Schumer Announces Key Senate Panel Approves $300,000 For Rochester's George Eastman House
Funding Would Use New Technology to Preserve and Increase Access to Museum Library Collections Schumer Worked Closely with the Senate Committee to Include Funding In FY2009 Spending Bill Bill will now be sent to the Senate Floor
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the full Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies FY09 Appropriations Bill which includes $300,000 for the George Eastman House in Rochester. The funding would be used to preserve and allow access to museum library collections through new Web applications. The bill will now proceed to the Senate Floor as the next step in the appropriations process. Schumer worked closely with members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the project in this year's spending bill.
"This is terrific news for the George Eastman House and entire Rochester community," said Schumer. "The George Eastman House is one of the oldest and most revered photography and film museums worldwide. In these technologydriven times, it's important for the federal government to do everything its power to ensure that such historic, cultural gems as this one are able to adapt and innovate in ways that allow them to both preserve their heritage and expand their resources. I intend to fight tooth and nail to see this money through the appropriations process."
The George Eastman House will use these funds to create a model for new ways to share, examine and interpret collections in a digital environment that can be sustained and replicated by museums around the world. Specifically, Eastman House will explore how to best utilize Web 2.0 applications in terms of preservation and access to museum and library collections.
Now that the bill has been approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee, it will be sent to the Senate floor. Following approval by the Senate, the bill will move towards Conference with the House and then to the President for signature.
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