2010 Schwartz Prize Winner: Connecticut Humanities Council
Heritage Resource Center
The Connecticut Humanities Council's Heritage Resource Center (HRC) offers online and person-to-person assistance to Connecticut's museum and historical society staff and volunteers through a comprehensive Web site, lending library, and field service program. The project resulted from a year-long environmental scan of the state's heritage community completed in 2007.
The HRC Web site contains reviews of new books and articles, recommendations on the most useful Web sites, and special reports, surveys, and audience studies. Content is organized by eight core subject areas where visitors can find "must read" resources recommended by an advisory committee of the state's leading museum practitioners. A Community Center blog gives users access to an ever-expanding set of the most current and useful resources available.
Since its debut in July 2009, the HRC's field service programming and lending library have served nearly 500 people and the HRC Web site has received nearly 8,400 visits totaling just under 23,000 pages viewed. And, while the HRC Web site was specifically designed for Connecticut institutions, practitioners across the country have benefited from this unique, and much needed, resource. Site followers stretch throughout New England, into the Midwest, to Tennessee, Texas, and California.
Learn more about the Heritage Resource Center:
Schwartz Prize nomination materials
Website: http://www.ctculture.org/chc/program_resources/hrc/