Doug, I agree with Lin's suggestions, and I think that if you can bring in the right kind of consultant, perhaps the board will recognize that some of the discussions and recommendations that result have merit. The MAP consulting program at AAM offers several different kinds of evaluations of the subject museum, so if you examine what they have to offer, you might apply for the one that seems best at present. Usually, all costs are covered, but you can explore that with the MAP staff. CAP surveys, administered by Heritage Preservation, are focused on collections and conservation, but the project often include a collections or conservation expert, and an architect. There is no reason that you could not pursue both MAP and CAP; many museums do. I am not promoting these for my own benefit, but I would like to point out that I have acted as a consultant for both programs, and found them to be useful to the subject museum. Occasionally, the museum is able to use the project report to make significant changes and plans, and that is quite rewarding for everyone concerned.
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Bruce MacLeish
Curator Emeritus
Newport Restoration Foundation
Newport RI
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-05-2015 10:55 AM
From: Doug Valentine
Subject: Level of Museums
Lin, thanks for information. We have 3 museum buildings (60' wide by 120' long) plus a rural village of 9 buildings. Our #1 building houses articles depicting day-to-day life in a rural village. Members are constantly complaining about not having enough space. Are there people who would come in and evaluate how we are utilizing our space? And then make recommendations at to how we could better use it? I'm a novice at all of this but I know that we have items in Bldg #1 that belong in our Farm Equipment or Transportation Museum. Being new the older groups don't seem open to make the necessary changes to better utilize the limited space we have. Would appreciate any and all advice.
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Doug Valentine
Hagerstown MD
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2015 08:46 PM
From: Lin Nelson-Mayson
Subject: Level of Museums
Doug: What a good question! There aren't "grades" of museums, but there are ways that museums can learn about best practices and ways to apply them in their own museum. AAM's Continuum of Excellence is a great place to start to identify best practices. Both MAP and CAP surveys are available to all museums to learn more about what you have and what you can do to get closer to understanding your museum in the areas of governance, collections, and public programming. Both program involve self-studies and visits by peer reviewers. Finally, AASLH's StEPs program is an easy to apply system that helps museums improve.
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