Conservation Assessment Program

Conservation Assessment Program

Preparing for your CAP Site Visitwith CAP assessors M.J. Davis and Julie Reilly

May 21, 2012

The mission of Heritage Preservation is to preserve the nation’s heritage for future generations through

innovative leadership, education, and programs.

Heritage Preservation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States. Since 1973, it has

identified threats to collections and has responded with practical and pioneering solutions. 

Today’s Speakers

M.J. Davis Julie Reilly

Plan the Assessment Visit Well

Try, at all costs, to have the collections assessor and the historic building assessor visit at the same time

Exchange contact information with both assessors

Send agenda to the assessors and all those involved prior to visit

Confirm all travel arrangements

Make sure payment arrangements

are understood by assessor and

museum

Any way you can make the

assessor’s stay easier or more

comfortable?

Let the local newspaper or town

bloggers know that the assessors

are visiting – spread the word that

you are caring for your collection

and structures

Remember, the CAP Assessor is a guest to your museum and in your community!

Plan Entrance and Exit Interviews with the Assessor

Schedule an icebreaker event

Discuss report preferences

Discuss future relationship between

museum and assessor

Plan for a wrap-up session or briefing

at the end of the assessors’ visit – the

assessors should be able to give a few

hints about the highest priority

recommendations they are likely to

make in their reports

Confirm which staff and board members will be present during the site visit

Schedule volunteers, staff and

board members

Brief them on CAP

If Assessor needs to interview

volunteers, staff and board

members, be sure to schedule

ample time

Make sure the local HVAC

contractors or staff members are

available and scheduled to meet

with the assessors.

Don’t clean up prior to your site visit!

Seeing the normal conditions of collections and exhibitions helps your assessor frame more helpful recommendations

Have a list ready of any areas of special concern within the collections

Choose a few important objects or objects of great concern for the conservator to look at when they are visiting.

Check over the museum’s previous surveys.Provide copies to the assessors if appropriate.

Types of previous reports that

may be relevant to your CAP:

Previous CAP report

Previous MAP report

Reports from any other

conservation/preservation

activities

Historic Structures Report (HSR)

Gather all museum policies and procedures for the assessors to review

Policies to have on hand:

Collections management policy

Collections handling policy

Security policies

Exhibition policies (loan procedures, etc.)

Emergency preparedness plans/procedures

Pest control policies

Building policies and procedures

Gather any environmental data the museum currently collects

Temperature

Relative Humidity

Light levels

Local weather

Pollutant information

Make sure your assessor can access ALL museum collections, wherever they may be stored!

Gather keys, ladders, etc.

Go to off-site storage

Go to all locations with

collections, even unusual

ones

Make sure the assessors

visit all museum buildings

and sites

Have flashlights and

batteries on hand in case

they are needed for light or

for cameras, etc…

Questions?

Contact the CAP staff at 202-233-0800 or at cap@heritagepreservation.org for more information

www.facebook.com/heritagepreservation

www.twitter.com/HeritagePresDC

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Preservation

www.heritagepreservation.org

1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 1200Washington, DC 20005Phone: 202-233-0800