The Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria, on southern Vancouver Island, is offering an intensive eight-day course in mid-November for museum professsionals working with natural history collections. This course can be taken on a credit or non-credit basis - please let us know if you'd like to receive further information or registration materials. MANAGING NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS The diverse, complex, often delicate nature of natural history collections-and the increasingly vital roles they play in environmental research and public education-create special challenges for collections managers and curators. This course explores current principles and practices in the management of natural history collections, and discusses the impacts of new technologies, diminished resources, and pressures for increased accountability, relevance, and access. You will strengthen your ability to develop and manage natural history collections by exploring and analyzing: o the roles and nature of natural history collections in both specialized and general museums o their relevance to institutional mission o the expectations of internal and external users o policy and management frameworks o documentation requirements o systems of organization and information management o implementation and evaluation strategies o preparation and preservation requirements o approaches to interpretation and exhibition Instructor: Dr. Paisley Cato is a specialist in the development, management and care of natural history collections, and is co-author of Developing Staff Resources for Managing Collections, published by the Virginia Museum of Natural History with assistance by the Canadian Museum of Nature Dates: November 12 - 21, 1997 Please register by: October 17 Fee: $589 (Canadian funds) Travel: Victoria is easily accessible by air or ferry from both Vancouver and Seattle Accomodations: Program staff can recommend inexpensive accommodation, either on-campus or in adjacent B&Bs. Course Objectives Through this course, participants will: 1. Understand the role of natural history collections in the museum community. 2. Appreciate the complexity of the collection management profession. 3. Be knowledgeable about the functions that comprise management of natural history materials. 4. Be familiar with literature, sources and references that assist with developing and improving standards and practices for managing natural history collections. 5. Be familiar with a management framework for problem-solving and improving collection management practices. Draft Outline * Course introduction - logistics and expectations * Nature and role of natural history collections; - within the museum and research communities; - within the scope of the institution's mission; - relative to the expectation of the users * Policy and management frameworks; - how to develop a framework that works for your institution; - definition and goal of collection management; - professional standards - institutional mission and structure * What happens to a specimen in your institution? - tracking physical location and history; - tracking use of specimen; - tracking information associated with specimen * Documentation - why and what to document - managing documentation - specific concerns for natural history specimens * Preventive conservation - professional standards - what are they? - institutional frameworks that define basic parameters * Preservation of specimens - overview of range of methods - importance of documentation - impact of methods and materials on storage needs, etc. * Nitty gritty functions - overview of policy issues, professional standards, procedural issues, resources for problem-solving; - acquisitions and deaccessions - cataloging - access to specimens and data (organization, storage...) - information management - use * Framework for managing natural history collections - value of natural history collections within institution's mandate - importance and role of strategic planning; - development of policies; - managing resources and projects; * Perspectives - where is collections management headed? Joy Davis, Program Director Cultural Resource Management Program University of Victoria Phone 250-721-8462 FAX 250-721-8774 email [log in to unmask] For detailed Program information, please visit our Web Site at http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp