[NHCOLL-L:4129] Collections preservation course online in January

[Helen Alten]

Northern States Conservation Center announces an 
online preservation basics course for the start of 2009:

MS 104: An Introduction to Collections Preservation
Instructor: Helen Alten
Dates: January 5 through 30, 2009
Price: $425
Location:  www.museumclasses.org

Description:
Every museum professional needs a solid 
foundation in preservation principles and 
techniques. Introduction to Collections 
Preservation provides an overview of current 
preservation issues from environmental monitoring 
to collection cleaning, exhibit mounts and 
storage furniture. Participants learn about every 
aspect of the modern museum and how the building, 
staff and fixtures affect preservation. Subjects 
include the agents of deterioration, risk 
management, object handling and transport, object 
labeling, exhibit lighting, security, emergency 
preparedness, materials for storage and display, 
storage and exhibit philosophies, and condition assessments.

Course Outline:
1. Preservation Principles
2. Agents of Deterioration
3. Monitoring
4. Collection Handling
5. Collection Labeling
6. Collection Cleaning
7. Storage Principles
8. Exhibit Principles
9. Emergency Preparation
10. Conclusion

Logistics:
Participants in An Introduction to Collections 
Preservation work at their own pace through 10 
sections and interact through online forums and 
chats. Instructor Helen Alten will be available 
at scheduled times for email support. Materials 
include online readings and lecture notes, slide 
shows, quizzes and links to relevant web sites. 
The course is limited to 20 participants.

An Introduction to Collections Preservation runs 
for four weeks. To reserve a spot in the course, 
please pay at 
<http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html>http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html 
If you have trouble , please contact Helen Alten 
at helen at collectioncare.org or Eric Swanson at eric at museumclasses.org

Student Comments for MS104: An Introduction to Collections Preservation:
"An online course like this is very convenient 
for people who cannot attend classes in another city." - Student in MS 104

"I didn't really know what to expect because I 
had never taken an online class before, nor had a 
taken any sort of collections/preservation class. 
I definitely learned a lot; I now understand the 
overall goals and practices of collections preservation." - Student in MS 104

"I particularly liked seeing images in the 
PowerPoint slides. They really can add to the 
understanding of a topic." Student in MS 104

"I really enjoyed the excellent course reading 
material. It has really helped me understand so 
much more about the work I do." - Student in MS 104

"I've been working as a collection manager for 10 
years. I have no formal training in museum 
techniques 
I thought this class would solidify 
everything I've learned. I didn't think I would 
learn anything new, but I did. Great course. I 
would recommend it to anyone starting out in the 
museum field." - Student in MS 104

"My experience with the MS104 online course has 
been exceptional, a 10! 
 Thank you! Thank you 
for such a high quality and demanding workshop!" - Student in MS 104

"I AM THE ONE WHO SHOULD THANK YOU! EUREKA! I 
REALLY GAINED ALOT AND REALLY ENJOYED STUDYING WITH YOU." - Student in MS 104

"It may have been an on-line course, but I feel 
like I've got a textbook. And one written by many 
different sources, two heads being better than one." - Student in MS 104


The Instructor:
Helen Alten, is the Director of Northern States 
Conservation Center and its chief Objects 
Conservator. For nearly 30 years she has been 
involved in objects conservation, starting as a 
pre-program intern at the Oriental Institute in 
Chicago and the University Museum of the 
University of Pennsylvania. She completed a 
degree in Archaeological Conservation and 
Materials Science from the Institute of 
Archaeology at the University of London in 
England. She has built and run conservation 
laboratories in Bulgaria, Montana, Greece, Alaska 
and Minnesota. She has a broad understanding of 
three-dimensional materials and their 
deterioration, wrote and edited the quarterly 
Collections Caretaker, maintains the popular 
www.collectioncare.org web site, lectures 
throughout the United States on collection care 
topics, was instrumental in developing a 
state-wide protocol for disaster response in 
small Minnesota museums, has written, received 
and reviewed grants for NEH and IMLS, worked with 
local foundations funding one of her pilot 
programs, and is always in search of the perfect 
museum mannequin. She has published chapters on 
conservation and deterioration of archeological 
glass with the Materials Research Society and the 
York Archaeological Trust, four chapters on 
different mannequin construction techniques in 
Museum Mannequins: A Guide for Creating the 
Perfect Fit (2002), preservation planning, 
policies, forms and procedures needed for a small 
museum in The Minnesota Alliance of Local History 
Museums' Collection Initiative Manual, and is 
co-editor of the penultimate book on numbering 
museum collections (still in process) by the 
Gilcrease Museum in Oklahoma. Helen Alten has 
been a Field Education Director, Conservator, and 
staff trainer. She began working with people from 
small, rural, and tribal museums while as the 
state conservator for Montana and Alaska. Helen 
currently conducts conservation treatments and 
operates a conservation center in Charleston, WV and St. Paul, MN.
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