Andy,
Our object collection was recently moved to the basement of our recently
renovated building. Previously our storage was in a unheated, uninsulated
part of the building.
Because our building has been around since the 1930's we had the luxiery of
knowing the space wouldn't flood and were able to work with the contractors
and landlord to renovate the area to our specifications, ie. water pipes not
going through our space, etc. It is a year later and we are having trouble
regulating the R.H. in the space. We are currently researching inexpensive
fixes for our R.H. problem.
Overall, moving our collections to the basement was been a positive move for
our collections.
-Shannon Lindridge
from generation to generation
The History Center in Tompkins County
Shannon Lindridge, Collections Manager
401 East State Street, Suite 100, Ithaca, NY 14850
607.273.8284 ext.7 (FAX) 607.273.6107
www.TheHistoryCenter.net <http://www.thehistorycenter.net/>
Please note my new email address: [log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Mark Janzen
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 2:35 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Basement for collections storage???
Andy,
Not all basements are bad. It all depends on how well you will be able to
control those factors. If you are talking about putting stuff into a
basement without further safeguards, environmental controls, and storage
considerations, then yes, it is not a good idea.
My primary storage area is also in a basement(of a 3 story structure), that
was not originally intended as such. It was reworked to provide better
environment and security than would have been possible if left as it was.
It serves very well, but still has its problems.
There are also issues of access to the storage and to the rest of the
building. Location of boilers or other large machinery, pipes, sewers, etc.
Being in a basement can often mean you have such facilities above your
collections as well, which should be avoided.
Don't discount your basement, but be very careful in determining the hows
and whys of storing artifacts there versus somewhere else in the building.
Most designers and even many museum professionals still look at storage as
the least important element of what we do(which is of course entirely
inaccurate), then they fail to understand why things need expensive
conservation in a couple years after just being in storage. Designers
especially hear "storage" and immediately look for the most out of the way
place possible, to save space for the more important functions like big
open sun-lit exhibit spaces. They generally look at storage as wasted
space. A good way to couch your defense is in terms of cost, which
designers can sometimes grasp. It will likely turn out to be a lot more
expensive to bring the basement up to standards than some other more
suitable part of the building.
It is encouraging that you are willing to fight for your collections. Good
luck to you both.
Mark Janzen
Registrar/Collections Manager
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Wichita State University
(316)978-5850
Andy Dickes
<[log in to unmask]
RG> To
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Basement for collections storage???
10/11/2004 09:26
AM
Please respond to
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<[log in to unmask]
SE.LSOFT.COM>
Hi there-
I work at a place where we just opened up a museum. It is a four-story
facility, and the tentative plan now is to build a room in the basement
for collection storage. Are basements a strict no-no for these storage
areas? I know the humidity is generally higher, and the risk of flooding
is higher as well, but the designers of the original building never
thought about this. How hard should I be fighting for a non-basement
collections area?
Andy Dickes
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