Laurie A. Baty of National Law Enforcement Museum Selected for Participation in National Program

To serve as peer reviewer for American Association of Museums

Washington, DC – Laurie A. Baty, Senior Director of Museum Programs for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, has been selected to serve as a Museum Assessment Program peer reviewer for the American Association of Museums (AAM).  With three decades of experience in a variety of institutions, Ms. Baty is the senior museum professional working on creation of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC.

Selection for this program is extended only to qualified museum professionals who have significant museum experience and a proven understanding of the museum field.  Applicants to the Peer Review Program are expected to demonstrate a record of active participation in the field-wide dialogue of museum operations, standards, best practices, and emerging issues.

Peer reviewers volunteer their time to support AAM’s Accreditation and Museum Assessment Programs.  These two programs allow AAM to ensure that museums around the nation are performing up to current standards and best practices, and provide support and resources for museums that are looking to improve.

“We are delighted that Laurie has been selected for this prestigious activity,” said Craig W. Floyd, Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the parent organization of the National Law Enforcement Museum. “Laurie is a dedicated museum professional, and her interest in serving the museum field in this added capacity will only enhance her work at the National Law Enforcement Museum.”

When chosen for an assignment, a peer reviewer is expected to read a museum’s self-study, visit the museum to observe its operations first-hand, and write a report on their findings.  The role of a peer reviewer, while demanding, provides a unique opportunity for professional development as well as the chance to learn from other institutions. 

“Peer reviewers play an integral role in the museum field’s ongoing efforts toward self-improvement,” said Ford W. Bell, president of AAM.  “Peer reviewers demonstrate a commitment to their profession that is exemplary.  Their selfless service enables museums across the country to better meet their obligations to the public trust.”

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About the National Law Enforcement Museum
In the design phase, with groundbreaking slated for the fall of 2010, the National Law Enforcement Museum will be the first museum of its kind in the United States. The mission of the Museum is to tell the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research and education. The Museum dynamically engages the broadest possible audience in this story in an effort to build mutual respect and foster cooperation between the public and the law enforcement profession. By doing so, the Museum contributes to a safer society and serves to uphold the democratic ideals of the U.S. Constitution. For more information, visit www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org.

About AAM
The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

Contact: Kevin Morison
202-737-7134 -- kevin@nleomf.org