Historical Society of Phoenixville Selected For 'Museum Assessment Program'

PHOENIXVILLE, PA -- The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area has been selected to participate in the Museum Assessment Program (MAP), they announced Sunday.

Through guided self-study and on-site consultation with a museum professional, participation in MAP will empower The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area to better serve the citizens of Phoenixville and its surrounding communities by facilitating its meeting and exceeding the highest professional standards of the museum field, according to a press release. 

The program is funded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and throughout its 30 years has been administered by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). As part of the IMLS National Leadership program, MAP advances best practices and fosters improvement in museums. MAP is a self-motivated program; application to and participation in MAP is initiated by each local institution, and those accepted invest considerable human and institutional resources into the assessment.

The goal of the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area (HSPA) in obtaining the grant is to find ways to broaden public awareness of programs and to engage underserved members of the community. Following suggestions provided by the MAP self-study, museum volunteers and board members are undertaking various activities to learn more about the people of the Phoenixville Area.

The self-study asks questions such as: What ethnic and social groups exist in the area HSPA serves? Who currently uses HSPA resources and how? The self-study part of the program is taking place now and is expected to be finished by late April. Following the self-study a museum professional will visit to examine findings and assess current practices. By July a report of findings and recommendations from the AAM will be delivered to HSPA. AAM recommendations are expected to help with the development of strategic plans for effectively engaging the community. The recommendations will answer questions such as: How can HSPA expand community awareness of their services? How can HSPA improve programs and services to reach more of the community?

“We are pleased that The American Alliance of Museums has chosen HSPA to participate in this program.” said Ryan Conroy, President of the Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area, in a prepared statement. “Our Historical Society has benefited in the past from two other MAP grants: the Institutional Assessment in 2001 and the Collection Management Assessment in 2003. We are looking forward to developing a plan for continued growth with our community.”

MAP is a confidential process of self-study, peer review and implementation. Museums use the assessment process to strengthen operations, build capacity, and enhance communication throughout the organization and in response to community needs. Participant museums choose one of three categories for its assessment: Collections Stewardship Organizational, Community Engagement. The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area will take part in the Community Engagement assessment process. Small and mid-sized museums of all types, including art, history, science and technology, children’s, natural history, historic houses, nature centers, botanical gardens, and zoos participate in the program.

“Choosing to be part of the MAP program is indicative of the commitment to civic involvement, public service and overall excellence on the part of The Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area,” Laura Lott, president of AAM, said in the release. “Studies have shown America’s museums to be among the country’s most trusted and valued institutions. MAP is designed to make them even better.”

Since its creation in 1981, the MAP program has served over 4,300 museums. MAP is supported through a cooperative agreement with IMLS.