ROYAL OAK, Mich., January 20, 2010 – The Detroit Zoo has been selected to receive the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf, a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The IMLS Bookshelf focuses on plants and animals found in living collection institutions such as zoos, aquaria, arboreta, public gardens and nature centers.  It addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness and culturally specific conservation issues. 

“The IMLS Bookshelf will provide us with a valuable and unique resource to help care for our living resident population,” said Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director Ron Kagan.

The Detroit Zoo is one of 33 institutions in the U.S. this year to receive the set of resources, based on an application describing the needs and plans for the care of its living collection. 

The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.  Its mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.  To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.