At the Heritage Collections Care Consortium, we provide practical support to museums, libraries, archives, and historic houses, with a focus on preserving their heritage collections.
Our services include:
You can also become a member of the Consortium by subscribing to an annual collections care membership package.
For consultation and advice in collections care, click here.
Collections Care Advice and Consultancy
We provide practical advice on caring for movable heritage collections in museums, libraries, archives, and historic houses. This includes:
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The current strategy in collections care
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The overall level of collections care
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Preservation policies and procedures
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Staffing and resources for collections care
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Training needs for staff involved in collections care
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The condition of collections
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Environmental conditions affecting the collections, such as temperature and humidity
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Handling and storage practices to minimize damage
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Pest management programs
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Documentation practices to track the condition and care of collections
Based on the assessment results, we provide tailored recommendations for improvements. These suggestions includes preservation strategies, disaster preparedness, risk management for collections, environmental monitoring and control, housekeeping, pest management, and best practices for the storage, handling, and display of collections.
We can assist you in creating a comprehensive collections care plan that includes staffing, schedules, and budget considerations.
Managing Collections Care Projects
We provide project management and expert advice for major collections care redevelopment projects, including refurbishments, collection relocations, preservation, and conservation initiatives. Our team can assist in developing detailed project plans that outline resources, schedules, and budgets to ensure the preservation and protection of your collections throughout the development process. We offer both on-site and virtual consultations to effectively plan and execute your projects.
Our services include:
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Advice and assistance with writing project proposal documents
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Estimating initial project costs
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Support in creating Project Management Plan documents
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Assistance with developing project schedules
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Support for resource allocation and management
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Assessing and managing project risks
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Creating project communication plans
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Monitoring and reporting on project progress
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Overseeing and controlling project execution
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Providing advice and facilitating effective project closure and evaluation
If you are planning a significant conservation or collections care project, we offer a project management course tailored to meet your specific needs, providing essential skills and knowledge for effective planning and execution. To arrange a customized project management course for your organization, please contact us.
Risk Management for Heritage Collections
We facilitate risk assessment for collections in museums, libraries, archives, and historic houses. Our services include evaluating potential threats such as environment, human factors, and natural disasters. We offer expert advice on managing these risks through strategic resource allocation and the development of cost-effective mitigation strategies that prioritize the long-term safety and integrity of the collections.
We can create a detailed risk management reports that not only identify vulnerabilities but also recommend specific conservation and preservation actions based on the latest standards in conservation and collections care. According to the result of risk assessment, we can facilitate developing a comprehensive collections care plans or programs, including assisting with evaluating the resources required such as budgets, equipment, supplies, and staffing requirements.
We offer a Risk Management in Heritage (ABC Methodology) workshop tailored to your specific needs, providing you with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective managing risks to your collections.
Emergency Management for Collections
We can work with you to:
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Create an emergency plan for your collections
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Assess your emergency readiness to protect your heritage collections in disasters.
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Review your current emergency management plan for collections and provide feedback for further improvements
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Develop and deliver practical courses in managing disasters, including practical salvage of collections
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Test your emergency plan and the readiness of your emergency team with tabletop exercises (TTE)
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Assess your training needs in emergency management and develop a training program for your team
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Deliver online courses on emergency management for heritage collections.
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Provide practical salvage courses for museums, libraries, galleries, archives, and historic houses (New Zealand and Australia only)
Practical Training in Emergency Management
We offer practical courses to prepare individuals and teams to operate effectively under high-pressure environments such as during emergency response and recovery.
Managing Disasters and Practical Salvage of Collections.
In this practical workshop, you will learn how to manage emergencies and salvage collections in practice. You will gain essential skills in managing emergencies, assessing and prioritising the response and recovery actions, and implementing effective salvage techniques. You will engage in real-world scenarios that simulate various emergencies, such as fire and water damage, You will also learn about the necessary resources needed for effective collection recovery, including proper handling techniques and documentation practices.
Leadership and Communication in Crisis
This course will equip leaders with the skills and knowledge to effectively lead teams, and make critical decisions under high-pressure situations. You will learn how to create open and transparent communication and foster a sense of trust, collaboration, and resilience within teams. The course covers practical aspects of communication such as active listening, empathy, and compassion, and how to ensure that all team members feel heard and understood. We will also cover topics such as well-being, self-care, and building personal resilience in crisis.
Wellbeing and Resilience for Emergency Responders
Training in self-care, well-being, and resilience is essential to emergency responders during and after traumatic events. This training focuses on recognising and managing stress and trauma, setting boundaries, accessing support systems, and practicing self-care to prevent burnout. It covers topics such as managing emotional and mental well-being, and resilience building.
Trauma Awareness
This course raises awareness about trauma we experience after emergencies and disasters. This course helps responders understand the potential long-term impact of trauma and how to support affected individuals. The course includes practical training in Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) and information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
If you would like to organize the program or a specific aspect of it for your organization, please email us at andor@heritagecollectioncare.com. We also offer practical courses in emergency management and collection salvage. For more information about our courses, please click HERE.