Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Collection Care: An Illustrated Handbook for the Care and Handling of Cultural Objects

Collection Care: An Illustrated Handbook for the Care and Handling of Cultural Objects provides a solid overview of basic collection care procedures and policies. The topics covered address the decision making criteria and risk assessment solutions involved in the best practices for handling art and artifacts. Technical subjects will cover proven techniques, materials, equipment and address problem solving assessment and current solutions. The comprehensive overview of staff responsibilities, relationships, and training will bring the book to a conclusion of addressing the unison of all professionals responsible for proper handling and caring for collections. Highlights include: ·This book provides both visual and narrative descriptions of current best practices for caring for collection objects. ·Emphasis is placed on risk assessment in the decision-making process with proven, accepted technical methods and materials. ·Detailed coverage of technical methods and methodologies for principles of proper handling, transport, and storage or two and three dimensional objects. ·Chapters will cover the institutional structure for managing, hiring, training both full and part time staff responsible for safely handling and caring of collection objects. ·100 photographs, figures, and charts provide overall directions for collection care, preventive maintenance, and proper handling of objects. Review Aimed at individuals of all levels of experience, this work dealing with the care of museum collections offers readers an impressive overview of basic tenets and practices. Powell has one-of-a-kind expertise in the field and provides unique insights based on his experiences in both museum and commercial settings. The book begins with an introduction to collection care, including an important chapter on training and personal safety. Subsequent sections cover the principles of handling and caring for two- and three-dimensional artifacts, emphasizing the importance of proper risk assessment and informed decision-making. The final two chapters discuss internal and external environmental factors relevant to collection care, including storage, condition reporting, crating, and transport. One key contribution of this book is its many photos, which provide a visual reference for handling techniques and apparatuses. Such a generously illustrated reference work is rare and extremely useful. The volume concludes with an extensive 'References and Resources' section, which guides readers to more detailed information on all the topics covered in the book. Overall, Collection Care is a unique and important addition to the literature, and suitable for all collections supporting museum studies and operations. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; professionals/practitioners.--CHOICE Many books address collection care, but they tend to be written by specialists for specialists. Thus, they are inclined to be narrowly focused and too often beyond the grasp of a generalist seeking a broad understanding of collection care. Brent Powell's book is an exception, aimed to educate a wide range of individuals. Anyone who manages a collection, or puts on a pair of gloves to move a small bronze, or packs a large sculpture for shipment overseas, should profit from reading Collection Care: An Illustrated Handbook for the Care and Handling of Cultural Objects.--Mervin Richard, Chief of Conservation, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC About the Author Brent Powell has worked in the museum industry for thirty years within the United States and Australia. He has created handling manuals for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, and developed ongoing training and educational programs for many institutions including the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. Powell has conducted and spoken at numerous workshops and sessio