Organization
Roedde House Museum
Address
1415 Barclay Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1J6
Canada
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Supervising Librarian/Archivist
Name: Ada Alster
Email: rhm.collectionsteam@gmail.com
Purpose of the project:
This Professional Experience project offers a hands-on opportunity to contribute to the day-to-day and ongoing collections management of the Roedde House Museum. It presents an excellent opportunity for students interested in museum collections management, including object handling, description/metadata, storage location tracking, and condition reporting. Students will gain valuable practical experience while contributing meaningfully to the stewardship of historical collections in a house museum context.
Summary of activities required to carry out the project:
Students may tailor their involvement based on areas of interest and skill development goals. Potential activities include:
- Policy Review and Development:
- Review and update the Collections Policy
- Draft and revise deaccessioning guidelines and procedures
- Update deaccession forms and processes *Experience proposing changes to CollectionsCommittee for voting/approval
- Digitize and input deaccession records into the Collections Management System (CMS) *Roedde House uses CollectiveAccess
- Identify materials for potential deaccession through condition assessments
- Assist with retention and disposal of internal records
- Collections Inventory and Documentation:
- Conduct an inventory of original materials currently on display (artworks, drawings, documents, photographs, artefacts)
- Note display locations and evaluate risk exposure (e.g., light damage)
- Assist with light metering and evaluate the need for reproductions to protect original items
- Assist in obtaining external reproduction quotes of original materials (obtain 1-2 options for consideration)
- Metadata and Cataloguing Work:
- Clean and update existing metadata to align with new description standards to assist with future data entry work
- Format and revise finding aids and collection guides
- Identify items needing revised and enhanced metadata
- Conduct cataloguing and item-level description work in the CMS
- Condition Assessment and Conservation Planning:
- Review existing condition reports
- Compile a prioritized list of items requiring conservation treatment or repair
- Assist in preparing documentation to support future conservation grant applications (e.g., DHCP) and assist in external outreach to local conservator for quotes on treatment
- Assist with setting up and implementing environment control monitoring initiatives at Roedde House
- Volunteer Handling and Training Documentation:
- Review and revise volunteer handling guidelines and procedures
- Assist with developing training documentation for volunteers handling the collection
- Collections Storage and Supplies:
- Assist with re-housing of collection materials
- Compile supply lists and evaluate/assess current storage conditions
- Update storage locations in excel spreadsheets and then in the CMS
Expectations of the end result of the project, for both host and student:
For the Host:
- A more organized and accessible collection through improved documentation, updated policies, and better storage tracking.
- Identification of conservation needs and updated deaccession protocols.
- A clearer understanding of risk-exposed display items and initial steps toward preservation through reproduction and storage planning.
For the Student:
- Practical, real-world experience in collections management within a museum setting.
- Development of professional skills in cataloguing, metadata, policy creation, condition reporting, and preservation planning.
- Experience working in a heritage institution with historical materials and contributing to long-term stewardship goals.
Time periods in which the project could be supervised:
- Winter Term 1 (September – December)
- Winter Term 2 (January – May)
Is there a deadline by which the project must be completed?
No. The project is ongoing and may be adapted based on the student’s availability and interests.
Considering the project requirements, please suggest suitable coursework as pre-requisite or co-requisite:
- LIBR 580 (3): Collection Management
- LIBR 587 (3): Preservation (cross-listed with ARST 587)
- LIBR 511 (3): Cataloguing and Classification
Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.