Collection Care

Collection care strategies are based on common-sense. Any person working in a museum - whether a registrar, exhibit designer, director or volunteer - must incorporate preservation principles in all activities that impact the collection. How money is allocated, how staff is trained, equipment purchased, and consultants used, impact the preservation of a collection as much as storage materials and exhibit light levels.

This page links to useful collection care ideas to assist in improving the overall care of a collection. The focus in these links are practical solutions and ideas. Start with Collections Caretaker "It takes a staff to care for a collection."

If you are starting a new museum, or planning a building expansion, remember to include a conservator from the beginning of your planning. Do not depend on the architect to be current on preservation concepts.

Links to related information on other sites:

Conserve-O-Gram Series
(full text available for downloading)
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/ conserveogram/cons_toc.html

Conserve-O-Gram 1/1
Preservation of Museum Collections - Adobe Acrobat PDF File
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/01-01.pdf

Conserve-O-Gram 1/2
Bibliography - Adobe Acrobat PDF File
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/01-01.pdf

Conserve-O-Gram 1/5
Salvaging Acidic or Damaged Museum Accession Books - Adobe Acrobat PDF File
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/01-05.pdf