FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       Contact: Michele Peters

651.209.9259

mpeters@isis.org

International Species Information System (ISIS) awarded US $500,000 National Leadership Grant through IMLS

Eagan, MN (21 September 2004) – ISIS announced today that it received a prestigious US $500,000 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funds for the nation's museums and libraries.

“This endorsement from IMLS means a lot for this project,” said Nate Flesness, executive director, ISIS. “The ZIMS Project will aid zoos, aquariums and related organizations in better animal management and care by facilitating sharing of important information on 2 million animals worldwide.”

ISIS will use this grant funding for one component of its development of a discipline-wide collections management system called the Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS).

ISIS is working with experts in the zoo and aquarium community through the International Animal Data Information Systems Committee (IADISC – http://www.iadisc.org/) and its regional groups to build ZIMS.

To date, ISIS and ZIMS software developer CGI (http://www.cgi.com/) have held three development sessions around the world to seek advice from zoo and aquarium staff on how the ZIMS application should function. Forty-four representatives from 14 countries have attended JAD sessions so far. ISIS is also beginning data standards workshops.

This IMLS grant will help ISIS meet its capital funding goal of US $10 million. In addition to IMLS funding, ISIS has secured a US $300,000 grant from the US National Science Foundation. And, 133 members of the worldwide zoological community have pledged a total of almost $4 million to Building ZIMS: The Campaign for ISIS.

Efforts are continuing to raise funds from other governmental sources and corporate sponsors.

About ISIS

Founded in 1974 the International Species Information System (ISIS) began with 55 members. Today, ISIS is an organization of more than 600 institutions from more than 70 countries that have come together for the preservation of animal species.

ISIS has supported four generations of software for worldwide animal inventory, veterinary and studbook applications and other uses. ISIS has played a key role in establishing standards and sharing globally-pooled specimen records among the zoo and aquarium community.

About IMLS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities. To learn more about the Institute, log on to www.imls.gov.

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