Puppetry Arts Library
1
PUPPETRY LIBRARY
and
ARCHIVES
NEH Preservation and Access:
Humanities Collections and Resources Grant
(CFDA Number: 45.149)
THE BALLARD INSTITUTE & MUSEUM OF PUPPETRY
The University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
2
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 2
Letter of Intent ................................................................................................................................ 3
Letter of Submittal .......................................................................................................................... 7
Abstract/Summary .......................................................................................................................... 9
Statement of Need ......................................................................................................................... 11
Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................................... 15
Methods for Accomplishment of Goals and Objectives ............................................................... 17
Evaluation Component.................................................................................................................. 19
Program Budget ............................................................................................................................ 21
Budget Justification ...................................................................................................................... 22
Timeline ........................................................................................................................................ 23
Sustainability................................................................................................................................. 24
Appendix A – References ............................................................................................................. 25
Appendix B – Advocacy and Support Letter 1 ............................................................................. 26
Appendix C – Advocacy and Support Letter 2 ............................................................................. 27
Appendix D – Advocacy and Support Letter 3 ............................................................................. 28
Appendix E – Organization Background ...................................................................................... 30
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
3
Letter of Intent
THE BALLARD INSTITUTE & MUSEUM OF PUPPETRY
The University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
Lenore Johnson, Ph.D.
Humanities Collections and Resources
Division of Preservation and Access
Room 411
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506
Dear Dr. Johnson,
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP) is submitting this letter of intent
to the National Endowment for the Arts to determine your interest in providing partial funding
for the initial phase of our proposed Puppet Arts Library and Archives Preservation and Access
project.
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP) was established over 20 years ago
(in 1987) as the Puppet Preservation Committee (PPC) and until last year was run entirely by
volunteers.
PPC members recognized the uniqueness of the hundreds of puppets created at the
University of Connecticut. The puppets were designed by Frank Ballard, a professor in the
Dramatic Arts Department, and were built by students under his direction. The PPC was
organized to ensure the preservation and exhibition of these puppets.
The Museum was opened in 1996, and in 2003 the State Legislature enacted a bill that
made the Ballard Institute the official Museum of Puppetry of the State of Connecticut.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
4
The Ballard Institute’s mission is to preserve, protect, and make available to scholars and
others interested in puppetry the variety of resources in the Ballard Institute Library and
Archives; exhibit puppets from around the world as well as those created at the University of
Connecticut; and to provide research and educational opportunities to all who share the love of
puppetry.
Our long-term goal is to become the premier public repository and museum of puppetry
arts materials in the United States and a primary resource for researchers and the public for
information pertaining to puppetry arts.
The Institute and its band of volunteers currently

mount exhibits of unique collections that demonstrate the history of the art form

conduct docent-led museum tours during museum hours and by appointment

loan puppets and other materials to other institutions to help in creating exhibits of
unparalleled excellence and to help ensure that more individuals are able to examine
materials at first hand

conduct hands-on workshops for children and adults in puppet construction and use

create and implement lecture programs on various aspects of puppetry arts for the
public

work with other institutions to receive and care for puppetry arts materials that are
being de-accessioned at those institutions.

work with the Puppetry Arts programs in the University’s School of Dramatic Arts to
enhance the learning experience of students, and to supplement curriculum materials

consult with school program representatives on the uses of puppetry in school
curriculum
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
5
The Library and Archives was successfully run as a small operation by volunteers with
materials donated by Frank Ballard. Over the years, the reputation of the Institute has grown to
such proportions that there has been a recent flood of donations of valuable puppetry arts
materials that have been received by the Institute but that have not been inventoried or processed.
This backlog of materials needs to be organized and made ready for use, for study, loan, or
exhibit.
In light of the numbers of new materials that are arriving at the Institute and the
anticipated continuance and increase in donations, there now exists a need to reassess the
Library’s organizational methods and processes and to move to a system that will be more useful
for a much larger collection and take advantage of technology to disseminate information about
the collection.
Both existing and newly-received materials need to be adequately described, properly
housed, and have descriptions loaded into a database which can be made accessible from the
World Wide Web.
Meeting the needs stated in #6 above will allow the Ballard Institute and Museum of
Puppetry to make more of its unique materials accessible by more individuals for the purposes of
research, scholarly study, and pure enjoyment.
Additionally, in meeting the needs in this manner, the Institute will become a more
professional and more useful resource of puppetry arts materials than it has ever been before.
With proper funding and the support of BIMP volunteers, donated time and talents of a
web designer, and the availability of information specialists in library cataloging and archives as
expert information resources, we would reorganize and catalog materials, load descriptive
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
6
information to a database, and publish this information to the web for access by all and any
persons who wish to browse our collection.
It is expected that staff dedicated to the task described above would be able to evaluate
the collection, establish policies and procedures, inventory uncataloged materials, and clean up
the current very large backlog as well as retrospectively convert the existing library materials.
By the end of the grant period, there will also be a workable web-mounted user interface
for remote access of the collection.
One-year (start-up) cost is $183,300.71. Of this amount, $144,768.69 is being requested
from NEH, with $38,532.02 being supplied from other funding sources.
Funding will be sought under the NEH Preservation and Access: Humanities Collections
and Resources Grant opportunity (CFDA Number: 45.149), which supports projects that
preserve and create intellectual access to such collections as books, newspapers, manuscript and
archival materials, maps, still and moving images, sound recordings, art, and objects of material
culture.
The Institute Director, Dr. James Liberty, will contact the funder to determine its interest
as soon as all needed information has been assembled and outside support is confirmed. He will
also be the funder’s contact for further information.
Sincerely,
Karen P. Patterson
Library Committee Co-Chair
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
7
Letter of Submittal
THE BALLARD INSTITUTE & MUSEUM OF PUPPETRY
The University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
Lenore Johnson, Ph.D.
Humanities Collections and Resources
Division of Preservation and Access
Room 411
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506
Dear Dr. Johnson,
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP) is submitting this proposal to the
National Endowment for the Arts for a $144,768.69 grant to inventory, assess, process and
catalog the considerable collection of the Institute’s Library and Archives, and to create an
online interface for collection access. The grant will enable the Institute to better execute its
missions to provide research and educational opportunities to all who share the love of puppetry.
The proposed online interface will bring this extraordinary collection of materials to researchers,
scholars, and the general public through the power of the World Wide Web.
The board of directors of the Institute believes this project will be key in the preservation,
description, and dissemination of unique information resources to the public in a way that will
create new opportunities for study, foster interest in Puppetry Arts, enhance educational
programs. It is the board’s sincere hope that you will respond favorably to our request for funds.
BIMP’s director, Dr. James Liberty, will contact you in the next two weeks to see if you
have any questions about our proposal. Thank you for your consideration.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
8
Sincerely,
Karen P. Patterson
Library Committee Co-Chair
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
9
Abstract/Summary
The Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry is the State of Connecticut’s official
Museum of Puppetry. Its mission is to preserve, protect, and make available to scholars and
others interested in puppetry the variety of resources in the Ballard Institute Library and
Archives; exhibit puppets from around the world as well as those created at the University of
Connecticut; and to provide research and educational opportunities to all who share the love of
puppetry.
The proposed project, “Puppet Arts Library and Archives: Knowledge for Everyone”
would aid the institute in its mission by organizing, classifying, and preserving unique puppetry
materials, and by improving accessibility to the materials for researchers, students, school
programs, and the general public.
Since so much of the collection is made up of unique items, some of which are of
historical importance in the field of Puppetry Arts, preservation is vital. Frank Ballard, former
UCONN faculty member and internationally celebrated puppeteer and designer, provided the
original impetus for the library and archives through the donation of many of his original scripts,
set designs, puppets, collections of letters, and other personal papers. He also donated a portion
of his personal collections of materials pertaining to other puppeteers, some of whom were his
contemporaries.
The proposed project will preserve and make accessible some materials that have never
been available before and will gather into one location resources that offer a unique and personal
view into the history and development of puppetry arts.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
10
During the grant period, the existing backlog of uncataloged materials will be organized
and cataloged using universally accepted library practices and the collection will be made
accessible by means of an online database with an internet-mounted user interface.
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is uniquely positioned to head this project
because of its 20-year tradition of collecting, caring for, and sharing puppetry arts resources. As
part of the University of Connecticut’s School of Dramatic Arts, it also draws upon the expertise
of a faculty and student body that are passionate about their art and involved with the Institute as
a source of materials and performance venue, and who also donate time and talent to making
Institute and Museum events dynamic, meaningful, and entertaining. The Institute has also been
sanctioned by the State of Connecticut as the state’s official Museum of Puppetry, an honor that
speaks to the quality and value of its collections.
The total cost of the project (from detailed budget) is $183,300.71 for the first year. Of
this amount, $144,768.69 is being requested from the National Endowment for the Arts and the
remaining $38,532.02 is made up of in-kind donations from other sources.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
11
Statement of Need
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP) was established over 20 years ago
in 1987 as the Puppet Preservation Committee (PPC) and until last year was run entirely by
volunteers.
PPC members recognized the uniqueness of the hundreds of puppets created at the
University of Connecticut. The puppets were designed by Frank Ballard, a professor in the
Dramatic Arts Department, and were built by students under his direction. The PPC was
organized to ensure the preservation and exhibition of these puppets.
The museum was opened in 1996 and is located on the grounds of the University of
Connecticut’s Depot Campus. The small cottage building that houses the collection is one of
many that originally served as living quarters for residents of the Mansfield Training School. The
collection has grown exponentially through the donations of world-famous puppeteers and
friends of Frank Ballard. The diverse collection now includes puppets of all types from hundreds
of years past and from all corners of the world.
In 2003, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut approved legislation to
designate the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry as the State Museum of Puppetry, and in
2007 a part-time (20 hours/week) Director for the Institute and Museum was hired.
In addition to the museum building, two more former cottages house BIMP offices, the
library, and storage space.
Puppets are only one part of the BIMP collection. BIMP has in its possession a wide
variety of print and non-print materials relating to puppetry arts, many of which are found no
where else in the world. Many of the papers, personal letters, posters, periodicals, books,
newspaper clippings, scripts, films, slides, photographs, DVDs, etc. related to puppetry arts that
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
12
have been donated are irreplaceable.1 At the present time, these precious artifacts are housed in
the Library, stacked in a file room, out of sight in a closet in the Director’s office, and packed in
boxes in the back hallway.
BIMP provides research and educational opportunities to all who share the love of
puppetry. However, there is a large backlog of materials to be integrated into the library.
Additional collections of library materials are being donated at an increasing rate and have not
been inventoried, organized, or properly housed.
There is an immediate need to inventory, sort, organize, catalog, and make accessible all
of the library materials in a unified space. Many of the uncataloged materials are fragile and in
need of protection from accidental damage. At this time, access to materials for scholarly
research is limited to the currently inventoried materials, which are but a fraction of the total
volume of items. Descriptions and broad subject areas have been recorded for some items and
input into a software program, but there is little standardization and the user interface is lacking
intuitive design. Papers and photographs, clippings and original sketches have been put into
archive quality sleeves and then into loose-leaf binders. The binders are not only hand-labeled
but many are re-used cast-offs scavenged from central warehousing.
The library collection is in dire need of organization, classification, preservation, and
improved accessibility.2 A usable interface design to access the collection is also a priority. A
librarian is needed to assess the collection, to make a workable plan for processing and
organizing the materials, and to do the actual work identified. A web designer is needed for the
creation of a web-mounted user interface that will be the internet portal to the collection. This
1
Agenda. Ballard Institute Library Committee Meeting. (January 31, 2008).
2
Pittman, Betsy, University Archivist. (January 31, 2008). Ballard Institute Library Committee Meeting.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
13
portal will be connected to the University’s main library web interface by the main library’s web
team. The cost of the web designer position is being donated by a generous benefactor of the
Institute. And a part-time (25-30 hours a week) library technician is needed to process materials
under the direction of the librarian and to create records for the collection’s database catalog.
Materials needed include uniform, archival-grade storage containers for each of the
media types being cataloged. Equipment requirements include upgraded computers for the
librarian, webmaster, and technician. Classes in the proper preservation of the various media
types will ensure that the librarian and technician process the physical collection in a manner that
will render them usable for future generations of researchers and scholars.
Reference books to be used in the project will include volumes on standards and
archiving; and cataloging tools such as AACR2 (or its replacement), Subject Headings and other
resources commonly found in a technical services area of a working library. Expert guidance on
this aspect of the project will be available from the University’s main campus library Technical
Services Department personnel, who have donated their services to review processes and make
recommendations.3
The precious materials that are currently housed in the library will be joined by an everincreasing number of equally unique and sometimes irreplaceable items during the course of the
project and beyond. In order to protect the collection from damage caused by light and
environmental conditions, a regulated atmosphere needs to be created in the library space, and
window coverings that allow filtered natural light to penetrate without the sun’s damaging
effects need to be installed on the library’s windows.
3
Pittman, B. & Gallup, S. (January 31, 2008). Ballard Institute Library Committee Meeting.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
14
The BIMP collection has the potential to become the largest repository of puppetry
materials anywhere in the country, benefitting students, faculty, researchers, and visitors from
the community and elsewhere.
Organization and cataloging are the first steps toward digitizing and making collection
available to researchers, students, and the general public via the internet. Immediate benefits of
having the library collection properly processed is the increased access of puppetry materials it
will afford, the preservation of unique primary sources of information, and accessibility of
information for future generations of scholars, researchers, and the general public.
The Ballard Institute is the logical choice to oversee this project because of its assured
continuing commitment to the collection, preservation, and dissemination of information related
to puppetry arts. The project has implications for a wider audience as well: documentation of the
project from start to finish will be used to publish scholarly articles; workshops will be offered to
other institutions that may have special libraries in need of similar attention. In short,
descriptions of the experiences culled from this project can be made into a handbook to transfer
knowledge to other interested parties, cutting down on steps and expense as duplication of
research into many aspects of projects can be dispensed with altogether.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
15
Goals and Objectives
The primary goal of the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is to provide research
and educational opportunities to all who share the love of puppetry. To that end, BIMP invites
the public to attend lectures, demonstrations, and workshops on puppetry; works with school
educators to provide programs of interest to school children; loans portions of its puppet
collection to other institutions and exhibits; and invites scholars and researchers to make use of
its library materials. A secondary goal is to preserve the unique materials housed in both the
museum and library for future generations.
The proposed project will help the Institute to meet the goal of making the library
collection accessible to everyone and supporting the research and scholarly needs of the puppetry
arts community. The following goals and objectives are specific to the project.
Goals

Develop and implement uniform methods of assessing and processing new
acquisitions of collections and single items from individuals or other institutions

Increase availability of information and materials to the scholarly and public
communities

Protect and preserve fragile puppetry arts materials for future generations
Objectives

Increase the number of inventoried materials to 100%. This will reduce the risk of
materials being lost due to anonymity in storage areas. At present it is estimated that
there are 35 books, 125 canisters of film, 800 35mm slides, 68 posters, 432
photographs, 145 78-rpm phonograph records, 15 DVDs, 110-125 scripts, original set
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
16
and architectural designs for over 50 productions, and hundreds of newspaper
clippings and pieces of personal correspondence.

Provide project staff with continuing education in preservation and storage of special
media.

Create a user-centered interface for access of the collection online.

Integrate the Ballard Institute’s collection information into the University’s main
library’s web interface

Create programs to aid other special libraries in accomplishment of similar projects
(for presentation at workshops and professional conferences)
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
17
Methods for Accomplishment of Goals and Objectives
In order to accomplish the goals outlined in the Goals and Objectives section, the
methods outlined below will be used. The successful implementation of these methods will
culminate in a very important goal of the Ballard Institute being reached: that of making unique
materials accessible to scholars, researchers, students, and all who love puppetry.
The BIMP Director will search for a hire a degreed librarian with a strong background in
cataloging to take responsibility for the grant program. The librarian will search out and hire a
library technician to assist in project work.
In the first month of the project, archive and preservation materials will be procured,
along with reference manuals on preservation and archiving. Manuals, tools, and authority
volumes for cataloging will be purchased and will become a permanent part of the library’s
working texts.
The librarian and library technician will attend training nearby at NEDCC (Northeast
Document Conservation Center) in Andover, MA. in order to learn how to best handle the
various media in the BIMP collections.
Three new computers will be bought and networked with the main university library’s
integrated library system (ILS). This will enable the librarian and technician to use online
cataloging components that are already an item in the main library’s budget.
Also in the first month, the librarian and technician will assess the current collection,
determine work flows, processes, and priorities for handling the existing re-work and new work
loads, and establish procedures for receiving, prioritizing, and processing new materials. Interim
goals and benchmarks will be determined so that evaluation and measurement of success can be
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
18
conducted every two months, with revisions as necessary. Collection processing will span
months 2-12.
After the project has been running long enough to populate a robust database (estimated
to be around month six), a web interface designer who has donated their time and talents will be
brought in to design, test, and implement the public access interface component. This process is
expected to take about one month.
During month ten, the librarian and BIMP director will draw up and begin to implement
marketing strategies and arrange for publicity for the official launch of the “Puppets are for
Everyone” campaign to introduce the user interface and services that will be universally
available to anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection.
In the final month of the grant period, materials will continue to be processed, added to
the database, and made available to the public. A summary report of the grant’s experience will
be prepared for return to the grant funder. A presentation describing the successes, challenges,
and rewards of the project will be put together and offered for workshops and conferences
locally and regionally. A paper reporting on the experience will also be constructed and offered
for publication to special library publications.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
19
Evaluation Component
An initial inventory of existing items will be made at the beginning of the grant period to
be used as a baseline for measurement. Items will be inventoried by media type and status
(uncataloged or requiring retrospective conversion).
Statistics will be kept on a daily basis throughout the grant period, measuring numbers of
items that have gone through the different stages of processing:
Existing uncataloged items, by media type:

items cataloged

items prepared for shelving (physical processing)

items shelved

items input to database
Retrospectively converted items, by media type:

items cataloged

items prepared for shelving (physical processing)

items shelved

items input to database
New (received after beginning of grant period) items, by media type:

items received

items cataloged

items prepared for shelving (physical processing)

items shelved

items input to database
Daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports will be generated.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
20
The librarian and technician will review reports weekly for the first 3 months to
determine relative rate of processing. Processing methods will also be reviewed to determine if
they need to be adjusted for greater efficiency. Based on report reviews and processing method
adjustments, and the amount of unprocessed materials, projections for the next evaluation period
will be made. All reports after the first week will be measured against the projection for the
period and the progress toward overall goals expressed in the Goals and Objectives component.
After the first 3 months, monthly evaluations will be done monthly, using the same
criteria and method outlined above.
Goals, objectives, and methods will be periodically reviewed and compared with actual
accomplishments in order for the grant staff to remain focused on timelines and to allow for
adjustments to work patterns to better meet the grant objectives.
Reports will be made available to the funding agency, the Institute’s director and Board
members, and the Dean of the School of Fine Arts.
The program will be considered successful if it when work goals as stated are complete,
including the following processes and components:

Completion of retrospective conversion of previously processed materials

Cleanup of 95% of the backlog existing at the beginning of the grant period

Existence of clear procedures for receiving, checking in, and processing of all new
materials

An error-free database containing the catalog of the library

An internet-mounted user interface that will allow collection access by anyone with a
computer and internet connection
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
21
Program Budget
EXPECTED REVENUE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Foundation Grant
In-kind donations
Total Funds Expected from All
Sources
Salaries
Institute Director
Librarian
9
Library technician
10
Webmaster (1 month)
11
Database Administrator
12
Financial Administrator
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
$144,768.69
In-Kind
$38,532.02
Total
$144,768.69
$38,532.02
$38,532.02
$183,300.71
EXPECTED EXPENSES
8
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Funds
Required
$144,768.69
Benefits
Training, Librarian (3 days)
Training, Library Tech (1 day)
Travel
Conference Registration Fees
Association Memberships (1 yr)
Hardware, software, network
connections
iMac, 20" (2) for Librarian & Lib
Technician
iMac, 24" (1) for Webmaster
Network Installation
Network Maintenance (1 year)
OCLC membership (1 year)
Supplies
General office supplies
Preservation Supplies
Indirect Costs (10%)
Total
hr/wk
Ann Sal
4
hr/wk
40
hr/wk
30
hr/wk
40
hr/wk
2
hr/wk
3
hr/wk
85,000.00
Funds
Required
In-Kind
$8,500.00
Total
$8,500.00
57,200.00
$57,200.00
$57,200.00
49,100.00
$36,824.99
$36,824.99
78,000.00
$6,500.00
$6,500.00
60,000.00
$3,000.00
$3,000.00
$3,112.50
$5,837.61
$3,112.50
$31,835.52
$240.00
$95.00
$2,500.00
$1,645.00
$495.00
41,500.00
$25,997.91
$240.00
$95.00
$1,500.00
$1,000.00
$1,645.00
$495.00
$0.00
$3,356.00
$2,925.00
$3,469.00
$13,160.79
$125.00
$1,017.00
$3,502.91
$3,356.00
$2,925.00
$2,297.00
$1,200.00
$300.00
$0.00
$125.00
$4,486.00
$16,663.70
$144,768.69
$38,532.02
$183,300.71
$2,297.00
$1,200.00
$300.00
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
22
Budget Justification
1
8
9
10
14
15/16
17
18
19
21
22
23
24
25
28
Foundation Grant. Funds required for establishment of program
Director: Administrative oversight, 10%
Librarian: Full-time
Library Technician: Part-time
27.65% of salary: 7.5% SS/Medicare, 5.8% vacation, 3.85% sick leave; 10.5% med/dental insurance
Preservation & digitizing workshops at NEDCC, Andover, MA
Transportation & accommodations for training, meetings, and conferences
Attendance at 3 conferences: Connecticut & New England Library Assns (CLA & NELA), and
Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)
Professional memberships for librarian:CLA, NELA, ACRL, Special Library Assn (SLA), ALA,
American Society of Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T)
iMac Specifications:
 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM – 2x1GB
 320GB Serial ATA drive
 SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
 Apple Mighty Mouse
 Apple Keyboard (English) + Mac OS X
 iWork ’08 preinstalled
 Accessory kit
 2.4G Hz Intel Core 2 Duo
 ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
 20-inch glossy widescreen LCD
 AirPort Extreme
 Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
IMac Specifications:
 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme
 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM – 2x1GB
 500GB Serial ATA drive
 SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
 Apple Mighty Mouse
 Apple Keyboard (English) + Mac OS X
 iWork ’08 preinstalled
 Aperture preinstalled
 Logic Express preinstalled
 Accessory kit
 ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory
 24-inch glossy widescreen LCD
 AirPort Extreme
 Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
Network installation: BIMP machines & Babbidge Library Tech Services Dept. Supplied by University
Telecommunications Dept.
Network maintenance: Supplied by University Telecommunications Dept.
OCLC: Addition of one site to existing membership. Supplied by Babbidge Library
Preservation supplies include: Acid-free papers, sleeves, shelving containers
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
23
Timeline
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
24
Sustainability
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry has shown itself to be a viable
organization that has grown in its 20 year history from a small all-volunteer project established
to preserve puppets primarily designed and constructed exclusively at the University of
Connecticut’s Drama Department to become the state’s official Museum of Puppetry and the
repository of not only puppets but of manuscripts, film, musical scores, journals, posters, set
designs, still photographs, slides, and all other manner of formatted materials related to the
puppetry arts. It now has a part-time paid staff in additional to its volunteers and offers programs,
research opportunities, workshops, and museum tours to all who are interested.
The Puppetry Arts Library and Archives project, when established according to the vision
of our grant request, is expected to continue indefinitely. The library is an integral part of the
Institute and is a key component in meeting the Institute’s mission and goals.
Continuing support for the Library will come from a variety of sources including state
funding, business contributions, donated time and expertise of our volunteer staff, donations of
materials and collections from individuals and institutions, and contributions by BIMP members,
volunteers, and the general public.
The Institute will continue its direct and email campaigns for monetary donations from
alumni as well as the general public and begin to seek endowments and bequests from
corporations and individuals. Careful budget preparation and justification will be employed to
maximize funds received by the state. Additional revenue may be realized through the sale of
donated items in the museum store. Finally, an annual fund-raising event is planned to coincide
with the Spring Museum exhibit. Creative and well-executed fund-raising will help the Institute
to grow and preserve its library, archives, and museum.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
25
Appendix A – References
Caswell, Lucy Shelton. (1991). Item Level Access to Special Collections: a Prototype for an
integrated Automated Index. Journal of Library Administration, 15 (3-4), 101-120.
Retrieved March 2, 2008 from Library Literature database.
Jones, Barbara M. (Fall 2004). Hidden Collections, Scholarly Barriers: Creating Access to
Unprocessed Special Collections Materials in America’s Research Libraries. RBM, 5 (2),
88-105. Retrieved March 2, 2008 from Library Literature database.
Lundy, M. W. & Hollis, D. R. (November 2004). Creating Access to Invisible Special
Collections: Using Participatory Management to Reduce a Backlog. Journal of Academic
Librarianship, 30 (6), 466-475. Retrieved March 2, 2008 from Library Literature
database.
Mandel, Carol. (Fall 2004). Hidden Collections: The Elephant in the Closet. RBM, 5 (2), 106114. Retrieved March 2, 2008 from Library Literature database.
Nichols, Margaret F. (1996). Finding the Forest Among the Trees: the Potential of Collectionlevel Cataloging. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 23 (1), 53-71. Retrieved March
2, 2008 from Library Literature database.
Whittaker, Beth M. (Fall 2006). "Get It, Catalog It, Promote It": New Challenges to Providing
Access to Special Collections. RBM, 7 (2), 121-133. Retrieved March 2, 2008 from
Library Literature database.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
26
Appendix B – Advocacy and Support Letter 1
THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
STORRS, CT
April 16, 2008
Lenore Johnson, Ph.D.
Humanities Collections and Resources
Division of Preservation and Access
Room 411
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506
Dear Dr. Johnson:
We are writing today to show support for the Ballard Institute and Museum of
Puppetry’s grant proposal to professionally organize and preserve its unique collection, and to
make puppetry resources accessible to anyone who wishes to use them.
We recently met with the Institute’s Library Committee, toured the facility and
did a preliminary assessment of what might be needed for the proposed project. At the
conclusion of the meeting we assured the Committee that we would be happy to make our own
expertise available to grant staff for help in processing of unusual materials, and also to act as
additional resources for any library or archival questions that may arise.
The collection under discussion is important, unique, and the funding of this grant
opportunity would help to secure the Institute as a leader in the field of Puppetry Arts resources.
Sincerely,
Sally Bitters
University Archivist
Thomas Dodd Center
Elizabeth Gallman
University Librarian, Cataloging Department
Homer D. Babbidge Library
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
27
Appendix C – Advocacy and Support Letter 2
OFFICE OF THE DEAN
SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
STORRS, CT
April 16, 2008
Lenore Johnson, Ph.D.
Humanities Collections and Resources
Division of Preservation and Access
Room 411
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506
Dear Dr. Johnson:
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is an important part of the University of
Connecticut and of Connecticut itself. Supported by a staff of dedicated volunteers, some of
whom have been involved with the Institute for over 20 years, and now served ably by its new
Director, Dr. James Liberty, it is a unique facility that benefits the general public and schools,
provides curriculum support for University level study, acts as a scholarly resource for
researchers, and shares its puppet collections with other institutions so that they may be
experiences at first hand by as many individuals as possible.
This proposal has the full support of the School of Fine Arts and its faculty. If funded, the
proposal will enable the Institute to quickly and capably complete the first essential step in
building a world-class library and Archives of Puppetry Arts.
I sincerely hope NEH will agree with my assessment and vote to fund this wonderful
proposal.
Robert T. Maple
Dean, School of Fine Arts
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
28
Appendix D – Advocacy and Support Letter 3
April 16, 2008
Lenore Johnson, Ph.D.
Humanities Collections and Resources
Division of Preservation and Access
Room 411
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20506
Dear Dr. Johnson:
I would like to add my voice to the voices of the many others who support and encourage
the realization of the dream of making the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry’s library
and archives the largest repository of puppetry-related resources in the country.
Over the past 20 years I’ve seen the seeds of my personal collection grow and multiply
under the careful nurturing of an amazing all-volunteer staff. The Institute has served the needs
of a multi-generational constituency that includes young children, students in all stages of
learning, school groups, curriculum developers, researchers, scholars, families, and individuals.
The collections have grown to a point where the untiring work of volunteers alone is
insufficient to control the resources in a way that will maximize the benefits they have to offer.
In the creation of a paid position of Director, the University has acknowledged the importance of
the Ballard Institute’s collections and the need for a more formal structure. While the volunteers
who have labored so long and so well over the years will continue their work at the Institute,
there is a pressing need for an ongoing professional position to manage the collections.
In addition to the original collection that began the Institute’s remarkable journey of
preserving, exhibiting, and loaning of puppetry arts resources, the remainder of my
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
29
personal papers, books, puppets and puppet paraphernalia will go to the Ballard Institute upon
my death.
I hope you will respond favorably to the Institute’s request for funding so that
management of the collection and universal access to it will become a reality and allow the
Institute to serve puppetry aficionados and scholars wherever they are.
Phineas Bolduc
Puppeteer, Educator
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher
Puppetry Arts Library
30
Appendix E – Organization Background
The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (BIMP) was established over 20 years ago in
1987 as the Puppet Preservation Committee (PPC) and until last year was run entirely by
volunteers.
PPC members recognized the uniqueness of the hundreds of puppets created at the University of
Connecticut. The puppets were designed by Frank Ballard, a professor in the Dramatic Arts
Department, and were built by students under his direction. The PPC was organized to ensure the
preservation and exhibition of these puppets.
The museum was opened in 1996 and is located on the grounds of the University of
Connecticut’s Depot Campus. The small cottage building that houses the collection is one of
many that originally served as living quarters for residents of the Mansfield Training School. The
collection has grown exponentially through the donations of world-famous puppeteers and
friends of Frank Ballard. The diverse collection now includes puppets of all types from hundreds
of years past and from all corners of the world.
In 2003, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut approved legislation to designate the
Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry as the State Museum of Puppetry. BIMP is now a part
of the School of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
In 2007 a part-time (20 hours/week) Director for the Institute and Museum was hired. At the
present time, paid staff at the Institute consists of the director and a graduate assistant who works
3 days a week.
In addition to the museum building, two more former cottages house BIMP offices, the library,
and storage space.
Puppets are only one part of the Ballard Institute’s resources; it has in its possession a wide
variety of print and non-print materials relating to puppetry arts, many of which are found no
where else in the world.
BIMP provides research and educational opportunities for scholars, researchers, students, and all
who share the love of puppetry. It also presents lectures, workshops, and a children’s hands-on
favorite: Make A Puppet.
Tours for school groups are a common activity at the Institute, as are consultations with teachers
about incorporation of puppets and puppetry into grade-school curriculum. Productions have also
been put on for school groups at the schools’ locations.
Virtually all of this has been accomplished by volunteers who are puppetry students, puppetry
graduates, puppetry faculty, and BIMP volunteers.
"A puppet is the artist's soul set free."
-Frank Ballard, Puppeteer, Designer/Director, Teacher