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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Dear all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Museums, people and food are closely tied together. From staff members’ brown bag lunches to the cafeteria to a catered donor event, food service is a necessity in modern museums and institutions. At the most basic level, food vendors feed visitors and generate revenue. A strong partnership between museums and food vendors nourishes people and the delivery of the museum’s mission. The focus on healthy, sustainable nutrition also fits well into the educational mission of the museum field. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>On the other hand, the presence of food in the museum presents a challenge to the long-term preservation of museum collections. The risk of pest infestation and soiling of collections is real. Incorrect disposal of food waste and insufficient house-keeping both contribute to pest infestation while food and beverages carried through areas with collections can spill and soil objects, causing damage which may not be reversible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>On behalf of the SPNHC Conservation Committee, we feel that there is currently a lack of documented recommendations in regards to food management within museums. Through international collaboration, we hope to create a set of guidelines that institutions can use to protect vulnerable collections while supporting food services. We have put together a questionnaire (with many thanks to Cathy Hawks) to help us gauge an understanding of the current condition of food management within museums and institutions on an international scale. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>We would be extremely grateful if you could fill out the following questionnaire before June 1st 2014. Your input is integral to the success of this project.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Here is the link: <a href="http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1552943/SPNHC-Survey-Food-in-Institutions"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1552943/SPNHC-Survey-Food-in-Institutions</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>With many thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Gretchen Anderson and Rob Waller on behalf of the SPNHC Conservation Committee<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>