To support the efforts of museums to: Conserve the
Nation's historic, scientific, and cultural heritage; maintain and expand
museums and libraries educational roles; and ease the financial burden borne
by museums and libraries as a result of their increasing use by the public.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
To make grants through the Museum Assessment Program Institutional Assessment;
Collections Management Assessment; Public Dimension Assessment; and Governance
Assessment. All MAP grants are non-competitive, made on a first come, first
served basis. Museums that received an IMLS grant for any given MAP assessment
on or before September 1995 may apply for a grant to fund participation in
that assessment a second time. MAP: Institutional Assessment supports an
independent professional overview of the management and operations of the
entire museum. MAP: Collections Management Assessment supports an independent
professional review of collections use, planning, policies, and procedures in
the context of overall museum operations. MAP: Public Dimension Assessment
supports an independent professional evaluation of the way in which the museum
serves its community and audiences. MAP: Governance Assessment provides an
independent professional examination of the roles, responsibilities and
performance of governing authorities and advisory boards. In addition,
participants in all assessments complete a self-study under the guidance of
the American Association of Museums.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: A museum located in the 50
States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands,
the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands,
Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Federated States of
Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, or the District of Columbia may apply
for a grant under the Act. A public or private nonprofit organization, such as
a municipality, college, or university which is responsible for the operation
of a museum may, if necessary, apply on behalf of the museum. A museum
operated by a department or agency of the Federal government is not eligible
to apply. Under the IMLS definition, a museum is a public or private nonprofit
institution which is organized on a permanent basis for essentially
educational or aesthetic purposes and which, using a professional staff: (1)
Owns or uses tangible objects, whether animate or inanimate; (2) cares for
these objects; and (3) exhibits them to the general public on a regular basis.
A museum must have at least one staff member, paid or unpaid, who devotes his
or her time primarily to the acquisition, care or exhibition of objects. The
definition makes clear that the term "museum" includes aquariums and
zoological parks; botanical gardens and arboretums; nature centers; art,
history, (including historic buildings and sites), natural history,
children's, general and specialized museums, science and technology centers
and planetariums.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Public nonprofit museums
and private nonprofit museums benefit.
Credentials/Documentation: Costs will be
determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local
governments. OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions and other
nonprofit organizations also applies.
Pre-application Coordination: The standard
application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB
Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is excluded
from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: To participate in the
Museum Assessment Program, a museum must first apply to the American
Association of Museums (AAM), 1575 Eye Street, NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC
20005. E-mail: map@aam-us.org. Telephone: (202) 289-9118.
Award Procedure: Proposals are reviewed by the
staff and the Director to determine eligibility.
Deadlines: Contact the Institute of Museum and
Library Services for deadlines. Telephone: (202) 606-8539. E-mail: imlsinfo@imls.gov.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: The range is
approximately 4 to 6 months.
Appeals: Appeals may be made in writing to the
Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Renewals: The IMLS may extend particular grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements at the discretion of the Director.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: 45 CFR 1180. MAP
grants vary in amount depending on which Assessment is pursued.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: MAP grants
are awarded with phasing of assistance as required.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Museum Assessment Program grantees provide
a final report.
Audits: Audits not required for application.
Records: Grant and contract recipients will be
required to maintain standard and financial statements.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 59-0300-0-1-503.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $450,000; FY 02 est
$450,000; and FY 03 est $450,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: For
fiscal year 2001, MAP: Institutional Assessment, MAP: Collections Management
Assessment, and MAP: Public Dimension Assessment grants ranged from $1,775 to
$2,970.
For fiscal year 2001, the MAP program received 237 applications and made 222
awards.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Final regulations are codified in 45 CFR 1180.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office: Institute of Museum and
Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 510, Washington, DC
20506. Contacts: Jeannette Thomas at (202) 606-8548, Public Affairs at (202)
606-8339, or imlsinfo@imls.gov. For general information visit www.imls.gov or
call (202) 606-5226 for information on library programs and (202) 606-8539 for
information on museum programs. The TTY number is (202) 606-8636.
Web Site Address: http://www.imls.gov.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Museum Assessment Program grants to all museums, including historic house
museums, science-technology centers, botanical gardens, and art museums, were
awarded.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Museum Assessment Program applications are reviewed according to IMLS
eligibility requirements. First come, first served.
