Online courses

Start your summer by solidifying your knowledge of museum history,
missions, security and collection care.  In July Northern States
Conservation Center offers five on-line courses over the Internet:

      Introduction to Museums
      July 7 - August 1, 2008

      Cataloging Your Collection
      June 30 - July 26, 2008

      An Introduction to Collections Preservation
      July 7 - August 1, 2008

      The Mission Statement:  Is it really that important?
      July 14-18, 2008

      Introduction to Museum Security
      July 7 - August 1, 2008

Sign up for two or more courses and get 5% off on both.  Sign up for
three or more courses and get 10% off on all three.

To sign up for the courses, go to <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>
and scroll down to see the July courses or pay at
<URL:http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html>

If you have trouble with either, please contact Helen Alten at
helen<-a t->collectioncare< . >org

Descriptions of each course follow:

MS 007
The Mission Statement: Is it really that important?
Dates: Jul 14-18, 2008
Price: $75
Instructor:  Peggy Schaller
Location: On-line at <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>

    The heart of every museum is its collection and a mission
    statement is critical to preserving that collection.
    Participants in The Mission Statement will discuss their mission
    statements and whether they really make a difference. Peggy has
    seen and heard it all as a consultant to small and large
    museums. She will help you figure out ways to make your mission
    statement work for you.

    Logistics: Participants in The Mission Statement will read
    literature and participate in two one-hour chats to discuss how
    a museum's mission statement may or may not impact the daily
    operations. Each student should read course materials and
    prepare questions or comments to share with the other students
    in the chat. This is a mini-course and takes no more than 10
    hours of a student's time.

    The Instructor: Peggy Schaller, founded Collections Research for
    Museums in 1991 to provide consulting on cataloging,
    collection-management training and services. She has worked with
    a large variety of museums and collections for more than 13
    years. Peggy, who lives in Denver, Colorado, has a bachelor's
    degree in anthropology with minors in art history and geology
    from the University of Arizona in Tucson. She has a master's
    degree in anthropology with a minor in museum studies from the
    University of Colorado in Boulder and is a certified
    institutional protection specialist.

MS 101: Introduction to Museums (new course)
Jul 7 to Aug 1, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Kiersten Latham
Location: On-line at <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>

    Museums are complex, covering a wide range of experiential
    learning from the curiosity cabinet of the early 19th century to
    the modern interactive science museum. Introduction to Museums
    is designed for participants new to the museum field, or those
    who would like a broader understanding of the field, such as
    board members, interns and volunteers. This course introduces
    basic concepts and terminology, discusses different types of
    museums and the role of each staff person, be they curators,
    registrars, directors, security chief or conservator.

    Course Outline

        Week 1.     What is a Museum?
        Week 2.     History of Museums
        Week 3.     Museum Models
        Week 4.     Roles in the Museum

    Participants in Introduction to Museums work through sections at
    their own pace over four weeks. Instructor Kiersten F. Latham is
    available for scheduled email support. Materials and resources
    include online literature, slide lectures and dialog between
    students and online chats led by the instructor. The course is
    limited to 20 participants.

    The Instructor: Kiersten F. Latham is the acting coordinator of
    the museum studies program at the University of Kansas. She has
    nearly 20 years of experience working in museums. Most recently
    she was the curator of collections at the Kansas Cosmosphere and
    Space Center. Her interests include the meaning of objects,
    philosophy and history of the museum, and psychology of visitor
    experiences. She has worked in history, art, anthropology,
    science and children's museums as an academic and professional.

MS 207: Cataloging Your Collection
Jun 30 - Jul 26, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Peggy Schaller
Location: On-line at <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>

    Cataloging Your Collection covers all details needed to catalog
    a collection. Procedures for handling, measuring and describing
    all types of objects and materials are discussed in detail.
    Participants receive sample forms and learn the best practices
    for numbering artifacts, performing inventory and assessing the
    condition of objects. Participants practice describing everyday
    objects and cataloging items from their own collections or
    households.

    Course Outline:

        Introduction: Policy and Mission
        Cataloging: Why Do We Catalog Our Artifacts?
        Forms
        Numbering
        Handling
        Conservation and Storage
        Inventories
        Cataloging
        Considerations for Specific Objects
        Summary

    Logistics: Participants in Cataloging Your Collection set their
    own pace while working through 10 sections in four weeks.
    Instructor Peggy Schaller will be available at scheduled times
    for email support. Participants interact through forums and
    scheduled online chats. Materials include online readings and
    lecture notes, as well as handouts, slide lectures, projects and
    links to relevant web sites. The course is limited to 20
    participants.

    The Instructor: Peggy Schaller, founded Collections Research for
    Museums in 1991 to provide consulting on cataloging,
    collection-management training and services. She has worked with
    a large variety of museums and collections for more than 13
    years. Peggy, who lives in Denver, Colorado, has a bachelor's
    degree in anthropology with minors in art history and geology
    from the University of Arizona in Tucson. She has a master's
    degree in anthropology with a minor in museum studies from the
    University of Colorado in Boulder and is a certified
    institutional protection specialist.

MS104: An Introduction to Collections Preservation
Dates: Jul 7 - Aug 1, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Helen Alten
Location: On-line at <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>

    Every museum professional needs a solid foundation in
    preservation principles and techniques. An Introduction to
    Collections Preservation provides an overview of current
    preservation issues from environmental monitoring to collection
    cleaning, exhibit mounts and storage furniture. Participants
    learn about every aspect of the modern museum and how the
    building, staff and fixtures affect preservation. Subjects
    include the agents of deterioration, risk management, object
    handling and transport, object labeling, exhibit lighting,
    security, emergency preparedness, materials for storage and
    display, storage and exhibit philosophies, and condition
    assessments.

    Course Outline:

        Preservation Principles
        Agents of Deterioration
        Monitoring
        Collection Handling
        Collection Labeling
        Collection Cleaning
        Storage Principles
        Exhibit Principles
        Emergency Preparation
        Conclusion

        Logistics: Participants in An Introduction to Collections
        Preservation work at their own pace through 10 sections over
        four weeks and interact through online forums and chats.
        Instructor Helen Alten will be available at scheduled times
        for email support. Materials include online readings and
        lecture notes, slide shows, quizzes and links to relevant
        web sites. The course is limited to 20 participants.

        The Instructor: Helen Alten, Conservator and owner of
    Northern States Conservation Center, St. Paul, MN has been a
    Field Education Director, Conservator, and trainer since 1986.
    Ms. Alten received her conservation diploma from Archaeological
    Conservation and Materials Science, Institute of Archaeology,
    University of London in 1986. She began working with people from
    small, rural, and tribal museums while as the state conservator
    for Montana and Alaska. Helen currently conducts conservation
    treatments and operates a conservation center in St. Paul, MN.

MS107: Introduction to Museum Security
Dates: Jul 7 - Aug 1, 2008
Price: $425
Instructor:  Steve Layne
Location: On-line at <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>

    Security must be a priority for every museum, regardless of
    size. Introduction to Museum Security teaches basic, practical
    approaches to protecting against threats such as theft,
    vandalism, violent acts, natural disasters, fire and
    environmental hazards. Topics include selecting security
    systems, determining security needs and how to build affordable
    security systems. Screening, hiring, firing, workplace violence,
    policies and procedures and emergency management planning are
    covered as well.

    Logistics: Participants in Introduction to Museum Security work
    at their own pace through sections and interact through online
    chats over four weeks. Instructor Steve Layne is available at
    scheduled times during the course for email support.
    Introduction to Security includes online literature, slide
    lectures and student-teacher/group-teacher dialog. The course is
    limited to 20 participants.

    The Instructor: Steve Layne is the principal consultant and
    chief executive of Layne Consultants International, a leading
    provider of cultural property protection advice. Steve is a
    former police chief, public safety director and museum security
    director. He is the author of the Cultural Property Protection
    Manual, and the Business Survival Guide. Steve regularly
    presents to professional associations and has consulted with
    more than 400 museums and other institutions. Steve is the
    founding director of the International Foundation for Cultural
    Property Protection and responsible for the professional
    training and certification of more than 1,000 museum
    professionals.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:62
                  Distributed: Saturday, May 24, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-62-010
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