Start your summer by solidifying your knowledge of museum history, missions, security and collection care.  In July Northern States Conservation Center offers five on-line courses over the Internet:

1.      Introduction to Museums (July 7 to August 1, 2008)
2.      Cataloging Your Collection (June 30 to July 26, 2008)
3.      An Introduction to Collections Preservation (July 7 to August 1, 2008)
4.      The Mission Statement:  Is it really that important? (July 14 to 18, 2008)
5.      Introduction to Museum Security (July 7 to August 1, 2008)

Sign up for two or more courses and get 5% off on both.  Sign up for three or more courses and get 10% off on all three.

To sign up for the courses, go to www.museumclasses.org and scroll down to see the July courses
or pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If you have trouble with either, please contact Helen Alten at [log in to unmask]

Descriptions of each course follow:

MS 007: The Mission Statement: Is it really that important?
Dates: Jul 14 - Jul 18, 2008
Price: $75 
Instructor:  Peggy Schaller
Location: On-line at www.museumclasses.org

Description:
The heart of every museum is its collection and a mission statement is critical to preserving that collection. Particpants in The Mission Statement will discuss their mission statements and whether they really make a difference. Peggy has seen and heard it all as a consultant to small and large museums. She will help you figure out ways to make your mission statement work for you.

Logistics:
Participants in The Mission Statement will read literature and participate in two one-hour chats to discuss how a museum's mission statement may or may not impact the daily operations. Each student should read course materials and prepare questions or comments to share with the other students in the chat. This is a mini-course and takes no more than 10 hours of a student's time.

The Instructor:
Peggy Schaller, founded Collections Research for Museums in 1991 to provide consulting on cataloging, collection-management training and services. She has worked with a large variety of museums and collections for more than 13 years. Peggy, who lives in Denver, Colorado, has a bachelor's degree in anthropology with minors in art history and geology from the University of Arizona in Tucson. She has a master's degree in anthropology with a minor in museum studies from the University of Colorado in Boulder and is a certified institutional protection specialist.

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MS 101: Introduction to Museums ** NEW **
Dates: Jul 7 to Aug 1, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Kiersten Latham
Location: On-line at www.museumclasses.org

Description:
Museums are complex, covering a wide range of experiential learning from the curiosity cabinet of the early 19th century to the modern interactive science museum. Introduction to Museums is designed for participants new to the museum field, or those who would like a broader understanding of the field, such as board members, interns and volunteers. This course introduces basic concepts and terminology, discusses different types of museums and the role of each staff person, be they curators, registrars, directors, security chief or conservator.

Course Outline
Week 1. What is a Museum?
Week 2. History of Museums
Week 3. Museum Models
Week 4. Roles in the Museum

Participants in Introduction to Museums work through sections at their own pace over four weeks. Instructor Kiersten F. Latham is available for scheduled email support. Materials and resources include online literature, slide lectures and dialog between students and online chats led by the instructor. The course is limited to 20 participants.

The Instructor:
Kiersten F. Latham is the acting coordinator of the museum studies program at the University of Kansas. She has nearly 20 years of experience working in museums. Most recently she was the curator of collections at the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center. Her interests include the meaning of objects, philosophy and history of the museum, and psychology of visitor experiences. She has worked in history, art, anthropology, science and children’s museums as an academic and professional.

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MS 207: Cataloging Your Collection
Dates: Jun 30 to Jul 26, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Peggy Schaller
Location: On-line at www.museumclasses.org

Description:
Cataloging Your Collection covers all details needed to catalog a collection. Procedures for handling, measuring and describing all types of objects and materials are discussed in detail. Participants receive sample forms and learn the best practices for numbering artifacts, performing inventory and assessing the condition of objects. Participants practice describing everyday objects and cataloging items from their own collections or households.

Course Outline:
1. Introduction: Policy and Mission
2. Cataloging: Why Do We Catalog Our Artifacts?
3. Forms
4. Numbering
5. Handling
6. Conservation and Storage
7. Inventories
8. Cataloging
9. Considerations for Specific Objects
10. Summary

Logistics:
Participants in Cataloging Your Collection set their own pace while working through 10 sections in four weeks. Instructor Peggy Schaller will be available at scheduled times for email support. Participants interact through forums and scheduled online chats. Materials include online readings and lecture notes, as well as handouts, slide lectures, projects and links to relevant web sites. The course is limited to 20 participants.

Student Comments for MS207 Cataloging Your Collection:
"I'd give it a 10 out of 10." - MS 207 participant

"I liked the convenience, I liked the chats, I liked the reading material, I liked that there were people from all over the country enrolled." - MS 207 participant

"The technology made sense … It was scary at first, but really was very simple." - MS 207 participant

The Instructor:
Peggy Schaller, founded Collections Research for Museums in 1991 to provide consulting on cataloging, collection-management training and services. She has worked with a large variety of museums and collections for more than 13 years. Peggy, who lives in Denver, Colorado, has a bachelor's degree in anthropology with minors in art history and geology from the University of Arizona in Tucson. She has a master's degree in anthropology with a minor in museum studies from the University of Colorado in Boulder and is a certified institutional protection specialist.

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MS104: An Introduction to Collections Preservation
Dates: Jul 7 to Aug 1, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Helen Alten
Location: On-line at www.museumclasses.org

Description:
Every museum professional needs a solid foundation in preservation principles and techniques. An Introduction to Collections Preservation provides an overview of current preservation issues from environmental monitoring to collection cleaning, exhibit mounts and storage furniture. Participants learn about every aspect of the modern museum and how the building, staff and fixtures affect preservation. Subjects include the agents of deterioration, risk management, object handling and transport, object labeling, exhibit lighting, security, emergency preparedness, materials for storage and display, storage and exhibit philosophies, and condition assessments.

Course Outline:
1. Preservation Principles
2. Agents of Deterioration
3. Monitoring
4. Collection Handling
5. Collection Labeling
6. Collection Cleaning
7. Storage Principles
8. Exhibit Principles
9. Emergency Preparation
10. Conclusion

Logistics:
Participants in An Introduction to Collections Preservation work at their own pace through 10 sections over four weeks and interact through online forums and chats. Instructor Helen Alten will be available at scheduled times for email support. Materials include online readings and lecture notes, slide shows, quizzes and links to relevant web sites. The course is limited to 20 participants.

Student Comments for MS104: An Introduction to Collections Preservation:

"I didn't really know what to expect because I had never taken an online class before, nor had a taken any sort of collections/preservation class. I definitely learned a lot; I now understand the overall goals and practices of collections preservation."


"I've been working as a collection manager for 10 years. I have no formal training in museum techniques …I thought this class would solidify everything I've learned. I didn't think I would learn anything new, but I did. Great course. I would recommend it to anyone starting out in the museum field."

"My experience with the MS104 online course has been exceptional, a 10! … Thank you! Thank you for such a high quality and demanding workshop!"

"I AM THE ONE WHO SHOULD THANK YOU! EUREKA! I REALLY GAINED ALOT AND REALLY ENJOYED STUDYING WITH YOU." -

"It may have been an on-line course, but I feel like I've got a textbook. And one written by many different sources, two heads being better than one."

The Instructor:
Helen Alten, Conservator and owner of Northern States Conservation Center, St. Paul, MN has been a Field Education Director, Conservator, and trainer since 1986. Ms. Alten received her conservation diploma from Archaeological Conservation and Materials Science, Institute of Archaeology, University of London in 1986. She began working with people from small, rural, and tribal museums while as the state conservator for Montana and Alaska. Helen currently conducts conservation treatments and operates a conservation center in St. Paul, MN.

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MS107: Introduction to Museum Security
Dates: Jul 7 to Aug 1, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Steve Layne
Location: On-line at www.museumclasses.org

Description:
Security must be a priority for every museum, regardless of size. Introduction to Museum Security teaches basic, practical approaches to protecting against threats such as theft, vandalism, violent acts, natural disasters, fire and environmental hazards. Topics include selecting security systems, determining security needs and how to build affordable security systems. Screening, hiring, firing, workplace violence, policies and procedures and emergency management planning are covered as well.

Logistics:
Participants in Introduction to Museum Security work at their own pace through sections and interact through online chats over four weeks. Instructor Steve Layne is available at scheduled times during the course for email support. Introduction to Security includes online literature, slide lectures and student-teacher/group-teacher dialog. The course is limited to 20 participants.

The Instructor:
Steve Layne is the principal consultant and chief executive of Layne Consultants International, a leading provider of cultural property protection advice. Steve is a former police chief, public safety director and museum security director. He is the author of the Cultural Property Protection Manual, and the Business Survival Guide. Steve regularly presents to professional associations and has consulted with more than 400 museums and other institutions. Steve is the founding director of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and responsible for the professional training and certification of more than 1,000 museum professionals.
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