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[node:field_meeting_type] | November 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009 - 8:30am

Cultural Education Committee Minutes

November 17, 2009

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.        Location: Seminar Room, 5th Floor, EB

 

REGENTS COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL EDUCATION

Regent James C. Dawson, Chair of the Cultural Education Committee, submitted the following written report.

Your Committee on Cultural Education (CE) had its scheduled meeting on November 17, 2009.

In attendance were: Regents Dawson, Brooks Hopkins, Phillips and Tilles.  In addition to CE Committee Members, Board Members in attendance included Regents Cea and Norwood

Absent: Regent Bowman

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Chairs’ Remarks: Regent Dawson greeted everyone and opened the meeting.  Regent Dawson briefly spoke of his visit to the NYS Museum’s archeology site located at Crowne Point and that work is progressing.  Regent Dawson also provided an update on a meeting between SED staff, DOB staff and a member from the Governor’s Office regarding the Cultural Education Fund and the Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund (LGRMIF).

Deputy’s Report: Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Cannell greeted everyone as well.

(Deputy’s Monthly Report for November was shared electronically with the Board of Regents prior to the meeting.  In addition, two off-line reports were transmitted electronically to the Board:

New York State Historical Records report on the strategic plan and priorities of the Advisory Board;  and Public Television's Impact on Teaching & Learning - July 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009)

CE(D) 1 – Partnership for New York’s Cultural Heritage: Results of the Statewide Preservation Survey and Next Steps

Barbara Lilley, Library Development Specialist II/Conservation and Preservation Program Officer                          and Maria Holden, Chief of Archival Services jointly presented on this Item providing background information including what the Partnership for New York’s Cultural Heritage is, the importance, its purpose, development and distribution, and the results of the survey.  New York State was among approximately 40 other states to receive the IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) Connecting to Collections Planning grant.

New York’s cultural heritage is composed of many diverse collecting institutions that, under charter by the University of the State of New York, steward collections for human history, scientific and geological resources.

The presenters emphasized the Office of Cultural Education’s (OCE) commitment to preservation; talked about various services and funding that OCE provides to NYS’s cultural institutions, and OCE’s partnerships with organizations that serve the cultural heritage community. 

Regarding a preservation plan, we now have tangible essential information for action, fundraising, legislation, and information that helps determine needs for preservation education; disaster preparedness and other challenges we may face.  The survey results from this federally funded grant project will aid in a statewide action plan that will set the course of conservation/preservation and digital collection development efforts in NYS for years to come.

A handout was provided to Committee Members.

An opportunity for questions and/or comments was extended to the Committee.

Bernard Margolis, State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for the Libraries gave a brief talk regarding mobile digitization in answer to Regent Dawson’s inquiry about this topic.

CE(D) 2 - Museum Research at the State Museum

The New York State (NYS) Museum is a research museum – it is in the business of discovering new knowledge through collections-based research and then disseminating that knowledge to the public.  This morning’s presentation was from one of the research scientists at the Museum - about the continuing legacy of discovery of new knowledge.  Clifford Siegfried, Director and Assistant Commissioner for the NYS Museum introduced Dr. Jeremy Kirchman, Curator of Birds, who reported on his own research both within and outside of NYS and the importance of Ornithology Research and Education at New York State Museum.

Presented in three parts, Dr. Kirchman’s presentation included: The Ornithology Collection - an overview and talked about the specimen collection and preparation; Part 2 included Ornithology Research - genetics of island populations; and Phylogenetics and Ancient DNA and Part 3 was about new temporary and permanent exhibits and education programs which included mentorship and training.

As stated in the Regents Item:

Research is one of the foundations of a museum, especially the natural history museum. The New York State Museum is a world-class research institution with programs focused on archaeology, biology, geology and history. Researchers study molecules and whales, 1-billion-year-old rocks and recently built furniture, new species, extinct species, invasive species, and incipient species. Archaeologists study the beginnings of agriculture in the state and the conditions at the Albany Almshouse in the early twentieth century. Geologists unearth information on the beginnings of life in the state and on the oil and gas in rocks of the state. Biologists study insects that affect forests and crops and the plants that make up the forests and crops. Historians bring back to life the early Shaker communities and study the role of motorcycles on the state’s economy and people. The NYSM abounds in exciting, interesting and important research projects that mimic the variety, beauty and grandeur of New York.

An opportunity for questions and/or comments was extended to the Committee.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.