Gail:  The Spring 1997 issue of "Registrars' Quarterly" (a publication of
the registrar's committee - western region) has several excellent articles
on couriering. Try to get a copy of the entire journal.  The article by
Cordelia Rose, titled 'Couriering Experiences and Tips' says the following
about whether or not one should use a courier:

"An object requires a courier if it is fragile, irreplaceable, politically
or culturally sensitive, of extreme artistic, historical or scientifice
worth....A courier is required if the journey is complicated with many
changes of transport."

This is abbreviated, for sure, but this issue has alot of really practical
advice on *how* to be a courier.  Note that Ms. Rose has written a book
titled "Courierspeak:  A Phrase Book for Couriers of Museum Objects"
(Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993), which you may find interesting.

The RC-AAM (The Registrar's Committee of the American Association of
Museums) has a publication titled "A Code of Practice for Couriering Museum
Objects." You might try to contact RC-AAM through Janice Klein at the Field
Museum in Chicago, tel. (312)922-9410.

I hope this helps.  If you have problems obtaining copy of Registrars'
Quarterly give a call and I'll see if I can help.  Good luck!

Karen


At 08:02 PM 8/22/97 GMT, you wrote:
>I have been asked by our associate director about whether or not we should
>ask for a
>courier for a painting we are considering loaning. Our museum has never
>done this in the past so we don't have a precedent set for this proces.
>Does someone have a set of guidelines that they use to determine if a
>courier is necessary?  I know that there have been sessions at AAM about
>couriering (?). I would appreciate some
>help on this. Thank you.
>
>Gail Kana Anderson
>Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, The University of Oklahoma
>
>
>

******************************
Karen E.K. Brown
Field Service Representative
Northeast Document Conservation Center
100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA  01810-1494
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Tel.(508) 470-1010
Fax (508) 475-6021
http://www.nedcc.org