Additional Grant Funding Awarded to the Slusser Library!

The library has been awarded four more grants this year, through a number of different sources.

American Heritage Preservation Grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Postal History Foundation was one of two sites in Arizona honored with a grant through the IMLS American Heritage Preservation Program.   The Institute of Museum and Library Services  is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.

The project, titled "Environmental Improvement and Preservation of Postal History Collection", will be used for preservation and conservation, including a hygrothermograph to monitor humidity and temperature, as well as sleeving UV lights in the stacks, and purchasing preservation supplies.  In addition, several rare items will be selected for individual conservation treatment.  Building on a conservation assessment done last summer, this project is designed to improve environmental control in the library and will bring a conservation focus to existing practices.

Read about the Slusser Library in this news release:
Treasures Preserved with Grants from the Bank of America/IMLS American Heritage Preservation Program

Another project for which the library was awarded funding is “Original Cataloging of Philatelic Materials" from the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Agency under the Library Services and Technology Act, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.   The monies will be used to hire a cataloger to create electronic records of the auction catalogs, maps, and multi-media materials to add to our online catalog.  It is anticipated that at the end of this grant cycle (August 2011), all cataloging will have been completed.

In addition, funding was awarded for the "Centennial Celebration of Arizona Post Offices" through Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Agency under the Library Services and Technology Act, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.  The funds will be used to hire a graduate student in library sciences to assist with the creation of three more collections on the Arizona Memory Project. This project will be done in collaboration with three different historical societies from around the state to create joint online exhibits.

We have also received funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission from the Arizona Historical Records Advisory Board, which will be used to process our collections of Arizona Postal Documents.

We are deeply grateful to each of these funding bodies for their support of our work.

The Slusser Memorial Philatelic Library houses a collection of over 30,000 books, journals, catalogs, photos, maps, and other reference items related to the philatelic history of the United States, especially the Western States, U.S. postal history and worldwide philatelic history.

Dedicated in October 1996, the library is adjacent to the Postal History Foundation in the unique West University Historic Neighborhood District.  Its aesthetic appeal and architectural features have received national distinction.  It features a spacious reading room, exhibit area, book, and catalog sections.  Most importantly, it has become one of the most recognized repositories of philatelic literature in the United States.  Its material is an excellent resource for students, educators, historians and researchers. A trip to the Slusser Library
is guaranteed to be worthwhile.  We look forward to your visit!

Beautiful library entrance and courtyard

Western postal history paintings enhance the library

Spacious reading room awaits library patrons