[BCMA] ISO resources/guidelines for moving a museum collection

Tue Apr 5 13:03:40 PDT 2016

Hi Laura

We are currently in the process of moving our collection. In  fact, the
collection is going to be going through two moves in rapid succession. If
you have a facility already identified and secured, that is a major hurdle
already overcome.

A good place to start is.. begin with the end in mind. Make sure your
inventory is complete and up to date so that you know where objects are
located at the new facility. Spend time thinking through the logistics of
your box numbering strategy. Picture the end facility and how you want it to
be accessed, and plan for that, not how your collection is currently stored.
Communicate with everyone regularly as to the progress that you are making
so they have a clear picture of their roles, responsibilities and possible
ideas they have for enhancing the process.

I have been planning and executing with the thought constantly on my mind:
Would someone who knows nothing about what I have done so far be able to
pick up and know what I have done, and where the collection is located?
Suppose something should happen to me tomorrow, would the process be
transparent and would the transition be relatively seamless? If I cannot
answer in the affirmative, then I need to ensure the process is modified to
satisfy those basic criteria. 

Get outside agencies such as moving companies on board early, and get them
to help you strategize the actual moving day process. That will help you to
set intermediate goals. Consider a multi-phase move, as the smaller chunks
you have to deal with, the easier it will be to keep track of things. You
cannot track location of boxes while moving, but you can track on either
end.. the less you have to deal with as a chunk on a given day, the better
you can deal with the ends.

If you have questions, I would be glad to try to answer them. New
Westminster has recently gone through a well-planned and executed move. The
BC Maritime Museum has also gone through a move recently. I've learned much
from their successes and their druthers.. I'd be happy to help add to that
knowledge base as I can.

Cheers

Darryl MacKenzie

Curator

Delta Museum & Archives Society

      Preserve   Engage   Inform

Operating: Delta Museum - 604-946-9322   

Delta Archives & Edgar Dunning Reading Room - 604-940-3832

Administration & Program Annex - 604-946-9315  Fax 604 946-5791

For more information, visit: www.deltamuseum.ca
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Delta-Museum-and-Archives-Society/16340267703
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From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca] On
Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2016 11:50 AM
To: bcma at lists.vifa.ca
Subject: [BCMA] ISO resources/guidelines for moving a museum collection

Dear colleagues,

We're moving our artifact collection to a new storage facility and I am
having difficulty finding any resources, guidelines, and/or a plan as to how
to go about it. Does anyone have any experience moving a museum collection
that they could share with me? I would appreciate any advice or resources to
help with this process. 

Thank you,

Laura

Laura Fortier, MAS

Archivist and Collections Manager

Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History

502 Vernon Street

Nelson, BC V1L 4E7

250-352-8268

touchstonesnelson.ca

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