From: Rebecca Dubey <curator@saukcountyhistory.org> Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:16:26 -0600 Message-ID: <CAKNAg9PfeYs7OBuzNegysaYgZWdqP7KJVqWuMqo-Zp-jTe4rEQ@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Re:
Hello Gary,
this is a common occurrence, especially with smaller museums. We are a
county-wide museum, and have two ideas for you to consider. The first is
that it is the job of every museum to care for their collections with the
absolute best care possible. Our job is to make objects available to the
public forever, but on our own terms. Our Collections Management Policy
states, as do most, that we will only lend our objects to institutions 1)
with the same educational mission as the museum, and 2) that those
institutions must be able to care for our objects at least as well as we
care for them ourselves. We would stipulate the institution understands
proper handling procedures and methods, that it covers the loan with
insurance (wall to wall) and provide a certificate of insurance, that the
temperature and humidity controls equal ours (>55% RH and 70 degree
temperatures), and that it will be packed and transported with the same
care as any museum. A school can not promise to meet any of this criteria.
So, what do you do?
1) visit the school with artifacts that you pack, handle, and control. You
could make a day, visiting all 3rd or 4th grade classes in the area. Put a
program together that you present, and make the objects visible, without
students touching them.
2) You can make a "study collection," that the schools could borrow.
These would be duplicate artifacts, artifacts that are not in as good a
condition as those in the permanent collection,or replicas made to take to
schools. The Study Collection could be placed in totes that the school
would borrow for a week or two; if things get broken, they are removed.
Make some interpretive labels to go with the objects, or invite a small
group over to write labels themselves.
3) come up with a program that you present, using laminated copies of
photographs, maps, newspaper articles, and use these to help the kids
ferret out understanding of what the past can tell them. We call our Sauk
County Investigators, (SCI), and a volunteer educator takes a tote packed
with objects, magnifying glasses, a laptop and projector. They show the
students how to use the materials, then passes out packets filled materials
the students can handle and questions. The students then present the
questions and their answers at the end of the program. We use many
different materials, and its quite popular.
I hope these options will produce some lively conversations, and help you
out,
Becca
On Thu, Nov 21, 2019 at 3:43 PM Kelly Washburn <
kwashburn@beloithistoricalsociety.com> wrote:
> We have developed a form stating dates of borrowing and returning. They
> must also have insurance in case something happens to the item.
>
> On Thu, Nov 21, 2019 at 12:36 PM Gary Kunz <kunztwo@centurytel.net> wrote:
>
>> Our historical society has had a very positive relationship with our
>> local school district. As a result, the occasion periodically arises that
>> one of the classes wishes to borrow some of our materials. We have never
>> denied them or had any return problems. It was brought to attention at a
>> recent board meeting that we have no stated policy dealing with borrowed
>> materials. I mentioned that we might inquire how other societies deal with
>> this situation. I would appreciate any information you could give me.
>> GLK, Fall Creek Historical Society
>>
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Kelly Washburn
> Program Director/Office/Facilities Manager
> Beloit Historical Society
> 845 Hackett Street
> Beloit, WI 53511
> Cell: 608-314-6289
> Office: 608-365-7835
>
-- Rebecca DuBey, Museum Curator Sauk County Historical Society (608) 356-1001 W-F; please leave a message other times!