In an ongoing endeavor to bolster efforts for its museum expansion, the Hermosa Beach Historical Society this week received word it qualified for another grant that will fund projects related to managing its exhibit collections.

According to the society’s grant writer chair, Howard Fishman, the $1,800 grant is the second in a series of four grants the Historical Society has applied for and received.

“This grant is really for a couple of things including to help subsidize a surveyor who matches the needs of the museum,” said Fishman. “This grant deals with collection management, so it has a very detailed function. We are basically buying the expertise of someone who knows what they are doing.”

The American Association of Museums, based in Washington, D.C., awards grants to museums across the U.S. The society received the first grant, the Institutional Assessment Grant, in May of 2001. Like the first grant, the second one will provide expertise and guidance from a professional consultant appointed to assess the museum’s current state related specifically to its collections.

Over the past three years, talk among Historical Society members has circulated of incorporating three important aspects of the city’s history into its museum, now under an expansion from 2,150 square feet to 3,500 square feet.

With the new space, the organization founded in 1987 hopes to integrate exhibits on jazz, surfing and volleyball with the city’s general history that will make for some unique displays.

“This group is really on a roll with the first grant, acquiring space for an expansion and the success of two fund-raisers. This second grant came at a great time,” said Fishman. “Many things have happened over the last two to three years and I think we are all building on the excitement.”

In 2001, discussion among society members led to the grant application and award of $1,775. The AAM then appointed consultant Edra Moore who spent a weekend in Hermosa Beach in January of 2002. She reviewed the museum collection and provided the group with advice on numerous topics ranging from collection management to document preservation to publicizing the museum. AAM hired Moore to provide a general overview on the museum’s entire operations. She then recommended the group form a strategic planning committee to accomplish long-term goals over a three- to five-year period.

“This group has the desire to do something for the city’s museum,” added Fishman. “They have changed their attitude and philosophy, and it’s been a healthy change for them and the community. They want to create a museum that’s unique to Hermosa Beach.”

Assessment funded by the second grant is much more specific in its scope and focuses primarily on collection policies, planning, access and care. The Historical Society will once again form a self-study committee to review the museum’s procedures and practices related to collection. Following a self-study, the AAM will appoint a consultant to the project.

“The money essentially pays for an expert to visit us and tell us how to properly care for items we buy or are donated,” said Rick Koenig, the society’s vice president. “It’s something we desperately need because we have high hopes for this museum and we want to incorporate these new procedures into the designs of our new expansion.”