Improving Storage for Humanities Collections

FAIN: PZ-50084-07

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership (Chicago, IL 60605-1901)
Howard A. Sulkin (Project Director: October 2006 to October 2008)

The purchase and installation of compact storage furniture and the move and re-housing of library, museum, and archival collections to a new storage facility.

Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, housing Spertus Museum, Asher Library, and the Chicago Jewish Archives, maintains one of North America's most diverse collections of material documenting worldwide Jewish history and culture. Spertus is now constructing a new facility in downtown Chicago, scheduled to open to the public in late 2007. As an integral part of this effort, Spertus is dramatically enhancing its resources for collections care. New storage facilities will increase collections capacity by 50%; enable consolidation, reorganization, and rehousing of collections; and provide state-of-the-art environmental systems to preserve these materials for future generations. We request a $500,000 Stabilization Grant for related costs during 07/01/07-6/30/08, including: 1) purchase of new compact shelving and mobile storage units to rehouse the collections; and 2) personnel, services, and materials for packing, moving, and rehousing these collections.