June 9, 2009 Library of Congress and Foundation Center Release Second Edition of Funding Guide for Preserving Historical, Cultural Collections

The Library of Congress and the Foundation Center, building on a partnership established two years ago, have released the second edition of a web-based fundraising guide to help preservationists save millions of at-risk historical and cultural artifacts.

The guide, titled “Foundation Grants for Preservation in Libraries, Archives and Museums,” is available for free download at the Library of Congress website: www.loc.gov/preserv/. The new edition includes the most recent grants awarded in the field, in order to help fundraisers identify critical sources of funding.

“During tough times, when libraries, archives and museums may need help to survive, this guide provides repositories with a lifeline that can assist with preservation and conservation training, consultants and contractors, collections assessments and treatments, project planning, infrastructure support, fellowships and a wide range of other opportunities,” said Diane Vogt O’Connor, chief of the Conservation Division at the Library of Congress.

The second edition of the funding guide features information on 1,944 grants awarded by 488 foundations from 2004 to 2009. Presented in PDF format for easy scanning or downloading, grants are arranged alphabetically by state, then by foundation name and recipient name under the foundation listing. The publication also includes hyperlinks from foundations listed in the volume to additional information featured in Foundation Finder, a free foundation look-up tool at the center’s website. Additional links lead users to free tutorials on proposal grant-writing and an introduction to foundations.

“We are delighted to partner on this guide, which will lead people to funding sources that can support their preservation efforts,” said Deanna Marcum, associate librarian of Library Services at the Library of Congress. “The Library has a long history of leadership in the care of cultural collections. We are currently developing new initiatives to help libraries, archives and museums care for our country’s vulnerable cultural patrimony, including modern media during challenging times.”

Joyce Infante, the Foundation Center’s senior vice president for institutional advancement, said “We’re very pleased to continue this partnership with the Library by providing updated information on grants in this specialized area.”

The Foundation Center, established in 1956 and supported today by more than 600 foundations, is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy, connecting nonprofits and grant-makers supporting them to tools and information they can use and trust. The center maintains a database on U.S. grant-makers and their grants, and also operates research, education, and training programs. For more information, visit www.foundationcenter.org.

The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled collections and resources to Congress and the American people. The Library’s Conservation Division ensures that these collections will exist for future generations by providing appropriate treatment and preventive care of rare and valuable research materials. Staff members conduct and publish research; create new solutions for storage and care of collections; train Library staff, students, the public and professionals; respond to disasters; prepare materials for moves, digitization, exhibitions and loans; assess and evaluate new acquisitions and old accessions; monitor collections storage; and treat threatened rare materials. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/preserve/conserv.html.