PORTLAND – The Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded the Maine Historical Society one of three Museums for America grants given in Maine this year. The $150,000 over the next two years will enable the historical society to undertake a comprehensive inventory of its museum collection, which includes more than 15,000 objects that document the history of Maine, New England and early America, according to a Maine Historical Society press release.

The institute awarded 153 grants nationally from a total of 371 applications.

“This project is hugely important for us,” noted MHS Executive Director Richard D’Abate in the society’s press release. “The inventory will ensure that our museum collections are well-documented and cared for, and that our collections management practices meet the highest professional standards. It’s a key step in making MHS collections accessible to researchers and the public, and in our planning for the future. The collections are the foundation for all that we do, including research, exhibits, school programs, and for our online museum the Maine Memory Network.”

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, www.imls.gov, is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums, according to the press release.

For information, contact Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland 04101, call 774-1822, or visit, www.mainehistory.org.