Hi Kelsey, I'd take a step back, do a SWOT analysis of your current Collections Management / Documentation System partly informed by identifiable backlogs, and a undertake an review / assessment your current policies, plans and procedures against relevant standards. After that, do some brainstorming with staff / stakeholders and list off priority projects, connecting them with out SWOT analysis and the outcomes of your review. Robin -- Robin Patel Heritage & Museum Consultant (Collections & Access) t: 01786 860 691 m: 07815 312 562 [log in to unmask] https://ergadiaheritage.com/ On 9 July 2016 at 23:59, Marc A Williams <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Kelsey, > > Following are my recommendations, some of which are echoed by others. > "Collections management" seems to have morphed into "collections > stewardship," so it has a bit broader interpretation. Of course, my bias > is in the direction of collections preservation. > > 1) Make sure your collections database is up-to-date, and all objects are > included and located, as others have suggested and you seem to have already > done. > > 2) Have a conservation assessment if your institution has not had one in > the last 7 years. This will give you an institution-wide perspective on > overall preservation activities, along with priorities for action. It will > not give you condition assessments of individual objects. The CAP program > (Conservation Assessment Program) is being re-constituted through the > Foundation of AIC (American Institute for Conservation), with an > anticipated application deadline this fall. Get your application in right > away, not at the deadline, as the grants are first-come, first-served. > > 3) Consider having a MAP Collections Stewardship assessment through AAM > (American Alliance for Museums). Deadline for this also is in the fall. > This will have more information on collections management, although also > may discuss collections preservation, depending upon who you choose as your > assessor. > > 4) Most likely, the CAP and MAP will recommend having condition surveys > done by conservators on all your collections so you know what the > preservation priorities are of specific objects. Most likely you will do > this over several years. Consider the IMLS Collections Stewardship grants > for this. If the project is between $5,000 and $25,000 and is a high > priority for your institution, which surveys undoubtedly will be, no > match/cost share is required. Deadline is around December 1. > > 5) At this point, work on improving your collections records, such as > adding photos, changing your accessioning numbering, adding condition > notes, and so forth. > > 6) If it is reasonable for you, and it certainly is a good idea, implement > regular, usually yearly, comprehensive collections examinations by you. > This involves briefly examining everything, including unwrapping items in > storage, noting changes in condition, and verifying locations of each > object. Any updated provenance or other information can be added to the > records. > > 7) Follow priority recommendations in the conservation assessment and the > collections stewardship assessment. Use IMLS Collections Stewardship > grants for funding as appropriate. Larger grants of $25,000+ to $150,000 > require a 50% cost share, but often that can be staff salaries, volunteer > time, donated materials and services, and indirect costs. > > This should get you off on a solid collections stewardship footing. > Obviously, every collection is a bit different and has unique needs, but > this list should get you going in a healthy direction. Have fun! > > Marc > > American Conservation Consortium, Ltd. > 4 Rockville Road > Broad Brook, CT 06016 > www.conservator.com > 860-386-6058 > > *Collections Preservation Consultation > *Conservation Assessments & Surveys > *Environmental Monitoring & Low-Tech Control > *Moisture Management Solutions > *Collections in Historic Structures > *Collections Care Grant Preparation > > Marc A. Williams, President > MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program > Former Chief Wooden Objects Conservator, Smithsonian Institution > Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC) > > > *From:* Kelsey Perrigo <[log in to unmask]> > *Sent:* Saturday, July 09, 2016 12:49 PM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* [MUSEUM-L] Advice for a new collections manager in a small > museum? > > Hello everyone! I recently became the Collections Manager for a small > museum. I have museum collections experience but this is my first time as > collections manager and want to do the job correctly. The museum, > thankfully, is in a newer building and the collections are relatively well > cared for. > > What would you say are some of your first priorities when you begin a job > as a collections manager? > > Also, the vast majority of our collections have strange accession numbers > (i.e. P-287) and I was curious if that is something I should consider > addressing immediately or if that is something to tackle at a later date. > At the moment, everything is easily found in PastPerfect. > > Thanks! > Kelsey > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . 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