2018 Webinar Archives

Click on the titles below to view the information and videos for past webinars.

Packing and Crating Basics - Wednesday, December 12, 2018

This Packing and Crating Basics Webinar will provide an overview of the basic methods, materials, and vocabulary used when packing and crating art and other objects for transport. The most commonly used packing and crating solutions for art objects, artifacts, and other special objects will be discussed, and examples will be given, with a focus on establishing a common vocabulary as well as utilizing industry-accepted materials and methods. An overview of brace packing and cavity packing for sculptures will be reviewed, as well as common solutions for flatworks and paintings, such as travel frames, shadow boxes, and trays. While every object may be unique, understanding industry standards for packing and crating can provide a framework with which to tackle any tricky packing problem. Knowing the right questions to ask using the appropriate vocabulary can help ensure that whether you are hiring a professional, or doing it yourself, you are meeting the needs of your collection and the objects in it.

Looking at Plastics: An Introduction to Caring for Plastics - Tuesday, November 27, 2018

The goal of this webinar it to help you more fully understand plastics so that you can make a preservation strategy based on the recognition of risks inherent in some plastics and the threat they can pose to other materials. Learn how to monitor and mitigate problems that may arise from the deterioration of plastics in your collection.

Making A Good End: How to Close a Museum - November 13, 2018

It is commonly understood that a museum is forever, that its collections and stories are held in the public trust in perpetuity. But museums do close. When closing is inevitable how can the process be done properly, meeting both legal and ethical standards? Beginning with a review of what causes a museum to close, this webinar will provide the specific actions needed to bring a “good end”, including legal requirements, collections disposal, maintaining community relations, and recognizing the deep commitments of founders and other stakeholders. Case studies will be used to illustrate specific points and ideas.

Preserving Artifacts of Free Speech: Caring for Political Memorabilia - October 23, 2018

Just in time for the mid-term elections, join us in a conversation about caring for political memorabilia, such as broadsides, posters, banners, buttons, pins, bumper stickers, decals, and plaques. Many political materials are ephemeral, made out of poor-quality materials and not meant to last more than a few months. How do we preserve such items in our repositories? In this session we will discuss real-life examples of political memorabilia and solutions for their preservation. Suggested materials and supplies will be offered, focusing on a cost-effective and simple collections care approach.

Feathers On and Off the Bird: Documenting and Caring for Featherwork - October 11, 2018

This webinar will include a discussion about the ways feathers are artistically and culturally manipulated, the influence of coloration and display lighting on feather preservation, as well as providing a review of display, cleaning and pest eradication methods recommended for feathers. And, we will also discuss the documentation necessary for the shipping of feathers.

Evaluating Collections Care Information Resources - September 13, 2018

How do you find good information on the care of collections? A lot of materials are available, ranging from printed books and articles to online resources and DVDs, but not all of it is reliable or valid. This webinar will help you learn to separate wheat from chaff when looking for guidance on better collections care. Print, online, and other resources will be reviewed, recommendations made for essential references for registrars and collections care specialists, and help provided for developing a useful list of search terms to use when looking for information. In addition, guidance will be provided for connecting to local, regional, national, and international collections care colleagues and communities.

Whose Heritage? Objects, Politics and Collections Care - August 22, 2018

This webinar will review some approaches that organizations have used in handling problematic collection objects with an eye towards balancing collection care and public critique. While the topics can be difficult and highly emotional, we will look at ways to provide a constructive and empathetic listening environment where both audiences and collections can come together to create productive learning arenas. Case studies include the removal of confederate monuments, WPA murals in a university setting that include insensitive racial stereotypes, and historic figures glorified in the past for behavior that is now considered predatory.

Live and Learn: Collections Emergency Lessons and Training - June 13, 2018

This webinar will help you to make sure your Emergency Plan is a living document by focusing on learning opportunities both before and after emergencies: training and after-action reviews. We will provide ideas for training all staff who work with heritage collections and we’ll discuss how to debrief after actual emergencies to learn from them in the most effective way. Staying in “learning mode” most of the time enables your emergency team to respond competently and creatively when an emergency occurs.

Caring for Your Historic Globe Collection - Thursday, May 17, 2018

This webinar will present a brief history of globe production followed by basic information about how to identify compromises in condition of historic globes. Even globes that are in good original condition, or that have been well repaired, remain fragile assemblies. We will make recommendations regarding storage, handling, display, and general care. We are pleased to share our experience with you, with the hope that your historic globes can serve your collection and community as cartographic records, and as engaging works of both science and the decorative arts.

Avoiding Ambulance Chasers: Working with Emergency Recovery Vendors - Tuesday, April 24, 2018

After a disaster happens, it’s human nature to want things to return to normal as quickly as possible. That feeling can affect one’s ability to vet disaster recovery vendors. This webinar will provide information so that you understand what these companies offer. As a result, you will feel more confident investigating and working with recovery vendors. Learn how to prepare with disaster recovery vendors before disaster strikes; what types of services disaster recovery vendors offer; which questions to ask vendors so that you get the services you need (not the ones you don’t); and know in advance what are appropriate answers to those questions. Sample documents such as Request for Proposal (RFP) and contract templates will be provided for your use. The webinar content applies to your cultural institution as well as the family home.

The Care of Industrial Artifacts - Thursday, April 12, 2018

This webinar will address care issues common to Industrial Collections. We will cover how to safely move large objects, how to best store them, and address topics related to machinery on exhibition both indoors and outdoors. We’ll touch on the ethical issue related to restoration, if it is an option, or when ongoing functional use is a driving concern. Topics will include expected materials to look for and what to do when you find hazardous materials when examining and documenting objects.

The Cabinet of Death: Tales of Conservation & Storage from the Mütter Abditory - Thursday, March 22, 2018

This webinar will look at the how the Museum has upgraded the storage and preservation of its important and particular collections to meet 21st century standards. What are the “unique” storage issues inherent in a medical museum’s collection and what needs to be considered when dealing with human remains and medical specimens – no matter what kind of institution? What are the hazards? What are the opportunities? What needs to be considered to protect specimens and maintain their importance for study and education?

The Care and Documentation of Ivory - Wednesday, February 28, 2018

This webinar will focus on the collections care of elephant ivory objects and address the other mammal ivories. As all natural ivories share some important similarities, regarding collections care, they are generally treated as a class of related materials. The causes and evidence of damage, as well as preventive measures that can be undertaken, will be discussed. The importance of legal acquisition of ivory and its relevance to the critical protection of living animals will be emphasized. The role of regulatory measures implemented to protect wildlife conservation, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), that impact acquisition and travel of raw and worked ivory objects will be noted. Documentation for internal record-keeping and for travel will be addressed. While conservation treatment will not be covered in this webinar, indications of when to contact a conservator for assistance will be noted.

Managing Resources for Collections Storage Projects: Strategic Planning to Completion - Thursday, February 15, 2018

Collection storage project success is determined by alignment with larger strategic goals. Those planned as collections growth, access and preservation projects succeed while those approached as a building project fail. The resources required for each are completely different and impact the project definition in early planning, the internal consensus required and the financial resources needed (for the project and future operations). This session will present an overview of what project criteria and information should be known at each phase (strategic planning to completion) to properly inform the early budgets (which will be remembered by the board). Learn how input from internal stakeholders changes from predesign (problem definition) to design (project solution). This link of goals, scope definition and resource allocation will support a smoother process and the outcomes envisioned during strategic planning.

Practical Nuts & Bolts Strategies: Day-to-Day Protection of Small Museums - Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Are you responsible for security & safety at your institution (just one of the many hats that you wear)? Like most of us, do you have extremely limited budgetary and “manpower” constraints for mitigating threats? This session will address critical day-to-day security concerns, and provide valuable low-cost or no-cost tools for protecting staff, visitors, and collections. Topics will include: Hiring the Right People (including volunteers), Best Practices for Employee Screening, All-Staff Security Awareness, Protection Policies & Procedures, Preventing Internal & External Theft (including prevention of vandalism), Entry Screening for Small Museums, Access Control Considerations (including Key Control), Conflict Resolution & Confrontation De-Escalation, and Best Practices in Securing Collections on Exhibit and in Storage.

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