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reCollections

Supporting distributed cultural collections by connecting conservators and custodians

Collection Tips and Guides

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Wood

The main problems affecting the condition and longevity of objects made wholly or partially from wood.

Light and Ultraviolet Radiation

Understand the adverse effects that visible light and ultraviolet—UV—radiation can have on museum objects.

Transportation

Understand the need to protect objects from fluctuations in environmental conditions when moving them from one climatic zone to another.

Humidity and Temperature

Learn some of the adverse effects that extremes and fluctuations in relative humidity and temperature have on objects.

Health and Safety

Be aware of your responsibilities in relation to health and safety issues.

Access to collections

Be familiar with a variety of display techniques which can help minimise the risks caused by public access.

Textiles

Display historic textiles in such a way as to ensure their preservation.

Paper

Understand the main factors that contribute to the deterioration of paper.

Outdoor Collections

Know the basics of caring for and maintaining outdoor cultural materials.

Electronic Information Media

Set up a preservation program for electronic information and media.

Acquisitions and Significance

How knowing the significance of an object can help institutions set priorities for work programs and the allocation of resources.

Assessing Skills and Training Needs

Understand how the skills of the people who work with your collections can best be used to help the organisation meet its objectives.

Paintings

Handling Stretched Canvas.

Common Deterioration Processes

Examples of Deterioration.

Photographs

Identification of historic photographs.

Volunteers

Recruitment and selection.

Handling

Handling composite objects.

Electronic Information Media

Preserving audio and video recordings on tape.

Health and Safety

Chemicals and Solvents.

Collection Surveys and Condition Reporting

Examining Objects.

Paintings

Climatic Zones.

reCollections: Caring for Distributed Collections, has been written by practicing conservators and is intended to provide a sound guide for the preventive care of cultural items. Active conservation treatment of cultural material should only be undertaken by, or on the advice of, a trained conservator. Before relying on any of the material in this guide, users should check its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes and should obtain appropriate professional advice. If in doubt, consult a conservator.

© 2018 by The University of Melbourne. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This publication is based on the original work reCollections © Commonwealth of Australia 1998.

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© 2018 by The University of Melbourne. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This publication is based on the original work reCollections © Commonwealth of Australia 1998.