Eds: APNewsNow. Will be led.

Missoula, Mont. (AP) Faculty and staff at the University of Montana's Paleontology Center have spent the last nine months organizing and categorizing the university's fossil collection.

A grant from the National Science Foundation and matching money from the university raised $500,000 to renovate and Paleontology Center and purchase a new organizational system.

The collection of 100,000 fossils includes vertebrates, invertebrates, plants and some dinosaurs. Many of the items were excavated in Montana and the Northwest.

The new organizational system increased the center's storage space by 30 percent.

The center launched a new Web site in September that includes a listing of items in the collection.

Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-07-08 0855CST | save this article / add to your favorites list