[NHCOLL-L:4907] Collection Management Policies online class starts Monday

[Helen Alten]

*
*There is still space available in the *Collections Management Policies* 
online class offered by Northern States Conservation Center that starts 
on Monday.
*
MS 209: Collections Management Policies for Museums and Related 
Institutions*
*Instructor:* Bill Tompkins
*Dates:* Aug. 2 through Oct. 28, 2010
*Price:* $475
*Location:* online at museumclasses.org

*Description:*:
Acquiring and holding collections impose specific legal, ethical and 
professional obligations. Museums must ensure proper management, 
preservation and use of their collections. A well-crafted collections 
management policy is key to collections stewardship. Collections 
Management Policies for Museums and Related Institutions helps 
participants develop policies that meet professional and legal standards 
for collections management.

Collections Management Policies for Museums and Related Institutions 
teaches the practical skills and knowledge needed to write and implement 
such a policy. The course covers the essential components and issues a 
policy should address. It also highlights the role of the policy in 
carrying out a museum's mission and guiding stewardship decisions. 
Participants are expected to draft collections management policies.

*Course Textbook:*
John E. Simmons, Things Great and Small: Collections Management 
Policies, American Association of Museums, 2006, $40 non-member, $30 
member, 208 pages, ISBN: 1-933253-03-7, available from the AAM bookstore 
<http://www.aam-us.org/bookstore/detail.cfm?id=721>

*Course Outline:*
1. The Principles of Collections Management
2. Collections Stewardship: The Role of a Collections Management Policy
3. Policy Versus Procedure
4. Issues to Consider When Developing a Collections Management Policy
5. Essential Components of a Collections Management Policy
       · Statement of Purpose
       · Statement of Authority
       · Definition and Scope of Collections
       · Acquisition and Accessioning
       · Deaccessioning and Disposal
       · Preservation
       · Collections Information
       · Inventory
       · Risk Management and Security
       · Access
       · Loans
       · Intellectual Property Rights Management
       · Staff Responsibility / Ethics
6. Monitoring and Revision
7. Potential Problems
8. Emerging Issues
9. Drafting a Collections Management Policy


*Logistics:*
Participants in Collections Management Policies work through sections at 
their own pace. Instructor Bill Tompkins is available for scheduled 
email support. Materials and resources include online literature, 
textbook readings, slide lectures and dialog between students and online 
chats led by the instructor. The course is limited to 20 participants.

Collections Policies runs for twelve weeks. To reserve a spot in the 
course, please pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If you 
have trouble please contact Helen Alten at helen at collectioncare.org

*Student Comments for MS209: Collections Management Policies:*
The online chat provided a personal touch to the class. Bill's comments 
were very helpful. The required readings were a good length and 
complemented the section overview and PowerPoint presentations. The 
class was extremely flexible for dates and times.

Bill's readings were very helpful, more so than the textbook. The 
PowerPoint slides provided a nice overview of the section.

I enjoyed the readings, and applying what I read to writing the City 
policies. The class helped write policies in a logical and practical 
manner, which will ultimately help in the overall goal - developing 
policies for our institution.

Bill did a great job and I really enjoyed the chat times and reviewing 
his comments.

The reading materials, slide shows and feedback given by Bill were 
outstanding in quality.

Bill's reviews of the assignments were thorough and detailed.

Bill's lecture notes provided a good summary of the topics covered in 
each section. I found them very helpful when I wrote my cmp.

I learned a great deal about cmps and am confident that I have the tools 
to put my cmp in good form.


*The Instructor:*
*William G. (Bill) Tompkins* is the national collections coordinator for 
the Smithsonian Institution. Bill serves as a principal advisor to 
senior Smithsonian management and staff on collections-management 
policies, procedures and standards. He develops, implements and 
interprets Smithsonian collections management standards. This includes 
reviewing and approving the policies of the Smithsonian's individual 
museums to make sure collections are maintained according to policy, 
professional standards and legal obligations. Previously, Bill was 
assistant director of the Smithsonian's Office of the Registrar. He is 
also a former collections manager at the National Museum of American 
History. With nearly thirty years experience in the museum profession, 
Bill regularly speaks at professional meetings, workshops and university 
programs.
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