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The Department of the Interior (DOI) is second only to the Smithsonian
Institution in holding natural and cultural objects in trust for
the American public. With over 140 million objects and documents,
Interior's collections run the gamut from art to zoology. Museum
collections are held by all of the Department's bureaus and the
Office of the Secretary.
The Department recognizes the importance of museum collections
to its missions and is committed to the stewardship of these resources.
DOI stewardship reponsibilities include establishing policies and
procedures for managing museum collections that meet the highest
standards of the museum profession.
The Interior Museum Program provides oversight, advocacy, training,
and assistance to bureaus and offices in managing museum collections
and associated records within the framework of the Department's
policies and standards.
The Interior Museum Program supports cooperative efforts among
DOI bureaus, other Federal agencies, and non-Federal partners to
manage museum collections for maximum benefit to the public and
the Department.
The Interior Museum Program is managed by the Office
of Acquisition and Property Management (PAM). Interior Museum
Program staff work with the Interagency
Federal Collections Alliance (IFCA) to promote "best
practices" in the management of Federal museum collections
held in Federal units and non-Federal institutions. See notes
and abstracts from IFCA sponsered conferences.
Interior Museum Program staff led an interagency working group
that developed guidance to raise awareness regarding hazards that
may exist in museum collections. These hazards may be inherent,
or due to past treatments with pesticides or other chemicals. The
working group researched answers to some of the most frequently
asked questions on this topic. Departmental policy was updated
to ensure that users of Interior museum collections are notified
of the potential hazard. The prescribed notification form is designated
DI-3320.
The Interior Museum
Property Committee and the Executive
Program Committee, made up of representatives of each of the
bureaus in Interior, provides oversight assistance to the program.
Site Assessments
To better carry out the oversight responsibility, bureau representatives
on the Interior Museum Property Committee suggested that PAM conduct
site assessments. Accordingly in July PAM sent a memo to the bureaus
announcing the site assessment project. The objectives of the site
assessments are to review museum property management procedures
and to assess DOI-operated facilities housing museum property.
Site Assessment
Methodology
Site Assessment
Checklist
Documents
to Review
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