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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Hello everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>The NJSM is tightening its collection policies and records, and the issue of our educational collection came up. We’re a multi-specialty museum, with 4 collecting bureaus: Archeology/Ethnography, Natural History, Cultural History and Fine Arts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Only Archeology/Ethnography and Natural History have educational collections, and I’ve been asked to formalize a policy for them (with the understanding that most objects in these collections are to be handled multiple times on a daily basis by visitors, and we expect them to deteriorate in the process).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I recall a similar discussion/question in this list serve a few months ago, but I can’t remember or find any finished policies being posted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Would anybody whose institutions have drafted a collections policy for their “hands-on” educational collections kindly send me a copy for review?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I would also be very interested in any comments and suggestions you may have regarding the subject and formalizing it. It is my understanding that since these objects are expected to deteriorate, most institutions (certainly all I have ever worked for) have treated them informally (no real museum records kept save for an inventory).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thank you all for your time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Rod<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><img width=314 height=110 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CF4F44.E7C7B8B0" alt="NH Logo - Small"></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Rodrigo Pellegrini, MA, MS<br>Registrar, Natural History Bureau<br>New Jersey State Museum<br>205 W. State St.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'>PO Box 530<br>Trenton, NJ 08625-0530<br>USA<br><br>Voice: (609) 292-5615 (office)<br> (609) 826-3924 (laboratory)<br> (609) 826-5449 (storage)<br>Fax: (609) 292-7636<br>E-mail: Rodrigo.Pellegrini@sos.state.nj.us<br>Website: www.newjerseystatemuseum.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Blog: </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://njstatemuseum.blogspot.com/">http://njstatemuseum.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>