News Release
DATE: May 08, 2008
MBLC Recognized for Preservation Work
The Board is one of two recipients of the 2008 Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) is pleased to announce that it is being honored with the 2008 Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections, given jointly by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and Heritage Preservation.
“Preserving our library collections ensures that generations to come will benefit from our cultural heritage,” stated Gregor Trinkaus-Randall, Preservation Specialist at the MBLC. “I’m pleased that our work in building a strong statewide preservation program for libraries and archives over the past two decades has been recognized by these prestigious organizations.”
The Awards Committee commended the MBLC’s Emergency Assistance Program to assist organizations in disasters and its work with the Northeast Document Conservation Center to develop dPlan: The Online Disaster Planning Tool. The MBLC also works with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to emphasize the need to include cultural resources in emergency preparedness activities at the local, regional and state levels.
The committee also recognized the MBLC for spreading preservation services and funding throughout the Commonwealth. The MBLC has taken a leadership role in the development of the statewide Environmental Monitoring Program and has created a preservation grant program using Library Service and Technology Act funds.
“Massachusetts is rich in history,” stated MBLC Director Robert Maier. “We’re glad to have a role in preserving collections and making them accessible to people across the country and the world.”
The MBLC is one of two recipients of the 2008 award; the other recipient is the Arizona State Museum. Previous recipients include Colonial Williamsburg, the National Archives, Museum of Natural History, the Henry Ford, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Henry Francis du Pont’s Winterthur. Representatives from the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and Heritage Preservation will travel to Boston to present the award to the MBLC.