Discussions and Questions

Working with College Students (6 new messages) Brian Vroman asks, "What is it that we want to achieve in terms of history education?" Mary Warner believes we need to "bring out the stories in history and show people how those stories relate to them." What do you think?

Putting Collections Online (3 new messages) How do you maintain security for your collection and let the public know about the great things in your collection?

Putting Publications Online (New Discussion, 1 new message) Ramsey County Historical Society is considering putting its magazine online. What should they consider before making that decision?

Job Announcements

Software Support Technician

Pastime Software Company, Inc., maker of PastPerfect Museum Software, has an immediate opening for a Software Support Technician/Windows Network Specialist in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Local Events

Scott County's Greatest Generation

Scott County Historical Society seeks current and former Scott County citizens of the "Greatest Generation." Find out how you can get involved on March 10 at the Shakopee Public Library (10:30 a.m.) and New Prague Public Library (1:30 p.m.) One more information session will be held on March 17 at the Prior Lake Public Library (1:30 p.m.) For further information, contact Kathy Klehr.

Your Life and House in Pictures

Washington County Historical Society, Stillwater Public Library and Images of the Past and Present will guide people on preserving photographs. The program will be held twice: Saturday March 31, from 1 to 4 p.m., at Boutwells Landing Museum and on Saturday, April 14, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Stillwater Public Library. A short program about the history of photography will start at 1:30 p.m.

Historic Preservation Tax Credit Hearings

Senate Tax Committee (SF 385) will meet tomorrow, March 8, and the House Tax Committee (HF 1240) will meet on Tuesday March 13, regarding the Historic Preservation Tax Credit. Contact Bonnie McDonald at the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota for more information.

News

Online Disaster Preparedness Resources

The American Association for State and Local History recently listed in History News some online disaster planning and recovery resources. The listing gives museums a point from which to start when considering disaster plans.

Conservation OnLine
Access a full-text library of conservation information covering topics related to the conservation of materials at libraries, archives, and museums. Of particular interest is "A Primer on Disaster Preparedness, Management and Response: Paper-Based Materials."

American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
Access the AIC's "Guide to Conservation Services."

Northeast Document Conservation Center
NEDCC offers an emergency assistance program for institutions and individuals with damaged paper-based collections.

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force
The task force promotes preparedness and mitigations and provides expert information on response and salvage to libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and historic sites protect their collections and buildings from natural disasters and other emergencies.

National Trust for Historic Preservation
"Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings" is a manual to help building owners reduce structural and cosmetic flood damage.

See also NTHP's Main Street Center's flood relief publications.

Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA offers "How-To Guide #6: Integrating Historic Property and Cultural Resource Considerations into Hazard Mitigation Planning."

International Council on Museums
The ICOM features guidelines for disaster preparedness in museums.

Disaster Funding
Find out what funding is available to cultural instructions when natural disasters hits with "Before and After Disasters: Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions."

Disaster Insurance
The National Trust for Historic Preservation assists individual museums and cultural organizations with insurance agencies to cover specific needs.

Nonprofit management tools from Fieldstone Alliance

The Fieldstone Alliance spun off from the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in June 2005 as an independent publishing and consulting program.  Fieldstone Alliance’s website offers a number of free useful tools for nonprofit organizations.  Sign up for Fieldstone Alliance's "Tools You Can Use" e-newsletter.

Scott County Historical Society receives grant

Scott County Historical Society recieved a $540 grant from the Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative "Operation Round-Up" program.  This grant will purchase HOBO environmental data loggers and a HOBO shuttle.

MCF Outlook Report Available

The Minnesota Council on Foundations released its annual report on the intentions of grantmaking foundations in Minnesota. The report shows that 61 percent will increase the amount of money they will grant in the next year, while 28 percent will remain steady.

Grant Deadlines

Save Our History Grants

American Association for State and Local History and The History Channel will offer three national conference calls for potential applicants for Save Our History Grants. RSVP with the subject line: your call date National Conference Call (i.e. March 7th, April 11th, or May 9th National Conference Call). In the email include: your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.

MAM Summer Intern Scholarship

To support the next generation of museum professionals, the Minnesota Association of Museums (MAM) offers one $500 scholarship to a summer intern at any qualifying Minnesota museum/cultural organization. This stipend supports a student committed to a rewarding, intensive internship experience as a step towards a career in museums. Applications are being accepted now through May 15, 2007.

Upcoming Conferences and Workshops

Disaster Plan Research and Writing

Northern States Conservation Center offers a six-week class, Disaster Plan Research and Writing, beginning October 29, 2007.

SPNHC 2007 Annual Meeting

Register early for the 2007 Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) Annual Meeting, at the Science Museum of Minnesota, in St. Paul, from May 21-26, 2007. The theme of the meeting is: Building for the Future: Museums of the 21st Century. Early bird registration expires on March 22. Hope to see you here!

MHS Spring Workshop in Becker

Don't miss the first MHS Spring 2007 Workshop at the new Sherburne County Historical Society history center in Becker, Minnesota. We'll begin with registration at 8:30 and thoroughly enjoy a full day at one of the state's outstanding local museum buildings. Registrations are due by March 16.