"Managing Natural Science Collections demonstrates the need for consistency and evidence-based decision-making in the management of natural science collections, which are becoming increasingly valuable when it comes to addressing societal challenges. Drawing upon the experience of four experts who have managed some of the largest and most diverse collections in the world, the book aims to assist in the making of strategic and operational decisions regarding care, development, access and resource management. Encouraging the reader to consider how collection strategies can be aligned with the mission of their institution and contribute to its vision, authors also examine ways to deliver a consistent approach that will secure the present and future availability and relevance of collections. Principles of good practice and resource optimisation in an ethical and legal context are provided throughout the book, as well as case studies, sample documents and templates, all of which will be useful for discussion and teaching. Managing Natural Science Collections encourages each reader to consider the different options available to them. As such, it should be essential reading for museum practitioners and other professionals around the world who are involved with any strategic aspect of managing natural science collections. Students of museum studies will also find much to interest them within the pages of this book"--

Managing Natural Science Collections demonstrates the need for consistency and evidence-based decision making in the management of natural science collections, which are becoming increasingly valuable when it comes to addressing societal challenges. Drawing upon the experience of four experts who have managed some of the largest and most diverse collections in the world, the book aims to assist in the making of strategic and operational decisions regarding care, development, access and resource management. Encouraging the reader to consider how collection strategies can be aligned with the mission of their institution and contribute to its vision, the authors also examine ways to deliver a consistent approach that will secure the present and future availability and relevance of collections. Principles of good practice and resource optimisation in an ethical and legal context are provided throughout the book, as well as case studies, sample documents and templates, all of which will be useful for discussion and teaching. Managing Natural Science Collections encourages each reader to consider the different options available to them. As such, it should be essential reading for museum practitioners and other professionals around the world who are involved with any strategic aspect of managing natural science collections. Students of museum studies will also find much to interest them within the pages of this book.

All persons involved with natural history museums--from administrators to exhibit designers--will find this work useful. The chapters in the volume provide a general overview as well as address specific topics concerning the roles and functions of natural history museums. Topics in this survey include conservation, care, use, management, and preservation of collections; the role of exhibits and other educational materials, as well as ideas and guidelines for some exciting new approaches for this facet of natural history museums; and, in addition, useful information about possible sources of funding for natural history museums.

Collection care is a fundamental responsibility for museums and other collecting institutions, and the foundation of collection stewardship is good collection management policies. The new third edition of Things Great and Small continues to be a comprehensive resource for developing, implementing, and revising collection management policies and includes new information for addressing prolonged or permanent closure of museums, wider parameters for collection storage environments, and sustainable collection management practices to cope with climate change. Drawing on more than 50 years of experience as a collection manager, educator, consultant, and AAM Museum Assessment Program peer reviewer, John E. Simmons reviews the most recent collection management thinking and literature, helps determine which policies an institution needs, and provides guidance on policy content. In this new edition, coverage of critical areas is expanded, including digital objects, intellectual property rights, deaccessioning, decolonization, standards and best practices, collection storage environment parameters, managing off-site storage facilities, health and safety, laws and regulations, risk management, and sustainable collection management practices. With more than 50 tables and charts and model policy templates, this major publication is aimed at museums of all kinds, historic houses and sites, and other collecting institutions.

An invaluable and practical introduction bringing together leading recent papers emphasising some of the major issues affecting collections management.

There is a common misconception that collections management in museums is a set of rote procedures or technical practices that follow universal standards of best practice. This volume recognises collections management as a political, critical and social project, involving considerable intellectual labour that often goes unacknowledged within institutions and in the fields of museum and heritage studies. Collections Management as Critical Museum Practice brings into focus the knowledges, value systems, ethics and workplace pragmatics that are foundational for this work. Rather than engaging solely with cultural modifications, such as Indigenous care practices, the book presents local knowledge of place and material which is relevant to how collections are managed and cared for worldwide. Through discussion of varied collection types, management activities and professional roles, contributors develop a contextualised reflexive practice for how core collections management standards are conceptualised, negotiated and enacted. Chapters span national museums in Brazil and Uganda to community-led heritage work in Malaysia and Canada; they explore complexities of numbering, digitisation and description alongside the realities of climate change, global pandemics and natural disasters. The book offers a new definition of collections management, travelling from what is done to care for collections, to what is done to care for collections and their users. Rather than ‘use’ being an end goal, it emerges as a starting point to rethink collections work.

An invaluable and practical introduction bringing together leading recent papers emphasising some of the major issues affecting collections management.