Museum Services

Texas is home to more than 700 local history museums. Whether housed in a historic structure or a state-of-the-art new building, each one is dedicated to telling the story of a community’s unique history. Collectively, they preserve the real places and the real things that tell the whole story of Texas.

The Museum Services Program enables small history museums to better carry out their missions by helping them to increase their capacity for meeting professional standards. We do this by providing:

  • Free consultations
  • Training
  • Communication

Free consultations

Program staff can assist museums in any aspect of museum operations, including but not limited to:

  • Starting, planning, or reorganizing a museum
  • Writing mission statements
  • Strategic planning
  • Disaster preparedness and recovery
  • Educational program development
  • Exhibit planning and design
  • Interpretation of collections
  • Board development and relations
  • Volunteer recruitment and training
  • Special events
  • Collections care
  • Security
  • Fundraising
  • Professional ethics

Training

The 2013 Museum Services Workshop Schedule is coming soon!  In the meantime, the Training Opportunities section lists other training opportunities currently available.

If you are interested in sponsoring and hosting a 2013 workshop, contact Museum Services Program Staff for more information.

The Technical Assistance section provides a number of downloadable resource lists, articles, and other useful information.

Communications

Museum Services Intern Diana Luis

Check out the Highlights and What’s New Sections of this web page for announcements and current news from Museums Services.

Program staff sends email notices on timely information about current trends, available resources, technical tips, upcoming grant deadlines, training opportunities, and other types of assistance. To be added to this email list, contact program staff.

 

 

Fast
Facts

39%

Of collecting institutions in the U.S. have a backlog in cataloging their collections

More Fast Facts

What's New

Museum Assessment Program

American Alliance of Museums


Museum Assessment Program

Application due July 1, 2013

“The MAP assessment was one of the biggest steps our small museum has taken. It has given us a sense of direction.” —Teenza Maenza, Columbia Historical Museum, TX

The Museum Assessment Program (MAP) is an IMLS-funded program available to small and mid-sized museums of all types. During MAP your museum conducts a self-study, consults with a museum professional who will provide a customized site visit and report and gains the tools to become a stronger institution.

  • The MAP process is customized to your museum.
  • The application is easy to complete and 98% of museums that apply get accepted.
  • Choose one of three assessment types: Organizational, Collections Stewardship or Community Engagement.

IMLS funded MAP grants provide $4,000 of consultative resources and services to participating museums. Become the next museum to take advantage of MAP. The upcoming application deadline is July 1.

Apply today for the July 1 applicaiton deadline.

Scholarships for the AASLH Conference

American Assocaition for State and Local History

Small Museums Committee Scholarship

The American Association for State and Local History will hold its 2013 Annual Meeting September 18 - 21 in Birmingham, AL.   AASLH Small Museums Committee is offering $500 scholarships to any AASLH members who are full-time, part-time, paid or volunteer employees of small museums.

Since 2006, the Small Museums Committee has offered scholarships to attend the AASLH Annual Meeting. The $500 scholarship will cover the cost of registration. Any remaining funds can be used to offset travel and/or lodging expenses.

To qualify, the applicant must work for a museum with a budget of $250,000 or less and either be an individual member of AASLH or work for an institutional member.

Visit the Small Museums Committee website for applicaiton and instructions.

The deadline for applications is June 15, 2013. Award notifications are made in time for early-bird registration.

For questions, please contact Bruce Teeple, Small Museum Scholarship Subcommittee Chair, at mongopawn44@hotmail.com