amargosa Valley Library's special collections include archival newspapers and newsletters, photographs of the Valley, VHS tapes of community events, and transcripts of interviews with community members. Many of these materials are several decades old, and are in need of special care in order to ensure their preservation.

“We are pleased to announce the first group of IMLS Bookshelf recipients. These small libraries and museums are taking up the charge to care for America’s heritage,” said Radice. “A recent national study tells a sobering story about the state of America’s library and museum collections. Without immediate action we stand to lose important collections that are at the heart of the American story.”

The Amargosa Valley Library is among the first to receive this essential set of resources based on an application describing the needs and plans for care of its collections. The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and in libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for zoos, aquaria, public gardens, and nature centers. It addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues.

The IMLS Bookshelf is a crucial component of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, a conservation initiative that the Institute launched in 2006. IMLS began the initiative in response to a 2005 study by Heritage Preservation documenting the dire state of the nation’s collections. The multi-faceted, multi-year initiative shines a nationwide spotlight on the needs of America’s collections, especially those held by smaller institutions, which often lack the human and financial resources necessary to adequately care for their collections. Click here for more information on the conservation initiative.

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.

2008-2009 Federal Student Aid Guides in

We've received shipment of a new booklet from the Federal Student Aid Information Center. The title is Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid, and it's newly updated for the 2008-2009 school year. It's full of information about different types of Federal aid available for education, how to apply for a grant or a loan, and even how to plan payments for after graduation.

Copies of the booklet are available on the metal brochure rack by the round table in the magazine area, or you can ask one of us at the circulation desk to help you get one.

A New Record!

Once again, I'd like to express my appreciation for the community, who show so much love and support for our library!

In the month of January, 2008, community members checked out 2,417 items. That's the most check-outs during a month ever in the library's history, going all the way back to 1976. (The previous record was 2,284, which was set in November of 2007.) It continues to amaze me how much use the library gets, and I'm grateful to each and every person who has made use of and valued the library's services.

Tax forms available

It's that time of the year again, and the library has tax forms available for you to take. They're located in folders on top of the reference bookshelves; if you have trouble finding them, we'll be happy to show you where they are.

Donated books

We've received a very nice donation of several books about Buddhism, as well as a few on other topics such as how to write and preparing for pregnancy. These books are all available on the New Books shelf by the circulation desk. Come by and check one out!

New Materials!

We've received a whole shipment of new library materials, which are already on the shelf next to the circulation desk ready to be checked out. Some of the titles are Beverly Hills Dead, by Stuart Woods; Death of a Gentle Lady, by M. C. Beaton; Gambit: For Love of a Queen, by Kat Jaske; and Precision Pool, 2nd edition, by Gerry Kanov and Shari Stauch. These and many other books and DVDs are here at the library waiting for you now!