Course Textbook:
John E. Simmons, Things Great and Small: Collections Management Policies, American Association of Museums, 2006, $40 non-member, $30 member, 208 pages, ISBN: 1-933253-03-7, available from the AAM bookstore

Course Outline:
1. The Principles of Collections Management
2. Collections Stewardship: The Role of a Collections Management Policy
3. Policy Versus Procedure
4. Issues to Consider When Developing a Collections Management Policy
5. Essential Components of a Collections Management Policy
      · Statement of Purpose
      · Statement of Authority
      · Definition and Scope of Collections
      · Acquisition and Accessioning
      · Deaccessioning and Disposal
      · Preservation
      · Collections Information
      · Inventory
      · Risk Management and Security
      · Access
      · Loans
      · Intellectual Property Rights Management
      · Staff Responsibility / Ethics
6. Monitoring and Revision
7. Potential Problems
8. Emerging Issues
9. Drafting a Collections Management Policy

Logistics:
Participants in Collections Management Policies work through sections at their own pace. Instructor Bill Tompkins is available for scheduled email support. Materials and resources include online literature, textbook readings, slide lectures and dialog between students and online chats led by the instructor. The course is limited to 20 participants.

Collections Policies runs for four weeks. Please sign up at http://www.museumclasses.org and pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If you have trouble with either, please contact Helen Alten at helen@collectioncare.org

The Instructor:
William G. (Bill) Tompkins is the national collections coordinator for the Smithsonian Institution. Bill serves as a principal advisor to senior Smithsonian management and staff on collections-management policies, procedures and standards. He develops, implements and interprets Smithsonian collections management standards. This includes reviewing and approving the policies of the Smithsonian’s individual museums to make sure collections are maintained according to policy, professional standards and legal obligations. Previously, Bill was assistant director of the Smithsonian’s Office of the Registrar. He is also a former collections manager at the National Museum of American History. With nearly thirty years experience in the museum profession, Bill regularly speaks at professional meetings, workshops and university programs.

MS209: Collections Management Policies for Museums and Related Institutions               Sep 2 - Nov 14, 2008               Course Description & Info - Student Login               Price: $425     [Add to Cart]   [View Cart]               Instructor: Bill Tompkins