Please note: the MSU Museum will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day holiday, Saturday, May 23 - Monday, May 25. Regular hours resume at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26.

On Friday, May 22, 20th Century Fox will release "Night At The Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian," the sequel to the popular film "Night At The Museum," starring Ben Stiller. This time around, Stiller's character, Larry Daley, finds himself at the Smithsonian, where a battle will soon be waged among the museum exhibits.

The Smithsonian, where the movie was partly filmed, is home to more than 136 million objects, artifacts and specimens in its collections, ranging from historical artifacts to pop culture icons. Based in Washington, D.C., it operates 19 museums, nine research centers, and the National Zoo in the D.C. area. Of the Smithsonian's 160 affiliate museums nation-wide, only four are in Michigan and only one is in Mid-Michigan: the Michigan State University Museum.

The MSU Museum, the first affiliate in Michigan, is open seven days a week year-round and features three main galleries with changing exhibits along with several permanent displays. Altogether, the museum has almost a million items in its collection and also displays them at various places on the MSU campus and around the country.

For more information on current exhibits and programs, please contact the MSU Museum at 517-355-2370 or visit www.museum.msu.edu. The MSU Museum is open every day, though it will be closed for Memorial Day from May 23-25. Entrance is free of charge (donations are encouraged). The museum is located on West Circle Drive next to Beaumont Tower on the MSU campus and is accessible to persons with disabilities. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Visitor parking is available in front of the building and at metered spaces at the Grand River Ramp, one block away at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Charles Street.

To find out more about "Night At The Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian," go to its website, www.nightatthemuseummovie.com.

What would you say if someone asked, "What is there to do in Greater Lansing?" If you had to think about it, get ready to discover (or rediscover) your own backyard during the 15th Annual Be A Tourist In Your Own Town celebration. The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau will host the event on Saturday, May 30th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While a dollar sure doesn't buy much these days, it's STILL enough to purchase a Greater Lansing passport, allowing event participants to visit more than 60 local partnering establishments. Old favorites include: Impression 5 Science Center, Potter Park Zoo and the Michigan Historical Museum. Be sure to visit one of the many new stops including, FRAG Center, MSU's Breslin Center, WKAR Studios and taste the new "Capital City Sundae" ice cream flavor at the MSU Dairy Store. Some attractions will offer a discount on services through June with the passport.

"The tourism industry is a key component of the Greater Lansing economy," said Tracy Padot, Vice President, Marketing Communications. "Based on a study conducted by Michigan State University, more than 5 million out-of-town guests visit Greater Lansing each year, generating $431 million in direct spending and supporting 7,500 jobs in the tourism sector. We want residents to not only enjoy the leisure options Lansing offers, but also recognize the importance of creating a hospitable environment for our guests by serving as community ambassadors."

Many MSU destinations are a strong part of the Greater Lansing tourism sector and are taking part in the "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" program, including Kresge Art Museum, MSU Bikes Service Center, MSU Bug House, MSU Community Music School, MSU Horticulture Gardens and 4-H Children's Garden, MSU Museum, and the W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens.

The Michigan State University Museum has honored Jeff Benson as its 2009 exemplary volunteer. Benson, who is past-president of the MSU Museum's Associates Board, was recognized for his nearly 20-year involvement with the MSU Federal Credit Union Dinosaur Dash, which benefits educational programs at the MSU Museum. Benson is vice president for operations at the MSU Federal Credit Union.

"The MSU Museum is so thankful for the commitment, time and talent of Jeff Benson," notes MSU Museum Director C. Kurt Dewhurst. "Not only is he the first to step up to support our programs, he has also done so for so many years and he has become a guiding force here. Jeff has helped extend the reach of our programs and services, and we appreciate his community spirit and connectedness."

More than 500 volunteers help the MSU Museum annually at special events across the campus and community, at the museum's information desk, in collections and data-entry services, and most recently, providing guided tours each month in the "Stanley's General Store" exhibit.

The Michigan State University Museum, Michigan's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate, features three floors of natural history and culture collections and changing exhibits. The MSU Museum works to understand, interpret and respect natural and cultural diversity. Education, exhibitions, research and the building and stewardship of collections focus on Michigan and its relationship to the Great Lakes and the world beyond.

The Museum is located on West Circle Drive, next to Beaumont Tower on the Michigan State University campus. The museum is open free of charge donations are encouraged) seven days a week: weekdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sundays 1 - 5 p.m. The facility is accessible to persons with disabilities. Learn more at http://museum.msu.edu .

On Monday, May 18, the Michigan State University Museum marks International Museum Day. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) proclaimed this year's theme "Museums and Tourism." Thousands of museums on all continents will celebrate the role of museums in communities -- particularly for the way they combine leisure, learning, local flavor and economic impact as popular destinations for travelers.

Greater Lansing residents are encouraged to celebrate International Museum Day and visit the MSU Museum. Current special exhibits on display are:
-Michigan Eats: Regional Culture Through Food - Heritage Gallery
-Tanzania in Deep Time: A View from the Rift Valley -West Gallery
-Threads of Change: The Transformation of West African Textiles - Main Gallery
-We Celebrate Mr. Lincoln's 200th Birthday - Ground Floor Lobby
ICOM created International Museum Day in 1977 to encourage awareness about the role of museums in the development of society. For more information on International Museum Day, visit http://icom.museum/imd.html

For more information on current exhibits and programs, please contact the MSU Museum at 517-355-2370 or visit http://museum.msu.edu. The MSU Museum is open seven days a week free of charge (donations are encouraged). The museum is located on West Circle Drive next to Beaumont Tower on the MSU campus and is accessible to persons with disabilities. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Visitor parking is available in front of the building and at metered spaces at the Grand River Ramp, one block away at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Charles Street.

Parents looking for summer educational opportunities for their little learners can enroll them in Michigan State University Museum's annual Fossil Camp, a four-day summer program for ages 8 - 11. Junior paleontologists take a "trip through time" with Danita Brandt, MSU geologist and MSU Museum adjunct curator, and explore Michigan's fossils before the dinosaurs.

Fossil campers will spend four action-packed mornings, from June 29 to July 2, discovering where fossils can be found in Michigan, what Michigan was like millions of years ago, and why there are no dinosaurs in Michigan. The class draws upon the rich resources and collections of the MSU Museum to combine fun, hands-on learning with lessons about our natural world. The program will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon each day of the camp, and will be held in the MSU Museum auditorium. There are still spots available, but program size is limited. Registration can be done over the phone at 517-432-1472; registration fee is $75. Learn more at http://museum.msu.edu/ProgramsandPartnerships/Educational/SummerAdventure/

The Michigan State University Museum is seeking volunteers to serve in a number of positions during the summer and throughout the year. More than 500 volunteers help the MSU Museum annually inside the museum and at special events.

-Information desk volunteers provide general information and other assistance to visitors as well as assist in orientation, as well as giving tours of the "Stanley's General Store" exhibit. Volunteers are especially needed on Mondays and weekends.

-Exhibition assistants help prepare and install museum exhibits, and prepare and paint exhibition galleries. Basic carpentry skills, painting experience, and a flexible schedule are required. Volunteer assignments take approximately two weeks to complete. Time commitment is approximately five hours per week for two-week periods, every few months as exhibits are changed.

-Facilities assistants provide basic maintenance of exhibits and public areas of the museum. Tasks include changing light bulbs, touch-up painting and repairs in public areas, cleaning exhibits, and repairing labels. A basic knowledge of electrical systems, basic cleaning skills, the ability to lift and carry 25 pounds, and a flexible schedule are required. This is a year-round activity. Time commitment is approximately five to 10 hours per week.

-Energetic volunteers are also needed to help produce the annual Great Lakes Folk Festival, Aug. 7-9 A variety of positions are available, include staffing information booths, artist transportation, children's activities, bucket brigades, and site set-up and teardown. Volunteers can work 2-hour shifts (and more) and receive a commemorative T-shirt, and entry to a festival artist-staff-volunteer party during the event.

Benefits of volunteering at the MSU Museum include free parking, discounts at the Museum Store, invitation to special events, and other opportunities to connect with the museum and the community. Orientation and training are provided.

To volunteer, or for more information, email Diane Penix, at gbpenix@gmail.com . Or contact the MSU Museum at (517) 432-4655. Read more about volunteer opportunities, as well as sign up to volunteer, at http://museum.msu.edu/GeneralInformation/Volunteering/ .

The Michigan State University Museum, Michigan's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate, features three floors of natural history and culture collections and changing exhibits. The MSU Museum works to understand, interpret and respect natural and cultural diversity. Education, exhibitions, research and the building and stewardship of collections focus on Michigan and its relationship to the Great Lakes and the world beyond. The Museum is located on West Circle Drive, next to Beaumont Tower on the Michigan State University campus. The museum is open free of charge (donations are encouraged) seven days a week: weekdays 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sundays 1 - 5 p.m. The facility is accessible to persons with disabilities.

For more than 50 years, Michigan State University has been a national academic leader in all things Africa. Whether it's been fighting diseases such as malaria, helping to develop more disease-resistant crops, or training Africa's future physicians, farmers or leaders, MSU has been there.

Consider these numbers: MSU ranks first in the nation in the number of Africa-related doctoral programs that are offered and first among U.S. universities in the number of African language courses offered. In addition, more than 1,200 African students have earned an MSU degree since the 1970s; and, since 1992, more than 1,300 MSU students have studied in Africa. MSU faculty members work on scores of projects in 32 African nations - more than half the countries on the continent.

Learn more Michigan State University's and MSU Museum's work here: http://special.news.msu.edu/africa/

The world premiere of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism's new environmental documentary, "The Night Shift," will be shown at 4 p.m. May 6 in Studio D of the DMAT lab in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building on the MSU campus. The documentary was produced by journalism instructor Lou D'Aria and his students in JRN 476 Environmental Video Storytelling.

The focus of this new 30-minute documentary is owls. The video looks at research carried out by Sarah Coefield, an MSU environmental journalism graduate student, and colleagues who examined the impact of chemicals on great horned owls in Midland, Mich. It also looks at the rehabilitation of owls and other birds at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine by James Sikarskie, an associate professor, and the rediscovery of a rare owl in India by Pamela Rasmussen, assistant curator of mammalogy and ornithology at the MSU Museum.

"The Night Shift" is expected to be broadcast on WKAR-TV and other PBS stations this spring and again in October.

This video is the third environmental documentary produced by D'Aria and his students at the Knight Center. The first, "Dying to Be Heard," was broadcast on Public Broadcasting Service stations throughout Michigan in 2007 and 2008. It won a variety of awards, including a Michigan Emmy, and was named one of the top three student-produced documentaries in the nation in 2008 by the Society of Professional Journalists. The second documentary, "Meltdown," examined how climate change is affecting the Arctic and was broadcast on WKAR-TV and other PBS stations in Michigan last year. It was named the best student-produced documentary at the Great Lakes Environmental Film Festival in January 2009.

The first two Knight Center documentaries were viewed more than 1.5 million times on PBS stations in 2007 and 2008.

The public is invited to attend the free public showing of "The Night Shift."

For more information contact D'Aria at (517) 432-7461 (office), (415) 519-8547 (cell) or Daria@msu.edu.

The MSU Museum has launched a newly redesigned web site for its Traveling Exhibition Services.

The Michigan State University Museum operates Traveling Exhibition Services to make the results of its extensive research, collections, and educational programs accessible to a wider audience. Many museum, schools and universities, galleries, libraries and community centers take advantage of this service. Since 2004, the services has provided 99 bookings for the 29 exhibits in circulation, across Michigan and in 17 states. The web site site features descriptions of all the exhibitions available topically and thematically, as well as an upcoming schedule, funding sources, and selected exhibit previews online. Learn more here: http://museum.msu.edu/museum/tes .

The Michigan State University Museum is seeking volunteers for the Great Lakes Folk Festival, Aug. 7-9 in downtown East Lansing.

The MSU Museum needs volunteers for a variety of positions for the three-day annual community event. More than 400 agile and spirited volunteers help produce the festival, filling three- and four-hour shifts in a variety of areas, including staffing information booths, artist transportation, children's activities, bucket brigades, and site set-up and tear-down. For information on volunteering, contact (517) 432-GLFF or email glffvolunteer@museum.msu.edu . Volunteers can also sign up online at http://www.greatlakesfolkfest.net/Volunteers/About/ (click on the "registration.")

Festival hours are: Friday, Aug. 7, 6 - 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 8, noon - 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 9, noon - 6 p.m. Some volunteer shifts extend before and after festival hours.

Music, dance, art, and culture from across America and around the world come to downtown East Lansing for the Great Lakes Folk Festival. The event features a variety of traditional music and dance -- from blues to bluegrass, Acadian, Western Swing, Celtic, Caribbean and more -- as well as the Taste of Traditions Food Court, Folk Arts Marketplace, Michigan Heritage Awards, and children's activities featuring arts and crafts and hands-on activities.

The award-winning Great Lakes Folk Festival is one of the region's premiere arts programs and a summer-time high note -- and is expected to draw more than 90,000 visitors throughout the weekend to celebrate culture, tradition and community. GLFF was named the state's top public humanities program by the Michigan Humanities Council and the event received an artistic excellence grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help produce this year's activities.