Birmingham, Alabama—The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) has achieved the highest recognition for a museum, accreditation by the American Association of Museums (AAM).

AAM Accreditation signifies excellence within the museum community. It is a seal of approval and strengthens individual museums and the entire field by promoting ethical and professional practices. Being accredited enables museum leaders to make informed decisions, allocate and use resources wisely, and maintain the strictest accountability to the public they serve.

Of the nation's nearly 16,000 museums, over 750 are currently accredited. It is a rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum's operations. BCRI is one of only six museums accredited in the state of Alabama.

"We began our quest for accreditation in December of 2001," stated Dr. Lawrence J. Pijeaux, Jr., BCRI President & CEO. "It has been a process that has brought us together as a Board and staff. With this designation [as an accredited institution], we know what determination can bring about and we know that BCRI stands among the best in the field."

BCRI is a state-of-the-art, multi-media facility housing exhibitions of historical events from post-World War I racial segregation to present-day racial progress. The Institute is an international resource for educators, students and researchers. Its Archives house an extensive collection of documents, photographs, speeches and artifacts from the Civil Rights Movement. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, located at 520 Sixteenth Street North, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call (205) 328-9696 or visit the Web site at www.bcri.org

As the national service organization representing the American museum community, the American Association of Museums addresses the needs of museums to enhance their ability to serve the public. For more about AAM and the Accreditation Program please visit www.aam-us.org.