From: "Monroe County Local History Room" <mclhr@centurytel.net> Subject: RE: List Serve FW: New Museum Funds question Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:27:01 -0600 Message-ID: <6307C86F09254B98A575566B0D336F35@Library>
Hello Cindy.
What an exciting opportunity! Of course, there are many factors to consider
when planning museum space. For example:
--you've mentioned that you'll receive space for display and work areas-what
about accounting for storage space? Museums grow and quickly outgrow their
spaces. Plus, it always seems that when the public hears the news about
your new building, more artifacts will come your way that you weren't even
planning for. So, plan for growth, if possible!
--access issues: who will have access to the museum space? When will that
access be available--during village office hours only? Will you have a
separate entrance? Your own security system?
--who will take responsibility for insuring and protecting your collection?
--will your group be responsible for ongoing financial support of your area
of the new building, such as with utilities and maintenance? Or are you
just being asked to pay for your part of initial construction? Can you
draft a budget of what estimated monthly/annual costs would be to run your
museum once you are in this new building?
--since you will be paying towards construction, will you sign a lease
agreement that will ensure that you'll always have a home in the new
building (and not be asked to leave when they run out of space)?
Those are just some first thoughts that came to mind. I think you would
benefit from speaking to other historical groups that share space within
city/village/county/town buildings. Onalaska Historical Society, for
example, has a large room in their library, as does the La Crosse Historical
Society. They might be good to talk to and ask for other considerations
when planning shared spaces.
Please forgive me if you've thought through all of this already. You can
always call if you would like clarification about any of the points I made.
Hope this helps.
Jarrod
Jarrod M. Roll
Director - County Historian
Monroe County Local History Room & Museum
200 West Main St.
Sparta, WI 54656
608-269-8680
www.MCLHR.org
_____
From: localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:localhistory-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Bev Brayton
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 11:32 AM
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: Re: List Serve FW: New Museum Funds question
Contact the Hawkins (Wisconsin) Area Historical Society.
They are attached to the public library. One woman wrote a grant for
$300,000 to build the library AND rooms for the historical society.
----- Original Message -----
From: Seymour, Janet I - WHS <mailto:Janet.Seymour@wisconsinhistory.org>
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 8:46 AM
Subject: List Serve FW: New Museum Funds question
FW from list serve member - please respond with your experience and/or
suggestions:
I am the president of the Blue Mounds Area Historical Society. We have been
in existence for about 5 years and yet to have our own building, however the
opportunity has come to us to be part of a new village hall here in our
community. We need to fund our part of the building ( a display room and
work room) and have been told by Senator Feingold's office that there are
grants out there to help us, but no specific information. This would be new
construction, which is exciting as we will be able to plan some needed
features. Does anyone have any experience with this process and/or know of
any specific grant programs for historical societies that would help with
this?
We need to have some firm plans in place for funding ideas before our
village's Economic Planning Commission meeting next month.
Thank you for any help that you can provide.
Cindy Downs
President
Blue Mounds Area Historical Society