The Museum of Mobile recently completed the final phase of the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) provided by the American Association of Museums and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a grant-making federal agency supporting museums.  The MAP provides guidance in meeting priorities and goals and understanding how the museum compares to standards and best practices.  Museums facing challenging financial times find that by participating in the MAP they are better able to prioritize goals for prudent allocation of resources, document needs to make a stronger case to funders, and provide recommendations on ways to become an even stronger institution.  The Museum Board voted to participate in the assessment as a starting point for a comprehensive study of the entire organization.  The MAP has already helped the Museum to develop its new mission statement; "History is our mission...to illuminate and preserve," which was recently adopted by the Museum Board.