We had the same problem with one of our off site storage areas.  We now hold the only keys to the area and only collections personnel (all 2 of us) have access.  Anyone else who needs to go there must let us know and we let them in.  There is currently only one exception.  One of our exhibits personnel has a key.  His shop is close to the site and he is responsible for most of the cleanup that had to be done when we chased everyone else out.  He is very responsible and knows our collections requirements.  We may make him an honorary collections person.

Frances 

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mandy Langfald
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 6:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Security Access

We have recently moved into a new off site storage facility. This new
facility is State owned whereas the previous one was a leased building.
Now that we are in a State owned building we are having a battle over
access. Our A&I Maintenance department (to the highest level) believe
that everyone in Maintenance has an absolute right to have swipe card
access into the space and that they do not need to notify Museum staff
or have Museum staff accompany them inside our collections space. As you
can imagine the Collections staff is completely up in arms over the
situation. Nothing we say about standard museum practice or the
possibility of losing our accreditation has any impact as the head of
the department insists that "HE KNOWS" all museums let maintenance
people have complete and unsupervised access to storage, and that we are
over reacting complainers. Soooooo could you please let me know if at
your museum if the maintenance staff has free reign in your storage or
if you limit access, and to whom do you give access?

I appreciate any help you can offer. Feel free to contact me off list.



Mandy Langfald
Curator of Collection
Wyoming State Museum
307-777-7033
[log in to unmask]

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