Longwood grad student to attend national forum
Jackie Bergquist
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10:39 a.m., Feb. 9, 2009----Jackie Bergquist, a Longwood Fellow of the University of Delaware's Longwood Graduate Program, has been selected by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to attend a national conservation forum scheduled Thursday and Friday, Feb. 19-20, in San Diego.

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The forum is entitled “It's Alive! Petals to Primates: Preservation Challenges of Living Collections.”

Bergquist is one of more than 50 representatives of small and medium-sized living collection institutions nationwide invited to participate based on their leadership in the profession and in their communities.

The conference program will explore the range of challenges facing America's smaller institutions housing collections of plants and animals.

National conservation leaders, government officials, and professionals from zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, nature centers and living history farms will address issues relevant to caring for and sustaining treasured living collections.

IMLS, the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries, museums and living collections, will present this event in cooperation with the San Diego Zoo and Heritage Preservation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving the country's heritage.

“Living collection institutions -- from aquariums to zoos -- play a very special role in our communities. We value them as places where we can learn about natural history and science, consider concepts of conservation and sustainability, and experience nature with friends and family,” said IMLS Director Anne-Imelda Radice. “At IMLS, we know that these special museums face unique conservation challenges. We are delighted to offer this opportunity for professionals from these institutions to come together and learn from each other.”

The forum will include sessions on protecting collections from natural disasters; organizing and caring for records and photographs that document their collections; and attracting funding in tough economic times.

Douglas G. Myers, chief executive officer and executive director of the Zoological Society of San Diego, will be the keynote speaker.

“It's Alive!” is part of IMLS's multi-year, multi-faceted national program, “Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action.” It is the third of a series of four national forums designed to raise awareness among leaders of small and mid-sized museums and libraries about the importance of collections care and to give them practical information, tools, and resources to inspire action nationwide.

The forum will be held at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego and is open to museum, library and archives professionals.

The Legler Benbough Foundation, the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the Chanticleer Foundation are providing support for the forum and participant stipends.

More information is available online at this Web site.

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