“I am very glad to see additional resources going to Joeten-Kiyu Library,” said Sablan. “This grant will go a long way toward helping the library staff in its effort to identify materials with historical and cultural value and keep them safe.”
Sablan also toured the library and was briefed on plans to spend the $200,000 congressional earmark that he obtained for fiscal year 2010.
The funds will be used to make roof repairs and to rehabilitate other parts of the building.
Sablan has applied for another $1,265,000 special appropriation for the library for fiscal year 2011.
The planning grant announced today will allow Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, in partnership with the CNMI Museum of History and Culture and the CNMI Division of Historic Preservation, to conduct surveys of cultural records and resources and to identify which agencies will be responsible for organizing and preserving these records and resources.
Part of this grant will also be used to establish an emergency preparedness plan to secure all cultural collections, and to train staff on proper care and preservation of these sensitive collections.
This amount of the grant, which is award to all states and territories, is based on population and implements the recommendations of the “Heritage Health Index,” a report on the health of all the nation’s libraries and museums.
