Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections

Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections PDF Author: Angela Kipp
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442263490
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 203

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Book Description
Managing previously unmanaged collections can be challenging. The process of securing the collection and making it accessible needs the mindset of a collections manager as well as the one of a project manager. The target audience are museum professionals with a basic training in collections care that are confronted with collections that are either large in numbers (1000+ artifacts) or stored confusingly, or both. The book is a step-by-step guide how to approach this situation, assuming that there's nothing to start with but a collection that has to be accessioned and the person who is assigned to do it. It is about how to bring order into the chaos, to define what is needed in terms of time, money, staff and material, to spot facility issues and potential dangers, and to use the power of networking to solve an otherwise unsolvable task. Many chapters conclude with “logical exits,” the points at which the collection in a condition that allows you to leave it for the next curator to take over. A common issue is that time frames are often so tight that the target of having the collection in good shape at the end of a contract or at a fixed date can’t be met. Another common scenario may be that other projects become more important and you have to stop working on the collection, which might sound familiar to many directors of small museums. “Logical exits” are the points you can do this without risking that everything you’ve done so far or since the last “logical exit” was a waste of time. For contractors those “logical exits” might serve as orientation points when negotiating the work that has to be done on the collection.

Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections

Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections PDF Author: Angela Kipp
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442263490
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 203

Get Book Here

Book Description
Managing previously unmanaged collections can be challenging. The process of securing the collection and making it accessible needs the mindset of a collections manager as well as the one of a project manager. The target audience are museum professionals with a basic training in collections care that are confronted with collections that are either large in numbers (1000+ artifacts) or stored confusingly, or both. The book is a step-by-step guide how to approach this situation, assuming that there's nothing to start with but a collection that has to be accessioned and the person who is assigned to do it. It is about how to bring order into the chaos, to define what is needed in terms of time, money, staff and material, to spot facility issues and potential dangers, and to use the power of networking to solve an otherwise unsolvable task. Many chapters conclude with “logical exits,” the points at which the collection in a condition that allows you to leave it for the next curator to take over. A common issue is that time frames are often so tight that the target of having the collection in good shape at the end of a contract or at a fixed date can’t be met. Another common scenario may be that other projects become more important and you have to stop working on the collection, which might sound familiar to many directors of small museums. “Logical exits” are the points you can do this without risking that everything you’ve done so far or since the last “logical exit” was a waste of time. For contractors those “logical exits” might serve as orientation points when negotiating the work that has to be done on the collection.

Collection Conundrums

Collection Conundrums PDF Author: Rebecca A. Buck
Publisher: Rlpg/Galleys
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 170

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Book Description
Collection Conundrums: Solving Museum Registration Mysteries provides guidelines for investigating the oddities found in every museum collection - objects without record, identification or sometimes even a location - and determining what to do. Written by registrars Rebecca Buck and Jean A. Gilmore, editors of the best-selling The New Museum Registration Methods, this new volume contains essential information for museums large and small, new and old. The text offers solutions to the problems of old loans, undocumented objects found in collections, items lost in inventory, supplementary collections and more, as well as guidelines on how to keep problems from occurring in the first place. Features a history of registration methods and the standards for collection documentation and care, along with sample documents such as loan agreements, co-tenancy agreements, storage agreements and deed of gift. Recommended for everyone involved in collections planning and management.

Collection Care

Collection Care PDF Author: Brent Powell
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442238836
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 447

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Book Description
Collection Care: An Illustrated Handbook for the Care and Handling of Cultural Objects provides a solid overview of basic collection care procedures and policies. The topics covered address the decision making criteria and risk assessment solutions involved in the best practices for handling art and artifacts. Technical subjects will cover proven techniques, materials, equipment and address problem solving assessment and current solutions. The comprehensive overview of staff responsibilities, relationships and training will bring the book to a conclusion of addressing the unison of all professionals responsible for proper handling and caring for collections. Highlights include: This book provides both visual and narrative descriptions of current best practices for caring for collection objects. Emphasis is placed on risk assessment in the decision-making process with proven, accepted technical methods and materials. Detailed coverage of technical methods and methodologies for principles of proper handling, transport, and storage or two and three dimensional objects. Chapters will cover the institutional structure for managing, hiring, training both full and part time staff responsible for safely handling and caring of collection objects. 100 photographs, figures, and charts provide overall directions for collection care, preventive maintenance, and proper handling of objects.

Things Great and Small

Things Great and Small PDF Author: John E. Simmons
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
ISBN: 9781442277441
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
This revised edition of Things Great and Small is a comprehensive resource for preparing and applying collections management policies. Simmons reviews current ideas and literature on the subject, highlights the issues that collections management policies should address, and explains the pros and cons of choosing some policy options over others.

Registration Methods for the Small Museum

Registration Methods for the Small Museum PDF Author: Daniel B. Reibel
Publisher: Rowman Altamira
ISBN: 9780759111318
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 198

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Book Description
Daniel B Reibel's Registration Methods for the Small Museum has been the definitive guide to registration methodology since 1978. Covering all aspects of the registration of museum collections, Registration Methods for the Small Museum provides practical solutions for any museum professional in a concise, readable manner. The new fourth edition brings the classic handbook up-to-date with the electronic registration techniques that are available for today's museum.

Managing Chaos

Managing Chaos PDF Author: Lisa Welchman
Publisher: Rosenfeld Media
ISBN: 1933820829
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
Few organizations realize a return on their digital investment. They’re distracted by political infighting and technology-first solutions. To reach the next level, organizations must realign their assets—people, content, and technology—by practicing the discipline of digital governance. Managing Chaos inspires new and necessary conversations about digital governance and its transformative power to support creativity, real collaboration, digital quality, and online growth.

Museum Collection Ethics

Museum Collection Ethics PDF Author: Steven Miller
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538135213
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 223

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Book Description
Collection ethics – the third rail of the museum profession. What are the encompassing issues museum face regarding how they acquire, keep and work with their collections? Museum Collection Ethics discusses the complexities inherent in preserving and interpreting the extraordinary range of culturally significant objects entrusted to museums. The book presents an encompassing look at every aspect of the intellectual and stewardship duties museums by definition assume. The differences between ethics, laws, customs, and expectations are discussed. They are not synonymous. Ethics vary widely and are fluid. Essential factors include: Defining a museum as an ethical pursuit The role of museum governing authorities regarding ethics The ethics of collection authority: who is responsible for collection truths How museums collect and how ethics influences that activity The ethics of assuring collection authenticity The ethical access to collections, be it physical or digital Ethics and conservation Exhibition ethics The ethics of collection removals be they voluntary or involuntary This is the first book devoted solely to the ethical concerns museums face regarding their collections.

Ethics into Action

Ethics into Action PDF Author: Peter Singer
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538123908
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 237

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Book Description
More than twenty years after its publication, Peter Singer's Ethics into Action continues to inspire new generations of activists through its portrayal of Henry Spira and the animal rights movement. With a new preface from the author, this edition celebrates the continued importance of social movements and provides a path towards furthering changes in our world. Singer, one of the world's most influential living philosophers, reveals how Henry Spira influenced major corporations by simultaneously applying targeted pressures and removing existing obstacles to achieve his ethical goals. As people all over the world continues to struggle for justice, Spira's method of effecting change serves as a proven model for activists fighting across a wide range of causes.

Developing Ecological Consciousness

Developing Ecological Consciousness PDF Author: Christopher Uhl
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780742532915
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 414

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Book Description
A second edition of this textbook is now available. Developing Ecological Consciousness offers an ecology-based, wonder-filled initiation to the Universe and the Planet Earth. It examines the ways in which humans are damaging the Earth and their own bodies and spirits. The book presents paradigms, values, and tools essential for both planetary and personal transformation.

Fluid Preservation

Fluid Preservation PDF Author: John E. Simmons
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1442229667
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
Fluid preservation refers to specimens and objects that are preserved in fluids, most commonly alcohol and formaldehyde, but also glycerin, mineral oil, acids, glycols, and a host of other chemicals that protect the specimen from deterioration. Some of the oldest natural history specimens in the world are preserved in fluid. Despite the fact that fluid preservation has been practiced for more than 350 years, this is the only handbook that summarize all that is known about this complex and often confusing topic. Fluid Preservation: A Comprehensive Reference covers the history and techniques of fluid preservation and how to care for fluid preserved specimens in collections. More than 900 references on fluid preservation were reviewed for this project. An historical survey of preservative recipes provides for guidance for museums with older collections (many fluid preservatives contain hazardous chemicals). Current standards and best practices for collection care and management are presented. Current and controversial topics (e.g., the preservation of DNA, alternatives to alcohol and formaldehyde) are discussed and fully referenced. Health and safety issues involved with caring for fluid preserved collections are discussed. The final chapter addresses fluid preserved specimens as cultural products and their use in art, literature, film, and song. Although most fluid-preserved specimens are found in natural history and medical museums, it is not at all uncommon to find them in art museums, history museums, and science centers. In addition to animals, plants, and anatomical specimens, fluid preserved collections include some minerals and fossils and many other objects. Fluid Preservation is an essential reference for: Natural history curators Natural history collections managers Conservators Medical and anatomical museum collections managers and curators Art and history museum staff who have fluid preserved specimens and objects in their care (e.g., works by Damien Hirst) Private collectors Researchers using museum collections as sources of DNA, isotopes, etc. Health and safety professionals Exhibit planners and designers Museum facilities planners and managers People interested in the history of science People interested in the history of natural history museums Museum studies students