The center for jewish history will modernize its collections management system to improve security and better serve its audiences

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded The Center for Jewish History, Inc. $1,201,730 on September 1, 2026, under the Museums for America program (CFDA 45.301) to modernize its collections management system.

The Center will transfer over 500,000 records held by the Center and five partner organizations from an outdated system into a cloud-based platform. Project activities include planning, configuration, data migration, and integration of records into a searchable database. The modernization addresses critical security risks posed by the existing system and will improve workflows for collection managers while enhancing discovery and access to museum archives for researchers and public audiences. Two key Center staff members will direct the work in collaboration with an external vendor and representatives from each partner organization.

The two-year project runs through August 31, 2028, with performance in New York, New York.

The two-year project will address the consolidated records of the center and five partner organizations that have been held in an outdated system that poses critical security risks. Two key staff members will work closely with an external vendor and representatives of each of the center's partner organizations. The project team will transfer over 500,000 records to a widely used cloud-based system. Key project activities will involve planning, configuration, data migration, and integration of the records into an updated searchable database. The new platform will enable more efficient workflows and greater usability for collection managers, while improving discovery and access to museum archives for broad audiences.