News Releases

University of Maryland School of Nursing Museum Receives Connecting to Collections Bookshelf

August 28, 2008

Baltimore, Md.—The University of Maryland School of Nursing's Living History Museum is one of more than 700 museums, libraries, and archives to receive the Institute of Museum and Library Services' (IMLS) Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. The contents of the Bookshelf include an essential set of books, online resources, and a user's guide that can greatly affect the ability of small libraries and museums to care for their collections.

“The Bookshelf provides museums, libraries, and archives essential instructions on how to rescue treasures of yesteryear that they hold in trust,” said Dr. Anne-Imelda Radice, director of IMLS.

The Bookshelf addresses topics including the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues. It focuses on collections typically found in art or history museums and libraries' special collections, with an added selection of texts for living collections.

“Having an excellent resource like the Connection Collections Bookshelf will enable our museum to better care for the heritage of Maryland's nurses by providing a broad range of references that address the many situations faced in a small museum environment,” said Jennifer Ruffner, curator of the School of Nursing's museum.

The IMLS Bookshelf was made possible by a cooperative agreement with the American Association for State and Local History with support from the Getty Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

The School of Nursing's Living History Museum, the only nursing museum in the state of Maryland, allows visitors to discover the story of American nursing through the experiences of University of Maryland nurses from 1889 to present. It also provides a venue for nursing students to learn about the rich heritage of the nursing profession and witness the pride of its practitioners. For more information, call 410-706-2822, or visit nursing.umaryland.edu.