Preservation Needs AssessmentTamara LavrencicMuseum Programs and Collections ManagerM&G NSWCHG 2015

This session looks at:•How to choose a conservator ?•What to do to prepare for the assessment?•What’s involved in the assessment process?•Summary of factors in conservation decision making. •Prioritising preservation activities.

Preservation refers to…“the protection of cultural property by minimising chemical and physical deterioration. Improved storage conditions and environmental control plays a big part in this.”AICCM website http://aiccm.org.au/conservation

Preservation needs assessment• Evaluates the policies, practices and conditions that affect the preservation of an organisation’s collections

• Identifies specific preservation needs and actions to meet those needs

• Prioritises actions matched to resources

Goals•to enable your organisation to identify risks to, and develop a long-term preservation strategy for, the collection •to prolong the existence of cultural material

Choosing a conservator•Qualified conservator with 3-5 years experience•Get lists of names from Community Heritage Grant Office, AICCM www.aiccm.org.au or your state museum, art gallery, library or archives•Ask for references and a PNA report•Check they carry insurance

http://www.nla.gov.au/awards-and-grants/chg

http://www.nla.gov.au/chg/preservation-needs-assessments

AICCM: http://aiccm.org.au

AICCM: Directory of conservators in private practice

What to do to prepare for the assessment?• Organisational history• Description of building – location, number

of buildings, a plan of the layout if possible• Description of the collection/s• Details of staff, paid and volunteers and

roles• Opening hours• Number of visitors p.a.• Copies of policies and procedures• Copy of significance assessment report• Disaster plan

PNA template: www.aiccm.org.au/sites/default/files/docs/AICCMBusinessDocs/PresNeedsTemplate.pdf

Assessing preservation needs• Building location, construction and condition• Local environmental conditions• Internal environmental conditions• Display methods• Storage furniture and methods• Housekeeping• Visitor impact• Overall condition of collection sub-types e.g.

books, paintings, textiles, machinery etc.

How well does the building protect the contents?

Are shelves above flood levels?

Internal environmental conditions

Moisture problem

Display methods

Display methods

Display methods

Temporary display methods

Light control when museum is closed

Storage areas: cluttered

Storage area: well organised

Do storage methods or materials pose a risk to the collection?

Storage of original photographs

Storage- archival boxes

Housekeeping: is the cleaning schedule adequate?

Evidence of past insect attack

Evidence of active insect attack

Visitor impact

Recommendations• Development of policies and/or procedures• Building repairs/modifications• Reducing light levels and UV• Relocating parts of the collection• Resting fragile objects• Allocating appropriate storage space• Purchasing shelving, plan drawers or display cases• Rehousing objects in archival quality materials• Reformatting – making duplicates for display,

digitisation• Conservation treatment for individual objects• Training

End result•A preservation plan with prioritised actions•An independent report to support future grant/funding applications•Document to support future grant applications

Conservation decision making- factors• Significance underpins conservation decisions and

priorities• Signs of wear and tear can be integral to the

significance of an object• Benefits and risks of treatment • Reversibility of treatment• Storage conditions that the object will be returning to • Fragile documents, photographs and books may

need to be stabilised before they can be digitized• Potential use and possible limitations• Alternatives to treatment e.g. reformatting or

duplication• Will the treatment effect future research potential?

A case study

Treatment options•Digitise and house in box•Reattach the covers•Rebind the book•Leave it as is (covers tied on)