School Accountability Policy and Public History Organizations Survey

The impact of federal and state school accountability policy on K-5 social studies education in schools is well documented in research done in Indiana and North Carolina. However, other institutions, in addition to schools, play a role in providing effective K-5 social studies instruction. Public history organizations such as local and state museums, local and state historical societies, and living history organizations like yours all add to the K-5 social studies experience. A research project, being conducted by Purdue University’s Dr. Chrystal Johnson and Chris McGrew, will gather base-line data about attitudes toward K-5 social studies by public historians at public history institutions, as well as data about changes to the relationship between K-5 schools and public history institutions in Indiana since the inception of No Child Left Behind legislation (NCLB 2001) and Public Law 221 (1999), Indiana’s school accountability law. The findings may suggest changes that were unexpected by the authors of the current federal and state education policies. It may also identify more effective ways for public history organizations to work with K-5 social studies classrooms. The survey is voluntary and confidential.

To take the survey, visit https://research.education.purdue.edu/surveys/survey.asp?survey_id=K5SocSt1A.

Participants Sought for March Hearings on Museum Funding

Avid museum goers, community leaders, museum professionals, and individuals who have encountered barriers to museum going are encouraged to make their views known at one of three public hearings on the use of public funds for museums, announced Anne-Imelda Radice, PhD, Director of the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Institute is the primary source of federal funding for the nation’s museums and libraries.

IMLS is particularly interested in testimony from school coordinators, older people, special needs groups, and directors of cultural tours. IMLS would also like to hear from leaders who can speak about the use of public funds for cultural purposes based on their understanding of county, state, and federal budgets and their experiences with any and all kinds of museums, including art, history, natural history, children’s museums, as well as planetariums, science centers, gardens, and zoos.

Hearings will be held at three locations in March:

• March 10, 2008, The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH
• March 12, 2008, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
• March 14, 2008, The Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA

Radice and members of the National Museum and Library Services Board will listen to both formal and informal testimony. With the testifiers’ permission, testimony will be recorded and used as part of a report on the public funding of museums that will be released in the summer of 2008.

The public hearings are the last in a series of IMLS’s information-gathering efforts designed to determine the sources and uses of public funds for museums. Also part of the effort is a rigorous examination by The Urban Institute, which, through a cooperative agreement with IMLS, has gathered information about public funding for museums through a national survey as well as through individual interviews with museum professionals and museum funders in selected states, in order to compare the impact of different funding mechanisms. All the information gathered, including the perspectives from the public, will be part of the IMLS report.

To participate in the public hearings or provide written testimony, please contact Mamie Bittner at mbittner@imls.gov or Celeste Colgan at celestecolgan@comcast.net. Click here for more information on the IMLS Museum Study.

National Medal for Museum and Library Service Nominations Due Feb. 15

The National Medal for Museum and Library Service (formerly the National Award) honors outstanding institutions that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Selected institutions demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach and core programs generally associated with its services. The medal includes prizes of $10,000 to each recipient and an awards ceremony to be held in Washington, DC.

The main qualification for selection is community service, as demonstrated by the institution's ongoing commitment, at every level, to its community. Nominations should describe the institution's goal in serving its community, the population served, how the community works together to achieve the goal, the outcome of this effort during the past two to three years and projections for future efforts. The National Museum and Library Services Board reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to the IMLS Director, who makes the final selection.

Public or private nonprofit institutions are eligible to receive this award. Nominated institutions must be open to the general public for at least 120 days per year and be located in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, or the Freely Associated States in the Pacific. Federally operated institutions are not eligible for the medal.

For more information contact Michele Farrell, Senior Program Officer (libraries), at (202) 653-4656 or mfarrell@imls.gov or Christopher Reich, Senior Program Officer (museums), at (202) 653-4685, creich@imls.gov.   

Development Director, Conner Prairie, Fishers, IN
Conner Prairie is embarking upon an unprecedented fund raising effort and seeks senior fund raising positions to guarantee success. Interested candidates will please submit a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to employment@connerprairie.org.

The Development Director reports to the Vice President of Development.  The Development Director is responsible for planning and directing the following programs:

1. Conner Society:  Actively identify, cultivate and solicit donor prospects to join Society. In addition, the Deputy Director will ensure the Conner Society Executive Committee fulfills its function of peer-to-peer solicitation and event planning for recognition and recruiting events.
2. Annual Fund:  Design acquisition, solicitation, & cultivation programs for annual fund.
3. General Membership:  Supervise Membership manager to develop strategies to increase both the membership base and maximize earned income, while cultivating active members to increase their level of support.
4. Stewardship and Recognition:  Implement stewardship and recognition programs for giving and membership programs. 

To accomplish these objectives, the Development Director will develop short and long term strategies designed to meet individual giving goals, maintain revenue control, and ensure outstanding service for all members and donors.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Minimum five years working experience in individual giving, guest services, sales, promotions or a related area
• Experience with long-term planning and implementation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Comfortable interacting with individuals, large groups and/ or families
• Proficient in computer usage, including Microsoft Office Suite and Raiser's Edge 
• Public relations sensitivity and respect for confidentiality
• Supervisory experience as well as practical knowledge of membership, corporate or fundraising events and practices
• Professional and pleasant demeanor

Principal Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate an ongoing capacity to increase earned and donated income, focusing on acquiring, cultivating and soliciting individual gifts
• Organize the formation of a Conner Society Executive Committee, and act as the staff liaison with this body to ensure it fulfills its designated purpose
• Design and implement a donor recognition system that extends privileges for membership based upon priority, access and exclusivity
• Oversee a Conner Society travel program
• Actively cultivate a portfolio of potential Conner Society members
• Make a minimum of six visitations per month with active and potential donors
• Manage the performance of the Membership Manager and Giving Assistant
• Build and maintain internal and external member/ donor satisfaction
• Oversee and administer Individual Giving budget, utilizing resources efficiently
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Guest Services to administer onsite membership sales program
• Direct the development, revision and maintenance of supporting materials in order to attract new members/ donors, as well as providing current members/ donors with materials to aid in their cultivation as long-term supporters
• Regularly communicate to employees, volunteers, board and external groups the value of Individual Giving
• Demonstrate experience in leadership and personnel management skills to effectively supervise the activities and performance of staff
• Demonstrate experience working with executives, management staff, employees, guests, visiting museum professionals and others with solid problem-solving, conflict resolution and planning experience
• Monitor and be aware of distribution of allocated funds and application of budget requests
• Publicly supports organizational and team decisions even if they conflict with personal opinion
• Shows initiative and leadership in new programs and development
• Accepts personal accountability to the quality and timeliness of his/her work and can be counted upon to produce excellent results
• Conveys clear, timely and persuasive messages that positively influence the thoughts and actions of others
• Builds and maintains internal and external customer satisfaction
• Earns the trust, respect and confidence of coworkers and customers through consistent honesty, forthrightness and professionalism in all interactions
• Actively contributes to a work environment that embraces building relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders, recognizing the value of cultural, ethnic, gender and other differences, to enhance the attainment of Conner Prairie's goals
• Adhere to Conner Prairie's Mission, Values Statements and Code of Conduct
• Other duties as assigned; not limited to those within the scope of this position

Collections Department Manager, Pink Palace Museum, Memphis, TN

The Collections Department Manager works under the Administrator of Programs to be responsible for the collection management and conservation, research and authentication, and availability of the collection and its associated data for exhibits and educational programming. Prepares, administers and monitors City and MMI annual budgets and expenditures; directs, supervises, monitors and evaluates departmental personnel;  produces, monitors and updates a departmental strategic plan with departmental goals and objectives based on the Memphis Pink Palace Family of Museums  (MPPFM) strategic plan; updates and monitors the MPPFM Collection  Plan; guides the acquisition of objects and specimens for the permanent collection; updates and monitors the Collection Policy and Collection Manual governing the use, administration and care of the permanent collection and  loaned objects and specimens; supervises the Associate Curator program in partnership with faculty and deans at regional colleges and universities; researches, documents and interprets objects in the collections for exhibits  and education programs; uses expert knowledge in the subjects represented by the museum's collections to select graphics and artifacts and write text and labels for exhibits; assists with education program development and training of education department personnel; initiates contact with grant funding programs to develop grants and coordinates the composition of grant applications; and writes research reports on cultural and natural history topics. Work is primarily conducted in offices, workrooms, laboratories, and storerooms. Minimum salary is $4,173.87 per month.

Other Functions:
1.   Coordinates inter-departmental project staff teams, Associate Curators, and outside consultants.
2.   Produces monthly progress reports.
3.   Revises strategic plans, collections' policy, collections' plans, employee evaluations, etc.
4.  Performs additional functions (essential or otherwise) which may be assigned.

Job Requirements:     

• Requires the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with personnel, outside agencies, etc.
• May require lifting up to 20 lbs. of collection materials, trays of artifacts, etc.
• May also be required to climb short ladders and stairs, operate a digital camera, and drive the collection's department van, pickup truck/car to pick up artifacts and make collection trips. 
• Requires use of warehouse equipment, including two (2) and four (4) wheel dollies, appliance dollies, and pry bars.
• Must be able to operate a personal computer with word processing, spreadsheet and database programs, internet and email communications.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in museum studies, archaeology, biology, geology, history, or art history and six (6) years of curatorial or collection management experience, including four (4) of the six  (6) years in a supervisory capacity or any combination or training which enables one to perform the essential job functions.  A related Master's degree preferred. Knowledge of regional archaeology, biology, geology and history preferred.  Proof of education is required.

How To Apply:   
Applications will be accepted from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday in the Employment Office, Rm 1B-33, City Hall, 125 N Main or visit our satellite office at 4225 Riverdale from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or apply on-line at www.memphistn.gov.   

Historic Preservation Learning Portal
www.historicpreservation.gov

The Historic Preservation Learning Portal is where you can discover the information and training opportunities you need to quickly and easily address problems, projects and issues in the broad field of historic preservation.
 
This Portal helps you search for information on historic preservation websites and can also help find other saved searches.  By typing in your question in plain language JUST ONCE, you can learn about all of the following:

• Laws and regulations
• Policies
• Articles and literature
• News
• Case studies and best practices
• Colleagues with specific expertise
• Training and education opportunities

 The web portal, a multi-agency project of the National Park Service, is housed by the Federal Preservation Institute.

VoiceThread
www.voicethread.com

This Web site has been discussed in some museum listservs.  If your organization explores how to use this service for Web sites or exhibits, please contact LHS to share the benefits and issues of using the site.  Be sure to investigate copyright and oral history consent issues as a part of the process.

A VoiceThread is an online media album that can hold essentially any type of media (images, documents and videos) and allows people to make comments in 5 different ways - using voice (with a microphone or telephone), text, audio file, or video (with a webcam) - and share them with anyone they wish. A VoiceThread allows group conversations to be collected and shared in one place, from anywhere in the world.  VoiceThread allows for free access for a small number of images and comments and charges $29.95 per year.

Sign Up for National Coalition for History Washington Update

http://historycoalition.org/
Local History Services will no longer be forwarding the National Coalition for History's Washington Update.  The NCH Washington Update, is a weekly electronic newsletter that wraps up events from the past week and provides an in-depth analysis of history- and archival-related news from the Nation’s capital. If you would like to continue to receive this informative publication, please visit http://historycoalition.org/ and click on the “Subscribe to the newsletter” link under Washington Update.

Storage Containers & Books

There are just a few storage items still available from the IHS:

• 10 metal slide storage boxes 
• 1 metal file drawer for 4 x 6 cards 
• 5 metal file drawers for 5 x 8 cards 
• 1 wooden file drawer for 5 x 8 cards 
• 1 metal locked box for standard file folders (12” wide, 9” deep, 9.5" high)

Several reference books are also available:

• Who’s Who in America, 2000, three volumes, paperback
• Official Museum Directory, 2004, two volumes, paperback
• Directory of Historical Departments, Historical Organizations, and Historians, 2004 – 2005, paperback
• American Library Directory, 1999 – 2000, two volumes, hardback
• American Library Directory, 2003 – 2004, two volumes, hardback

To claim any of these items, send an e-mail to localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org. Items will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.