Museums are the reservoirs of history. They are tasked with a great challenge. This challenge is essentially taking care of the valuable representations of present and current artifacts produced by society. They preserve knowledge of past and present civilizations. As they continue to acquire more items though, museum storage becomes a necessity.
As society grows and changes, more artifacts are produced and at the same time the need to preserve the existing stock. The need for holding space therefore becomes necessary. In fact even if the catalogues do not increase, the need for storage already exists. Many people do not know that museums only store a fraction of their assets. Others are stored and in some cases brought out for display occasionally or on a rotation system. Storage facilities for museums may be on site or off site. Many museums commission or rent spaces elsewhere when their on site locations are at capacity.
There are certain specifications that must be met by the facilities that are used to store museum property. Museum managers must be confident that the items are safe from theft. Additionally, they must be confident that the conditions in the storage area are conducive to the preservation of the items.
In order to keep historical relics in the best possible conditions, certain conditions are required. These include oxygen levels in the air as well as the temperature. It is very important that these conditions suit the needs of the museum because failure to do so may result in permanent damage to the items, or worse, loss of the items. Paper, for instance, may develop spots that blot out words or phrases, making what is written on them illegible if it exposed to atmosphere with high levels of oxygen for too long. Some pollutants int he air also cause damage to some artifacts.
There are situations though, in which it is just not possible to adjust atmospheric conditions to suit each piece being stored. A great solution for this situation is to place each piece in its own containment unit. These containment units are typically made of glass and transparent. They allow for each piece to be stored in it's own ideal environment and are very handy in cases where pieces have varying needs.
Security is an important factor to consider for these units. Museum property is usually priceless and their loss is grave in many circumstances. Additionally, they are targeted by thieves who profit by reselling them. Alarm systems including motion detectors and surveillance cameras are important to ensure maximum security.
Size is another factor that museums consider when seeking holding space for items. As the need for this sort of space grows, curators who think ahead envision the need for storing future acquisitions. As a result they seek units with greater capacity instead of looking at those that meet the current need.
The job of a curator is indeed an important one. Not only does the job require meticulous attention to detail in displaying important items but also great care in the preservation of the catalogues that will inevitably be collected over time. Curators who implement the internationally and locally accepted best practices for the storing of museum items ensure that society's precious relics survive the ravages of time.
As society grows and changes, more artifacts are produced and at the same time the need to preserve the existing stock. The need for holding space therefore becomes necessary. In fact even if the catalogues do not increase, the need for storage already exists. Many people do not know that museums only store a fraction of their assets. Others are stored and in some cases brought out for display occasionally or on a rotation system. Storage facilities for museums may be on site or off site. Many museums commission or rent spaces elsewhere when their on site locations are at capacity.
There are certain specifications that must be met by the facilities that are used to store museum property. Museum managers must be confident that the items are safe from theft. Additionally, they must be confident that the conditions in the storage area are conducive to the preservation of the items.
In order to keep historical relics in the best possible conditions, certain conditions are required. These include oxygen levels in the air as well as the temperature. It is very important that these conditions suit the needs of the museum because failure to do so may result in permanent damage to the items, or worse, loss of the items. Paper, for instance, may develop spots that blot out words or phrases, making what is written on them illegible if it exposed to atmosphere with high levels of oxygen for too long. Some pollutants int he air also cause damage to some artifacts.
There are situations though, in which it is just not possible to adjust atmospheric conditions to suit each piece being stored. A great solution for this situation is to place each piece in its own containment unit. These containment units are typically made of glass and transparent. They allow for each piece to be stored in it's own ideal environment and are very handy in cases where pieces have varying needs.
Security is an important factor to consider for these units. Museum property is usually priceless and their loss is grave in many circumstances. Additionally, they are targeted by thieves who profit by reselling them. Alarm systems including motion detectors and surveillance cameras are important to ensure maximum security.
Size is another factor that museums consider when seeking holding space for items. As the need for this sort of space grows, curators who think ahead envision the need for storing future acquisitions. As a result they seek units with greater capacity instead of looking at those that meet the current need.
The job of a curator is indeed an important one. Not only does the job require meticulous attention to detail in displaying important items but also great care in the preservation of the catalogues that will inevitably be collected over time. Curators who implement the internationally and locally accepted best practices for the storing of museum items ensure that society's precious relics survive the ravages of time.
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