Although the Kennedy Museum of Art at Ohio University contains about 8,000 items in its collection, the museum does not have a conservator on staff to handle preservation.
Budget constraints do not allow for a salaried conservator, so the rest of the staff has learned to collaborate in conservation efforts with some help from outside sources, such as the Intermuseum Conservation Association.
Without a set list of conservation priorities, the museum staff addresses repairs and preservation challenges as they arise, said Jeffrey Carr, registrar and preparator for the museum.
Unfortunately
it usually comes down to a need-based sort of system Carr said.
The Kennedy has gained a resource to pave the way for a long-term conservation plan with a recent award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf includes a set of books, CDs and DVDs that explain preservation topics from storage to emergencies.
The bookshelf, valued at $800, is part of an IMLS initiative to provide small to medium-sized institutions, including museums and libraries, with conservation guidance, said Jeannine Mjoseth, public affairs officer for IMLS.
Forty percent of institutions, ranging from museums to historical societies, have no budget funds allocated for conservation, according to a report issued by the IMLS and Heritage Preservation in 2005.
The Kennedy falls into that percentage, because it does not dedicate a set portion of its average $450,000 operating budget to conservation efforts.
Affording conservation is one of the big challenges that we have Carr said. We're lucky
because our collections are pretty stable.
Although some collections, such as ceramics or sculpture, are less prone to deterioration, the Kennedy Museum's 1,900 item print collection is more sensitive, Carr said.
It's easy for paper objects to develop environmentally induced problems
he said.
The effects of humidity and light exposure can curl or discolor the paper, said Karla Hackenmiller, chairwomen of the OU School of Art's print making program.
By storing the prints in climate-controlled rooms and minimizing light exposure, the staff tries to offset deterioration or prevent its progression, Carr said.
Although the Kennedy does not have the resources to conduct a full analysis of the state of its collections, Heritage Preservation assessors will visit the museum this fall to inspect emergency preparedness and response tactics, Carr said, adding that this includes anything from fires to power outages.
There are definitely some risks (of emergency). We can't really be complacent and think that up here on the hill we are pretty safe in this solid old building
he said
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