E-grāmata: Collection Care: An Illustrated Handbook for the Care and Handling of Cultural Objects

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 Powells 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