A few years back Collections Caretaker was Northern States Conservation Center's quarterly publication. In 2010 it was relaunched as an e-Newsletter. Collections Caretaker emphasizes preservation of museum collections and museum studies. It covers topics of interest to large and small institutions of every type and description, including living history museums, art museums, natural history museums, historical societies and privately owned collections. Filled with practical information that you can apply to the care of your collection, the goal of Collections Caretaker is to keep you up to date on advances in the museum field and provide case studies of interesting collections care and museum studies solutions. It will keep you informed of useful workshops, publications and grant deadlines. Feel free to let us know what topics you would like to see featured in Collections Caretaker or even contribute an article. Contact the editor at editor@collectioncare.org
If you would like to receive the Collection Caretaker e-Newsletter ![]() |
Past Issues of Collection Caretaker e-Newsletter
Climate Control Basics
Featured Courses
October Courses
November Courses
Conferences and Meetings
The Archaeological Field Laboratory
Featured Courses
September Courses
October Courses
November Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Introduction to Museum Cleaning
Featured Courses
August Courses
September Courses
October Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Pest Risks/Environmental Causes
Featured Courses
July Courses
August Courses
September Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Gallery Guides: An Introduction
Featured Courses
June & July Courses
August Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Storage Philosophy
Featured Courses
May Courses
June & July Courses
August Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Introduction to Metals
New Courses Added to 2022 Schedule
Rescheduled 2022 Courses
Featured Course
April Courses
May Courses
June & July Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Education in Museums
New Courses Added to 2022 Schedule
Rescheduled 2022 Courses
Featured Course
April Courses
May Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Moving a Museum Collection
NSCC 2022 Course Schedule
Featured Courses
Conferences and Meetings
NSCC 2022 Course Schedule
Featured Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Why are Collection Inventories Important?
Online Museum Security Conference
Featured Course
November Courses
Conferences and Meetings
In Memory of Tom Bennett
Welcome to Ariel Rolfe
Featured Courses
September Courses
October Courses
November Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Collections Cataloging
Featured Courses
July Courses
August Courses
September Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Laws, Morals and Ethics
Featured Courses
June Courses
July Courses
August Courses
September Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Storage Facilities
Featured Courses
May Courses
June Courses
July Courses
August Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Processing and Arranging Archival Collections
Featured Courses
April Courses
May Courses
June Courses
Conferences and Meetings
February 20, 2021 no issue
Introducing the Transporter System for Painting Storage
Featured Courses
February Courses
March Courses
April Courses
Conferences and Meetings
October 15, 2020 No Issue
Mount Design
Featured Courses
Covid-19 Resources
October Courses
November Courses
Conferences and Meetings
August 15, 2020 No issue
July 15, 2020 No Issue
Interpretation in Museums
Featured Courses
Covid-19 Resources
July Courses
August Courses
September Course
Conferences and Meetings
Cleaning Museums is not like cleaning your house!
Featured Courses
Covid-19 Resources
June Courses
July Courses
August Courses
Conferences and Meetings
On Covid-19 and Managing Separation
Featured Courses
May Courses
June Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Storage Philosophy
Featured Courses
April Courses
May Courses
June Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Activities in the Archaeological Field Lab
Featured Courses
2020 Course List Updated
Conferences and Meetings
Mount Makers
Featured Courses
2020 Course List Updated
Conferences and Meetings
Using interpretive themes and objectives will make your program planning easier and more effective
Featured Course
2020 Course List Updated
Conferences and Meetings
10 Leadership Reflections form 30,000 feet
Featured Course
2020 Course List
Conferences and Meetings
Magnetic Mounting Systems for Museums and Cultural Institutions
Super Panel Display
Featured Course
September 2019 Courses
October 2019 Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Moving Collections
Featured Course
August 2019 Courses
September 2019 Courses
Conferences and Meetings
June 15, 2019 no issue
10 Common Mistakes Boards Make When Hiring a New Executive Director
Featured Course
July 2019 Courses
August 2019 Courses
Conferences and Meetings
April 15, 2019 no issue
March 15, 2019 no issue
Pondering Traveling Exhibits at a Small Museum
Featured Course
April 2019 Courses
May 2019 Courses
Conferences and Meetings
January 15, 2019 no issue
Museum Hiring: It's About the Whole, Not for the Other-than
New Courses for 2019
Featured Course
2019 Museum Classes Schedule
New Partner Certification Program
Conferences and Meetings
New Courses for 2019
Featured Course
2019 Museum Classes Schedule
New Partner Certification Program
Conferences and Meetings
October 15, 2018 no issue
Museum Practice: Why Do We Work So Much?
Featured Course
October 2018 Online Courses
November 2018 Online Courses
Workshops
New Partner Certification Program
Conferences and Meetings
The Internship Commitment
Featured Course
August 2018 Online Courses
September 2018 Online Courses
October 2018 Online Courses
Workshops
New Partner Certification Program
Conferences and Meetings
July 15, 2018 no issue
June 15, 2018 Bias in the Workplace
You Are Judged: Bias and the Museum Workplace
Featured Course
July 2018 Online Courses
August 2018 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
May 15, 2018 Art Collecting and Art Theft
FBI Art Crimes Team: Art Theft
Featured Course
June 2018 Online Courses
July 2018 Online Courses
Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
The Roles and Responsibilities of the Board Chair and Executive Director
Featured Courses
May 2018 Online Courses
June 2018 Online Courses
Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
March 15, 2018 Balancing Access and Security
Featured Courses
May 2018 Online Courses
June 2018 Online Courses
Workshops
February 15, 2018 Museum Theft
To Screen or not to screen...Shouldn't be a question!
January 15, 2018 Mission Statements
December 15, 2017 Northern States Conservation Center in 2018
Featured Course
January 2018 Online Courses
February 2018 Online Courses
March 2018 Online Courses
Full 2018 Schedule
Conferences and Meetings
November 15, 2017 Museum Boards, Part 2
October 15, 2017 Museum Boards (Errata: Title error in Newsletter)
Museum Boards: The Leadership Matters Wish List
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
October 2017 Online Courses
November 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
September 15, 2017 Risk Management
Why is Risk Mitigation Everyone's Business?
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
October 2017 Online Courses
November 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
August 15, 2017 Fundraising Fau Pas
Instructor Spotlight
September 2017 Online Courses
October 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
July 15, 2017 no issue
June 15, 2017 Listening is an Important Leadership Skill
Why Listening Might Be the Most Important Skill a Leader Has
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
June 2017 Online Courses
July 2017 Online Courses
August 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
May 15, 2017 Deaccessioning Ethics: Direct Care of Collections
Deaccessioning Ethics: Direct Care of Collections
Small Museum Pro!
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
June 2017 Online Courses
July 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
April 15, 2017 Grabbing Your Audience
The Genius of Omission
Small Museum Pro!
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
May 2017 Online Courses
June 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
After the Fire: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures
Small Museum Pro!
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
April 2017 Online Courses
May 2017 Online Courses
June 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Delusions of Art Recovery
Small Museum Pro!
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
March 2017 Online Courses
April 2017 Online Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Janaury 15, 2017 Museum Education
Are You Taking Advantage of All the Educational Opportunities Open to Your Museum?
Small Museum Pro!
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
February 2017 Online Courses
March 2017 Online Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
December 15, 2016 Northern States Conservation Center in 2017
Small Museum Pro!
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
January 2017 Online Courses
February 2017 Online Courses
Full 2017 Course List
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
November 15, 2016 What Makes a Leader
What Makes a Leader
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
January 2017 Online Courses
February 2017 Online Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
October 15, 2016 Collection Inventories
Collection Inventories
Instructor Spotlight
Featured Course
November Online Courses
January 2017 Online Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Instructor Spotlight
October Online Courses
November Online Courses
Featured Product
Regional Workshops
Instructor Spotlight
September Online Courses
October Online Courses
Featured Product
Regional Workshops
July 15, 2016 Safe and Secure Exhibition Practices
Safe and Secure Exhibition Practices
Featured Course
August Online Courses
September Online Courses
Featured Product
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
June 15, 2016 Collections Stewardship
Collections Stewardship
Featured Course
July Online Courses
August Online Courses
Featured Product
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Disaster Planning: Why we cannot be Ostriches with our heads in the sand
KEEPSAKES: Memoir on the 'museum of you' & estate planning
19th Century Photographic Prints ID Chart Revised
June 2016 courses
July 2016 Courses
April 15, 2016 Collections Management
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Introduction to Treating Furniture
Introduction to Archives
May and June 2016 courses
July 2016 Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Collection Documentation
Introduction to Museum Databases
April 2016 Courses
May and June 2016 courses
February 15, 2016 Museum Security Issues
American Association for State and Location History's Small Museum Pro!
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Lessons from a Fire in a Natural History Museum
Small Museums: Physical Security
Entry Screening
March 2016 courses
April 2016 Courses
January 15, 2016 About Museums
About Museums
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
What is a Museum Store?
American Association for State and Location History's Small Museum Pro!
February 2016 Courses
March 2016 courses
December 15, 2015 Security During the Holidays and Everyday
January 2016 courses
February 2016 Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
ASIS International Cultural Property Council Target Hardening Suggestions
See Something, Say Something
"You Better Watch Out....You'd Better Not Cry"...'cause it's not Santa who's coming to town!
The Psychology of Disasters
Museum Store Security for Small Museums
To Screen, or NOT to Screen....Shouldn't be a question
American Association for State and Location History's Small Museum Pro!
November 15, 2015 The Change of Seasons
January 2016 courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Preparing for the Change of Seasons
Risks in Seasonal Museums
February 2016 Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Starting a Volunteer Program
To Screen or NOT to Screen..Shouldn't be a question!
November 2015 and January 2016 courses
September 15, 2015 Reducing Risks To Your Collections
Conferences and Meetings
Reducing Risk Through Good Collections Management
September & October Courses
Submissions and Comments
Storage Philsophy
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Painting Storage Simplified & Streamlined
Preparing for New Collection Storage Systems
September and October Courses
Asset Security
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Super Panel Display
An Introduction to Magnetic Mounting Systems
August Courses
September Courses
Museum Ethics
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Moving A Museum Collection: What We Learned...
Having trouble with pests invading your collections?
Disaster Planning Resources
June, July, and August Courses
Coaching Change Management
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
My Journey to a General Museums Studies Certificate
June and July Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Textiles and Their Structures
The Field Lab
May 2015 Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
"Eval" - Another 4-letter Word
Mission and Exhibitions
April 2015 Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Why do we need a Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan?
The Psychology of Disasters
March 2015 Courses
Submissions and Comments
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
So why can't I call a spatula a pancake flipper?
Nomenclature 4.0 Update
Small Museum Pro!
February 2015 Courses
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Why Microclimates?
Introduction to Museum Artifacts
January 2015 Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Asset Security
Holiday Decorating and Potential Damage
UV Detecting Beads
2015 Course Schedule
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Volunteer Management - Is your Museum Really Ready?
Goals of Traveling Exhibitions
November 2014 Courses
Submissions and Comments
Care of Paintings
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
NSCC Attending AASLH Meeting
Strategic Planning in Museums
Introduction to Integrated Pest Management
Submissions and Comments
See Something, Say Something
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Introduction to Museum Databases
Introduction to Metals
New Pathways
September 2014 Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Overcoming Resistance: Getting Staff Buy-in/Overcoming Staff Fears
Numbering Museum Objects
August 2014 Courses
Submissions and Comments
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Introduction to Museum Security
Collections Stewardship, Cataloging and Museum Security
July 2014 Courses
Submissions and Comments
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Photographs Defined
AASLH Small Museum Pro! Series Hosted by NSCC
June 2014 Courses
Submissions and Comments
Storage Facilities
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
2014 Course Schedule
Textiles and their Environment
Care of Basketry News
May 2014 Courses
Submissions and Comments
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
2014 Course Schedule
From Fundamentals to Facelift
April 2014 Courses
Regional Workshops
2014 Course Schedule
Archival Management
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
Found in the Collection: Orphans, Old Loans and Abandoned Property
Care of Archaeological Artifacts from the Field to the Lab
March 2014 Courses
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
2014 Course Schedule
Are You Taking Advantage of All the Educational Opportunities Open to Your Museum?
Legal Issues in Collection Management
Visit to Hawaii
February 2014 Courses
December 15, 2013 Documentation & Interpretation
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
Submissions and Comments
2014 Course Schedule
The Genius of Omission
Introduction to Collections Management
January 2014 Courses
Disaster Preparation and Prevention
November 29, 2013 Museums & Community
Closing Procedures
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
2014 Course Schedule
Museums & Communities
New Course Offerings in 2014
November 1, 2013 Collections & Risk
Regional Workshops
Conferences and Meetings
2014 Course Schedule
Causes of Damage to Metal Artifacts
Reconciling an Inventory
August 28, 2013 Packing & Storage
Congratulations Gawain
Polyethylene Foam
Regional Workshops
Paintings Packing and Transport
Constructing the Ideal Storage Space
AASLH Annual Meeting
July 22, 2013 Seasonal Changes
AASLH Annual Meeting
Regional Workshops
Risks in Seasonal Museums
Museums and Exhibitions
Volunteering Expands Your Skills
June 17, 2013 Managing Collections
Accreditation and Standards
Regional Workshops
Cataloging
Moving a Collection
May 2, 2013 Planning for the Future
Anthropology Education in Museums
NSCC Supports Education
Regional Workshops
Staffing
Strategic Planning
March 21, 2013 Defining, Designing and Protecting
Museum Store Design
Regional Workshops
Photographs Defined
Cleaning and Staff Safety
Handling Birds
Light Emitting Diodes
Preservation Webcast
NATHPO Courses
Regional Workshops
Light Fading from UV
Exhibition Lighting
Archives Storage
January 29, 2013 Collections Inside and Out
NATHPO Courses
Regional Workshops
Inside the Box
Laws Affecting Collections
December 27, 2012 Making A Difference
Disasters and Regional Workshops
Regional Workshops
2013 Course Schedule
Care for Paper Collections
Grant Deadlines
October 31, 2012 Protecting Collections
Collections Emergency Response Team
Conservation Assessment Program
Inventories
Flipped
2013 Class Schedule
August 21, 2012 Before Disaster Strikes
Emergency Response Apps
Pest ID App
Museums Using Apps
Risk Assessment
Finishing Certificates
Regional Workshops
July 31, 2012 Caring for Objects
Paper Conservation
Regional Workshops
Moving and Handling Furniture
Developing a new Exhibition
What is a Museum
Tim Huber Moves Forward
Regional Workshops
Moving Collections
Establishing a Tribal (or any) Museum
Busy Spring at Northern States
April 11, 2012 Integrating Preservation Principles
ICPC Scholarship
Regional Workshops
Integrating Preservation
Exhibit Mounts
February 25, 2012 Collections Management and Care
Museum Stores
Regional Workshops
Storage and Preservation
Collections Stewardship
January 16, 2012 Museum Sustainability
Grants
Scholarship Opportunity
Regional Workshops
Green Revolution
Microclimates
December 21, 2011 Designing for the Future
Scholarship Opportunity
Regional Workshops
Holiday Reading
Groundwork
2012 Course Schedule
November 4, 2011 Woven Together
September 30, 2011 Protecting Starff and Collections
The Aesthetic and Protective Nature of Framing
Pesticide Contamination and Museums
Human Health and Safety after a Disaster
Regional Workshops
August 22, 2011 Volunteers and Management
Regional Workshops
Misconceptions Regarding Volunteers
Budget Management
Scholarship Opportunity
June 18, 2011 Using Collections
Use of Paper Collections
Researcher Access Policy and Procedures: Access to Archive Collections
Why Collection Care Makes Good Public Relation Sense
Regional Workshops
May 27, 2011 Regional Initiatives
Dreams Become Reality
Midwest Leadership Academy: Expand Your Leadership Capacity
Preservation Fair
Mobile Lab
Regional Workshops
April 21, 2011 The Environment
Workshops
Matting and Framing Microclimates
What Made Lucy Rot
Humidistatic Heating
Establishing a Tribal Museum
March 28, 2011 An Organized Approach
February 25, 2011 When Bad Things Happen
Choosing Trustworthy Volunteers
Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan
Gift Store Security
Suspecting Pests
Security for Tribal Museums
January 18, 2011 Storage and Care
Marking Procedures
Overlooked Objects
Determining Storage Space Needs
Storing Artwork
Buy-In for Preservation
January 7, 2011 Exhibits and Security
Label Design
NATHPO and Alaska courses
Protecting Artifacts on Exhibit
Object Security: Use of Barriers
December 13, 2010 Starting Right: Insight from Our Instructors
Publications
Conservation Assessment Program
Starting a New Museum
Endowments
Microclimates
Preservation from the Start
Getting Ready in Indian Country
Costume Grants
New in 2011
Snake and Donuts
Connecting to Collections
Conservation Assessment Program
Engaging Your Region
Periodic Inventories
Condition Reports
What is Climate Control?
Textiles and Environment
Museums, Entropy and Collections Management
Disaster Planning in Greece
Integrated Pest Management
Beginning a Volunteer Program
Strategic Planning
Why do we need a Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan
Preventive Conservation of Paintings
To Preserve Our Collections We Must Understand How They Were Constructed
The Monster in Our Museums: Old Loans and Abandoned Property
Top Notch Education Programs Are Mission Driven
Testing Pens Helps Determine Applicability in Museum Object Labeling
New StEPs Program
Museum Cleaning
Museum Security
Mission Statement
Learn to care for paintgs or baskets
Buy-In: Getting All of the Staff to Support Preservation
Past Issues of the Printed Collection Caretaker
Vol.3 No.1 Winter 2000-2001 Museum Temperature and Relative Humidity Monitoring Dataloggers
Compare museum temperature and relative humidity monitoring dataloggers by Rachel Perkins Arenstein
Is Ethafoam safe to use in your museum? by Helen Alten
Vol.2 No.4 Summer 2000 Preservation in Storage Design
Consider preservation in storage design by Catharine Hawks
A simple, quick mount briefly displays clothing for the Science Museum of Minnesota by Gretchen Anderson
Display mounts for marine mollusks by Brad Bredehoft
Vol.2 No.3 Winter 1999-2000 Exhibiting Without Damaging Collections
Exhibiting without damaging collections by Helen Alten
NEH funds available to underserved regions
Early April grant deadlines benefit rural museums
An inexpensive method to heat seal Mylar by Catherine Hawks
Vol.2 No.2 Fall 1999 Temperature and Relative Humidity
How temperature and relative humidity affect collection deterioration rates by Helen Alten
Developing a relationship with local reporters will help the museum in future contacts by Tim Huber
News from the new laboratory
Vol.2 No.1 Spring 1999 Fire Recovery
A small fire required a big recovery effort by Shelly Sjøvold and Helen Alten
The Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel
Grants for Collections Care
Recovering from a fire, flood or earthquake: An organized response makes all the difference by Helen Alten
Emergency preparedness and recovery services available
Vol.1 No.4 Winter 1998-1999 Indoor Generated Pollutants
Monitoring and beating the enemy within: Indoor-generated pollutants by Cecily Grzywacz and Helen Alten
Screening Conservation, Storage and Exhibit Materials Using Acid-Detection Strips by Catherine Nicholson and Elissa O'Loughlin
Thanks to you, Northern States Conservation Center is growing!
Vol.1 No.3 Spring 1998 Integrated Pest Management
Integrate pest management into operations by Wendy Jessup
Take care to follow pesticide regulations by Mary Ballard and Tom Parker
An IPM Checklist for Planning and Implementing Pest Control on Art and Artifact Collections by Mary Ballard
Northern States Conservation Center provides workshops
Vol.1 No.2 Fall 1997 Vacuum Cleaners
Vacuums put power into annual cleaning by Helen Alten
Use the Net to find preservation resources by Eric Swanson
Electronic security systems at a small museum: the Adams Memorial Museum case study by Mary Kopco
Selecting sealants for your building by Jeff Oertel
Interactive video networks bring training sessions closer to home
Vol.1 No.1 Summer 1997 Long Range Preservation Planning
Welcome
It takes a staff to care for a collection by Helen Alten
Getting your museum on the Internet by Eric Swanson
A good long-range plan combines survey recommendations and fiscal opportunities by Helen Alten
Resources boost your preservation library by Helen Alten
Conservation assessment grant funds available
Collection Caretaker is a publication of Northern States Conservation Center P.O. Box 8081, St. Paul, MN 55108 phone: (651) 659-9420 e-mail: editor@collectioncare.org Editor: Helen Alten Copy Editor: Tim Huber
Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors. Authors of published contributions assign NSCC the right to publish their work in both print and electronic form and the right to archive and make contributions retrievable electronically. However, authors retain copyright and may republish their work in any way they wish. |