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The ability to obtain, use, or benefit from museum collections or resources.

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The ability to obtain, use, or benefit from museum collections or resources.

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The regular checking and controlling of conditions like temperature, humidity, and light to protect museum collections.

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The regular checking and controlling of conditions like temperature, humidity, and light to protect museum collections.

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The process of identifying potential threats to a museum's collection, like fire, flooding, or pests.

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The process of identifying potential threats to a museum's collection, like fire, flooding, or pests.

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Planning and implementing strategies to minimize identified risks to museum collections.

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Planning and implementing strategies to minimize identified risks to museum collections.

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Interventions taken to repair or stabilize an object that has already been damaged.

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Interventions taken to repair or stabilize an object that has already been damaged.

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Americans seem to use the term preservation, more than ourselves and the English do. e.g. The U.S. National Park Services' "Historic Preservation Standards and Guidelines" title, is an example.

What would our equivalent term be?

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Moth-balling a building a disused or vacant building to protect it from further damage, until proper conservation/restoration/repair can be carried out.

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A broad term to describe several actions that contribute towards protecting something significant. traditional approaches like restoration conserve things differently to for instance, rehabilitation, renovation, re-purposing.

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sponsors for pamphlets (small museum)

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professional photos, handle afterwards as few time as possible

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gloves! + accid free tissue paper

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when it is lost, ons has to word through the whole collection, other documentation, letters etc

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when it is lost, ons has to word through the whole collection, other documentation, letters etc

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An accession register is the permanent record of all objects which are, or have been, part of your museum’s permanent collections. It is the most important document in the museum’s documentation system. It acts as a formal list of the collections for which you are accountable.

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The formal decision by a governing body to take objects out of its accessioned collection (‘deaccessioning’), and managing the disposal of those objects through an agreed method.

https://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/collections_and_research/policies/deaccessioning_and_disposal_policy

Example of policy by TMAG

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Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery | Deaccessioning and Disposal Policy

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when the value and or condition of an objects depreciates

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how you identity, assess and control what threatens your institution's operations and finances

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Risk management is the active process of identifying, assessing and controlling risks and potential threats to staff and visitors as well as to property, both owned by the museum and on loan to it. All museums must have, as a minimum standard, a policy covering risk management and disaster planning.

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The donation by the friends of the museum funded an exhibition at the international museums conference

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Preventive conservation involves “all measures and actions aimed at avoiding and minimizing future deterioration or loss. They are carried out within the…

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Very different from the verb "catalogue" in a museum context, in an art or gallery context a catalogue is a document detailing the artwork on display for a specific exhibition or collection along with all the information relating to the artist, medium, year of production etc.

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An example of digitization as preservation of both physical analog and digital collections

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The use and usefulness of computers has exploded since the 1960s, shifting from highly specialized tools to something that is ubiquitous whether in the workplace, in the field, or at home. The Archives digital curation team provides the necessary care for this growing segment of the Smithsonian’s historical and scientific records. Across the cultural heritage sector, digital curation encompasses the selection, acquisition, preservation, maintenance, and delivery of digital data.

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Measures taken to restore or preserve damaged or deteriorated cultural heritage items.

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Elimination, removal.

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The art museum's decision to deaccession a lesser-known piece sparked controversy.

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The philanthropist's bequest to the university funded a new library.

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Is when an object is kept safe in order to prevent or minimize damage from happening. This could look like minimizing the number of times an object is handled or controlling the environmental conditions such as the temperature, lighting and humidity.

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Donation: Is when an object or money is given to the museum to become part of its collection if it is appropriate to the museum.

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Another word for conservation is safeguarding

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The process of analyzing and identifying potential hazardous events that might occur and impact the organization negatively. Example: The organization or museum housing a certain collection, must assess and think about events that might happen and results in the loss of collection or part of it. Thinking about these things and noting them down, could help document a preventative strategy for the future.

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Inventory: detailed list of objects that one has in his her collection e.g. name of the object, unique ID no, description, quantity, good quality images, provenance, location etc.

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Observation of the environment where the objects are housed. This is done to determine , understand the cause or identify issues that could have negative impact towards the collection if housed in that particular environment.

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When an object loses its original condition ( due to damage, not being looked after in a proper way etc.)

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Legacy or to leave something for future generations

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Formal documentation of objects within a museum, which might form part of an exhibition.

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The process by which museum objects change or breakdown, due to wear and tear. The process might be caused by light, temperature or changes in the environment.

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Gifts made as a part of a will or trust. They are considered as one way for galleries or museums to acquire objects or financial support.

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Museum preservation is the process of restoring and stopping the deterioration of objects in a museum's collection, museum's preserve artifacts, objects and other items of historical, cultural, scientific or artistic significance.

"Similar words"

Contradiction or Conservation.

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The practice of deaccessioning an object is the act of formally removing that object from the museum's permanent collection.

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Curators in the museum natural science department, collects specific animals for research purposes. After examination and DNA analysis of these animals, they are then preserved for future research projects. Optimum preservation conditions are vital, to keep the specimen in good condition for a very long time (years).

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An asset or object bought or obtained typically by a library or museum.

When artifacts come in as gifts/ donations and when artifacts are purchased.

"Similar words"

Purchase or Purse

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Giving something to someone while not expecting any gain or payment in return. Donation is always interpreted as permanently giving away something that belongs to you.

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Accountability means acceptance of responsibility, the ability of being answerable and liable. In terms of museum collections, the manager is responsible for all the items in the collection, for example, he/she should always be aware of new material added, taken out or on loan, any damaged material, databased and Un- databased material. This practice would help the collections manager to be able to account for every object he/she is responsible for, especially during audit.

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Prevention of wasteful use of a resource and protection of something rare of scarce items like the ones we have at our museum

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A complete list of items typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order with descriptive details

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Defintion: Actions applied directly to an object to arrest deterioration and/or to limit damage.

Source: The Institute of Conservation. Conservation glossary. Available: https://www.icon.org.uk/resources/standards-and-ethics/conservation-glossary.html[accessed 8 November 2024].

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Our handy glossary helping you understand key terms

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Definition: Actions taken on the environment to reduce or avoid future damage and loss of artworks without touching the materials themselves.

Source: Centro Conservazione Restauro La Venaria Reale. Glossary of Cultural Heritage Conservation [handout]. Young Professionals Forum, 24-27 September 2024.

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Record the addition of a new item to library, museum or other collection. Each book must be accessioned and the data entered into computer.

The act of adding an object document book, etc. to a collection, for example in museum or library.

Accession is the process of transferring physical physical and legal custody of permanent records from federal agencies to the nature of its kind.

CONSENT synonym ACCEPTANCE

Types of accessions

Accessioning Textile Records.

Accessioning Electronic records.

Accession special media records.

Pre-Accessioning for existing records.

Accessioning of the artifacts e.g. Ceramic vessels, marine spicemen etc.

An acquisition is a corporate action in which one company purchases most or all of another company shares to gain control of that company. This can be scaling workshop is a today event designed to provide a business. Owners with the skill and tools to agresively grow their business. Acquiring synonym Gaining.

Conservation is S a careful preservation and protection of something especially planned management of natural resources. At some standard is to make prevention of injury,decay, waste, or loss, preservation, conservation of wildlife, conservation of human rights.

Saving synonym Maintainance

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Preventative conservation - is a set of measures and actions aimed at avoiding and minimizing future deterioration or loss of cultural property.  It involves policies and procedures for appropriate environmental conditions.
Thandi

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A bequest is a term for something, usually personal property, that is given or left by the person's will to another person or organization.
Thandi

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Tshegohatso : Becoming impaired in quality, the condition of the object is not up to standard 

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Tshegohatso : Becoming impaired in quality, the condition of the object is not up to standard 

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Deaccessioning - to dispose off an item from collection. Synonym will be "remove". For an example: The museum deaccessioned all the portrait 

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Deaccessioning - to dispose off an item from collection. Synonym will be "remove". For an example: The museum deaccessioned all the portrait 

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After accepting the object, the collectionmanager is accountabile to look after the item, preserve, conservat and store it corectly and display it in a propriate manner.
Estelle

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disinfestation of textiles, desalination of ceramics, de- acidification of paper, dehydration of wet archaeological materials, stabilization of corroded metals, consolidation of mural paintings, removing weeds from mosaics.

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Definition: When something loses its good or original condition. Nthabiseng

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Definition: When something loses its good or original condition. Nthabiseng

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Sentence: The live botanical specimen deteriorated due to fire smoke.

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Defnition: When an object is removed from the collections, it could be in the form of transferring the object, sale or donation, or if the object is damaged and could not be repaired. Nthabiseng

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Defnition: When an object is removed from the collections, it could be in the form of transferring the object, sale or donation, or if the object is damaged and could not be repaired. Nthabiseng

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Another word associated with a disposal is selling. Nthabiseng

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Maintenance of artifacts/collection, preserving its original state.

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Is a label of a newly or existing collection to a collection database.

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Is a label of a newly or existing collection to an existing collection database.

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Write out a receipt, and a thank you letter for donation

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Full in a donation agrenment with details of conditions of accepting and information of donar and description of items

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Proper storage and accesibility

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Falls into your theme you collecting

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Date, by whom, item title

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By a computer software program where the item is been added, a aquisition book, or card

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By donaters or to buy

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label or mark it with this number

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A new item added to an existing collection of book, paintings or artifacts however it is a record of new items to a library, museum or other collect, each item must be accesioned and the data entered into the computer

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give a unique number to each accessioned object

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Sentence: They have been accessed by researchers in the past and have been featured in the museum’s temporary displays. (From scenario 7 in session 2)

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Sentence: They have been accessed by researchers in the past and have been featured in the museum’s temporary displays. (From scenario 7 in session 2)

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Definition: The process of accessioning legally adds an item to a museum's permanent collection. Accessioned collections are held by museums in the public trust and therefore are subject to specific legal and ethical considerations. Consequently, museums do not accession every item they acquire.

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Definition: The process of accessioning legally adds an item to a museum's permanent collection. Accessioned collections are held by museums in the public trust and therefore are subject to specific legal and ethical considerations. Consequently, museums do not accession every item they acquire.

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Definition: In conservation, library and archival science, preservation is a set of preventive conservation activities aimed at prolonging the life of a record, book, or object while making as few changes as possible.

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Definition: In conservation, library and archival science, preservation is a set of preventive conservation activities aimed at prolonging the life of a record, book, or object while making as few changes as possible.

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Definition: Complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order.

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Definition: Complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order.

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Definition: An essential part of caring for your collections. By keeping track of the condition of your museum, you can plan for the best ways to effectively preserve and protect your collections. Appropriate monitoring will also help you identify problems as soon as they arise.

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Definition: An essential part of caring for your collections. By keeping track of the condition of your museum, you can plan for the best ways to effectively preserve and protect your collections. Appropriate monitoring will also help you identify problems as soon as they arise.

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Definition: The state of being preserved, especially to a specified degree.

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Definition: The state of being preserved, especially to a specified degree.

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Definition: A complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order.

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Definition: A complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sentence: They have been accessed by researchers in the past and have been featured in the museum’s temporary display. (From scenario 7 in session 2)

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Sentence: They have been accessed by researchers in the past and have been featured in the museum’s temporary display. (From scenario 7 in session 2)

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Definition: To add a new item to a collection.

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Definition: To add a new item to a collection.

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Acquisition and accessioning (according to the Collections Trust)

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Acquisition and accessioning (according to the Collections Trust)

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In legal terms, acquisition involves a 'transfer of title' from the previous owner to you. The procedure gives you proof of ownership, and it assigns a unique number that will link each object to the information you hold about it. Accessioning has a very specific meaning: it brings with ethical responsibilities to preserve objects over the long term, and should not be done without careful thought in the light of your agreed collecting policy. If you acquire objects for other reasons, such as using them in handling activities or as display props, use part of this procedure but do not formally accession the items.

This is the Spectrum standard for Acquisition and accessioning. It includes policy questions and sets out the minimum requirements you should aim to meet however you put this procedure into practice.

This suggested procedure shows how you might meet the Spectrum standard for Acquisition and accessioning. It is presented in two formats: text and workflow diagram. They are meant to be starting points for you to adapt to the needs of your own museum.

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Collections Trust helps museums capture and share the information that gives their objects meaning. Our standards and advice are used around the world to make museum collections accessible

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Definition: Being able to find something

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Definition: Being able to find something

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Sentence: The number on the object enables us to ACCESS it again.

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Sentence: The number on the object enables us to ACCESS it again.

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https://collectionstrust.org.uk/resource/6-tips-for-increasing-access-to-museum-storage/

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https://www.lisedunetwork.com/library-card-calaloge-definition/

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https://museumsoftware.com/we/ppwe_accession.htm

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Accurate and complete accession records are the cornerstones of museum collections. With PastPerfect, you may enter complete information about each new accession, including donor name and address, date received and accessioned, names of staff who received and accessioned items, and credit line. You can also specify the type of acquisition, such as gift, bequest, purchase, transfer, or exchange, and track activities throughout the accession process.

Every item in your collection is linked to its source information by its accession number. The Catalog Records Accordion gives you the option of entering items from the Accession screen at the time the accession is registered. Once this is done, you may go to the catalog records and enter detailed descriptive data for each item. Or you can go right to the catalog, add the item, and link it to its Accession record using the accession number. Either way, you will have instant access to detailed information about items and how they were acquired. Another great advantage of PastPerfect's Accession catalog is that it generates a Deed of Gift and thank you letter with just a few mouse clicks.

For more information, see Additional Features | Accessions.

The Accession Process

Introduction to Registration

The professional museum goes beyond simply collecting items; it must also collect information. Often the importance of careful registration and cataloging are overlooked in the busy environment of local museums and small historical societies. The task of registrar may fall to a volunteer. PastPerfect is designed to help address the needs of organizations with little or no training in collection management.

What is an Accession?

An accession is defined as one or more items acquired at one time from a donor or group of donors constituting a single transaction between a museum and a source.

What is Registration?

Registration is the process in which institutions develop and maintain a permanent means of identifying items for which the institution has assumed permanent or temporary responsibility.

The registration system is the museum's memory. Some would argue that the records are as important as the items themselves. Keeping good records is a primary function of a good museum. Your museum has placed its collections in your hands. Someday you will pass the collection on to its next caretaker. It is your fundamental responsibility to hand over the collection and its records in good condition.

The registration system does the following:

Establishes the museum's right of ownership of items

Preserves associations with a person, place or event

Enhances interpretation of items

Aids in preserving items

Ensures the museum can identify and account for every item in the collection

What do you really need to know about each item?

Accession number (Where did it come from?)

Object ID or catalog number (What is its unique identifying number?)

Object name (What is it?)

Location (Where is it kept?)

Description (What does it look like?)

Date (How old is it?)

Dimensions (What features distinguish it from everything else?)

If your organization is brand new, you have the unique opportunity to begin truly at the beginning. Your task is to implement a registration system that is easy to understand, flexible, and expandable. This can be accomplished by starting with a numbering system that is in keeping with professional standards throughout the museum community. You do not have to reinvent the wheel. The three-part numbering system is standard in the museum field and is readily understood by museum professionals.

The Three-Part Registration Number/Trinomial System

The three-part registration numbering system, also known as the trinomial system, is both simple to apply and expandable. To begin, assign each accession to the year it was received. For example, if the item or group of items was received by the museum in 2015, then 2015 is the first part of the three-part number. The second part of the number is derived from the chronological order in which the accession was received. For example, the first group of items received in the year 2015 would be assigned the number 1. Now our number has two parts: 2015.1. This number, 2015.1, is the accession number for the item or group of items.

To further distinguish the items within the accession, simply add item numbers to the accession number to give each item in the accession a unique Object ID number. For example, the first item in the accession would be given the Object ID number 1, the next would be 2, and so on. Now our first item in the accession has the unique Object ID number 2015.1.1, the second item would be 2015.1.2, and so on. Thus the system has given you three pieces of information: the year of the accession, the number of gifts in a given year, and the number of items in each gift. This system is simple to understand and unlimited in application.

Accession Number versus Object ID

In PastPerfect, the accession number refers to the unique number that defines an item or group of items received from a single source at one time. Essentially, the accession number refers to the transaction of the item or items rather than the items themselves. The Object ID is the unique catalog number assigned to each item. An accession may contain any number of items with unique Object IDs.

There are obvious advantages to the trinomial system. You do not have to worry about how many items are in each accession. It is expandable to accommodate any number of items. The second advantage, and perhaps the most important, is that it identifies the source of the donation. The accession portion of the number can be related easily to the donor information. In PastPerfect, this information can be viewed from any record in the Objects, Photos, Archives, or Library catalogs by clicking the Accessn/Loan number to open the Accession record, or by opening the Source Accordion on the catalog record.

Guidelines

A good guideline to follow is to assign a different Object ID to each item, even for items that are closely related. Each item has its own record, where you can track the condition and location for each item. Relationships between items (regardless of whether they are part of the same accession or not) can be recorded through the Related Items function, found on catalog records in the Relations Accordion.

However, there may be times when you may want to number items in a set so that it is clear they are related. There are a variety of ways to do this, so it is important that your institution is consistent with its numbering methods.

Don't ask your numbering system to work too hard. Some curators attempt to use the accession and Object ID numbers to classify items. Most of these systems break down as soon as they are implemented. For example: you may be tempted to use the prefix "T" to indicate tools. Soon you realize that you have carpenter's tools (CTs) and shipwright's tools (STs); next you identify seamstress's tools (ST2s), blacksmith's tools (BTs), and dentist's tools (DTs). Very soon you will need a scorecard to understand your own system. In addition, a numbering system that employs alphabetical prefixes will soon have items with identical numbers differing only in prefix. Museums with such numbering systems will find their record keeping complicated and confusing.

If you already have a registration system in place, PastPerfect can accommodate it as long as each item has a unique Object ID or catalog number. In the past, many museums simply assigned a chronological number to each accession. For example, a group of items might be given the accession number 5000 because that is the next number in the sequence. The individual items in the accession would be assigned chronological numbers as well. Thus, the items in this system might be assigned the unique Object ID numbers 5000.1, 5000.2, 5000.3, etc. The next accession would be 5001 and so on. This system will work in PastPerfect because each item has a unique number.

For more information about assigning numbering systems, we recommend the "Numbering" chapter in The New Museum Registration Methods, 5th edition, edited by Rebecca A. Buck and Jean Allman Gilmore.

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Accurate and complete accession records are the cornerstones of museum collections. With PastPerfect, you may enter complete information about each new accession, including donor name and address, date received and accessioned, names of staff who received and accessioned items, and credit line.