The American Numismatic Society‘s Executive Director, Dr. Giles Bransbourg, issued the following open letter to ANS members over the weekend. The letter address how the society is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and working to keep the work of the ANS going during this challenging time.
March 13, 2020
Dear ANS Members,
As you know, we are facing a challenging public health situation. On behalf of the American Numismatic Society and its staff, I am reaching out to assure you that we are committed to continuing our work, and are holding you in our thoughts. I’d like to to update you briefly on some of the measures the ANS is taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
First, please know the ANS’s work is continuing uninterrupted, as we have instituted contingency plans that were worked out a few weeks ago when the potential extent of the current crisis became clear. While some ANS’s staff will be working remotely for as long as is prudent, we expect to be available to you, as always. We have no intention of closing our facilities, but if you are planning to visit, it is important that you check with our staff regarding actual accessibility, which may change based on how the next weeks unfold. If you have questions or concerns, please let us know.
At the same time, our online presence will continue to improve and expand unabated. The ANS has been at the forefront of digital numismatics for many years now, as can be seen by MANTIS, DONUM, and our successful collaborative platforms, including OCRE, HRC, and CHRR. Beyond our blog, Pocket Change, we are planning to launch a new podcast, The Planchet, covering various numismatic topics. Expect some announcements soon via our e-news and usual social media posts.
Finally, we have launched our first GoFundMe campaign ever, to support a critical update of OCRE.
On behalf of everyone at the American Numismatic Society, I wish to thank you for your support of the ANS and for your membership.
We hope you are taking care of yourselves and seeking support from your partners and communities. Working together, we will get through the next few weeks and months.
With care and respect,
Stay well,
Dr. Gilles Bransbourg
Executive Director