dk nkf - Nordisk Konservatorforbund Danmark

• the object’s current condition and state of
preservation, the likely impact of wear to
significant parts, the need to update to current
safety standards and the requirement to remove
hazardous materials and/or functions. Objects
which are beyond their economic life (i.e. in a
state of accelerated wear) will not be chosen for
operation unless physical integrity is deemed
insignificant in relation to significant function.
• the benefit to the public and to the museum,
in order to inspire innovation, engage
understanding, motivate learning or preserve
the collections. The opportunity for potential
research collaboration into aspects such as
the history of technology, future industrial
developments, deterioration of materials or
methods of preservation will be explored.
Publicity, direct revenue generation, sponsorship
attraction or special interest group gratification
may be considered as supplemental reasons for
proposal for operation but are not acceptable
motivations on their own.
• the resources required for maintaining the
functionality for both the short and long
term. Money, time, facilities, equipment
and skilled staff are required for treatments,
maintenance and repair programmes. Thorough
documentation including photography
of all processes from decision-making to
maintenance logs and handling requirements
must be kept and be made accessible. Where
resources cannot be committed to the longterm
maintenance, repair and replacement
programme, an object shall not be selected for
operation.
• museum need in terms of frequency of
operation and number of objects operating
• restrictions of museum context (available space,
exhibit design, health and safety requirements).
The selection process itself closely follows the
conservation management model produced by Barr
with a curatorial, conservation and museum resource
assessment, a written statement of significance which
will be retained as part of the historic record of the
object, preparation of conservation objectives which
will best preserve the important features defined in
the statement of significance and a treatment plan.
The treatment plan will determine all the means
required, including skills, equipment, materials,
space, and present and future financial resources and
will be entered as part of the conservation record of
the collections database for the object. The approved
treatment will also be retained as part of the historic
record, as justification for the treatment may be
required in the future. An Operating and Handling
Guideline and an Inspection and Maintenance plan
will be included in the Working Objects Database
(WOD), developed while at the Science Museum by
Efstathios Tsolis, now conservator at the National
Railway Museum.
Responsibility for maintaining the entries in WOD
will remain with conservation. Periodic reviews of
each working object will be undertaken to determine
whether an object will continue to be operated,
whether the operation should be modified or whether
the object is no longer suitable for operation.
Operation of an object will not be modified or
altered without review.
The Guidelines for Operation:
The Future
At present, the policy and procedures are still in
draft form. They have been circulated to curatorial,
conservation and documentation units at the museum
and feedback has been collected. During the next
two months, it is anticipated that a redraft will be
written; there will be some reformatting as a result
of the feedback. However, there will be very little
content change - not totally surprising as much
of the document reflects the past twenty years’
considerations of the Science Museum’s curators
and conservation and collections care managers - but
gratifying, none the less.
The redraft will be submitted to the Collections
Group of the NMSI (the corporate organisation of
the Science Museum, the National Railway Museum
and the National Media Museum) and the Collections
Development Committee for final review and signoff.
Once presented to the Board of Trustees of the
Science Museum, it will be implemented; a review
using the policy and procedures should then be
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