David:  Re Conservation, what would you say to a volunteer couple who,
without consulting anyone, cut up 75-year-old newspapers and took out
the "relevant stories?" 



Linda McAllister, CFRE
Curator of Advancement
Office:  863-644-2431 ext. 142
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of David Harvey
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 1:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Conservation/Restoration Policy and Philosophy.

Mark,

The most important thing in working on conservation projects with
voluneers or interns is consistent supervision and oversite. A team
appraoch should be taken in which everyone is briefed as to what the
treatment protocols are for the project, a review of materials and
methods, and also a review of any safety issues (very important). Team
up the more experienced and responsible members with the less
experienced. And if you have to only allow they to do small, individual
steps, to be reviewed before they are allowed to go further. Never let
an untrained and inexperienced volunteer work alone with either
chemicals or powertools - as in any activity that carried risk and
liability the "buddy system" rule should be in place.

One problem that I have encountered wuite a bit is the syndrome of the
"know everything" home restorer. They tend to think that they know it
all and will take shortcuts or use the methods most familiar to they in
lieu of what is specified for the project. You either have to really
watch these types or just not use them at all. The best success that
I've had is really with the lesser experienced volunteers who are more
careful and willing to listen and learn, and in conservation, with the
postgraduate interns who have made the choice to dedicate themselves to
the profession.

Other commonsense rules that we use is that if people are not focussed
or tired or sick that they either take frequent breaks or just not work
on an artifact - have them do something else that needs doing.
Because of alot of repetitive motion in this work it is important to
watch how people do tasks to to facilitate the most comofratable way of
going about it - the same way you would check on how folks lift and
carry objects or parts. Frequent breaks, also encouraging them to switch
hands (that also builds ambidexteritry) can be helpful also.

Its good that the team hear about the larger aspects of the project -
tell them about the hsitory and importance of what they are working on.
This gets them to treat the project with more respect and care than
refinishing a lawn chair in the backyard sort of mindset.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, California

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