Eleventh International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Collections care is a coordinated practice of several functions within memory institutions to help preserve collections items. It includes conservation alongside many other responsibilities like security, funding, making digital surrogates, and more. In theory, any institution with a collection that performs these responsibilities - regardless of staff size, location, or conservation practice - should be able to perform them well for their own needs. This study tests that theory by analyzing data from 1,714 U.S. collections-based institutions on their practices. Results generate an index score per institution. Like other indices such as the Consumer Price Index, several key indicators of practices are added to a composite score and assigned to each institution in the study. Then scores are ranked and assessed by institutional characteristics. Do large organizations rank higher than small ones? Are museums outperforming libraries? These types of assumptions are included in the analysis and discussion of the final results.