Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Congratulations, It's Your Mess Now!
Chapter 2: A First Glimpse
Chapter 3: Back at the Desk
Chapter 4: Getting Organized
Chapter 5: Diving into the Collection
Chapter 6: The Power of Coffee
Chapter 7: Getting Stuff Done
Chapter 8: Storage Wants and Storage Needs
Chapter 9: We Had Nothing
Chapter 10: Failing Successfully
Chapter 11: Success Stories
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Angela Kipp is the Collections Manager of the TECHNOSEUM in
Mannheim, Germany and an independent museum consultant with a
special focus on science, technology, farming and history
collections. She holds the German Museum Studies degree of
Diplom-Museologin (FH) and has worked in the museum field since
1998. She worked for various institutions including large museums
like the Museum für Kommunikation (museum for communication) in
Berlin and the Deutsches Museum in Munich, as well as for many
smaller museums and cultural projects. She specializes in
logistics, project management and the adaption of technology for
the special needs of museums.
She is especially interested in finding affordable ways to improve
collections care in smaller institutions. One way she does that is
through her blog project Registrar Trek, aimed at raising awareness
for collections care in general and fostering exchange between
collections specialists around the world. Another way is this book
in which she gathered her own experiences and those of several
colleagues to develop a framework for people confronted with a
previously unmanaged, only partly managed or just neglected
collection.
It is her experience of working with a number of collections in
varying states of management that led her to write this absorbing
and valuable book. At some point in our careers, those of us
working in collections care are likely to be confronted with one
that has not been cared for to the expected standards. Managing
Previously Unmanaged Collections is intended as a practical guide
to address these situations. . . .The watchword for the book is
practicality. . . .The language is mercifully accessible and shorn
of irrelevant buzzwords, yet always clear, knowledgeable and
coherent. This alone is remarkable, considering it is written in
the author’s second language. . . .It is clear that the book is not
just the result of one person’s experience. Kipp invited
contributions and advice from museum professionals on her blog
throughout the process of writing the book. This has resulted in a
rich base of experience from which to address issues. The
real-world examples from contributors across the globe give a
realistic context to Kipp’s advice and a different voice to the
text, all of which adds to the book’s accessibility. Even for those
yet to confront an unmanaged collection on a meaningful scale, this
book is essential for anyone caring for museum objects. Its clear
and supportive language, coupled with the many practical nuggets of
advice, will make it a valuable companion for all.
*Museums Journal*
This book not only serves as a useful guide on how to approach
unmanaged collections, but it also leaves the reader with a sense
that they are not alone in their situations. Every collection has
room for improvement, and any improvement, no matter how small, can
be considered a success.
*AASLH History News*
Managing Previously Unmanaged Collections is a must have for the
library of any collections caretaker! This book takes the
ideas of project management and applies them to those messy
collections that we all face at least once in our career.
Kipp provides guidelines that will help both the new collections
manager and veterans work their way through those unmanaged
collections.
*Deborah Rose Van Horn, Registrar, Kentucky Historical Society &
Chair, Southeastern Registrars Association*
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