Several key principles should be considered when setting up a storage area for a museum collection. Storage areas should allow for easy access to collection objects and adequate space so shelves are not crowded. Appropriate materials should be used and objects should be oriented and grouped together by collection type or media. This organization allows environmental conditions to be addressed specifically for different object types. The size of both the storage area and growing collection should also be considered to ensure space is utilized efficiently and remains adequate over time. Security is important as well, especially for valuable items.

1. Storage – Principles
What do we need to consider when setting up a storage area?
Summary:
Ease of access, adequate space, use of appropriate materials and orientation all have a
major effect on the quality of the storage conditions and their maintenance costs. With
planning before hand or during a reorganisation of an existing store area the museum can
save deterioration on collection objects as well as cutting the costs of maintaining the best
conditions.
Information:
Labelling storage areas serves as a directory and allows the individual to go straight to the
right storage place after consulting the catalogue sheet or database. Labels for the
shelves can be created using tape, tags or metal brackets such as those used in a library.
In the storage area, some practical storage techniques help preserve, control and provide
access to the collection:
• Shelves should not be crowded as this will cause problems with access and
possibly cause damage through objects touching each other or shelf collapse
through excess weight.
• Heavy objects should be placed on middle or waist high shelves that will allow them
to be handled more easily.
• Small items should not be placed on top shelves where they will be invisible.
Placing them in shallow trays or boxes is a good storage solution for small items.
Ideally a glance at the storage room can provide a quick summary of the stored collection.
Therefore it is a good idea to store objects in their collection area if this is possible. For
example, all shelvable domestic history items should be located together and all craft
items stored together. Of course some objects, namely documents, photographs and
textiles require special storage attention and should be located by media rather than
thematic concerns.
This is so that environmental concerns can be addressed, and storage designed according
to the specific needs of different types of objects; and so that the storage will be practical.
For example, paper-based objects, photographs, textiles and objects made from some
organic materials have different storage needs than those items made of wood, ceramic,
glass or metal. The practical requirements of size and weight etc also need to be
considered. It would be an expensive exercise for example to order a specific type of
shelving (open plan, compactus or cupboards) only to find that most of the collection is too
large or heavy to be accommodated.
In a new museum that does not have a pre-existing collection to determine the shape of
the storage facilities, the parameters of the interpretation and collection policies will assist
in the decision making process. For example, it may be decided not to collect objects
Source: MAP/Reviewer: Zoe Scott/Edit LLW Dec 2006, reviewed JH April 2010
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2. which are above a certain size, or which have other kinds of constraints on them in terms
of storage needs.
The size of the designated storage area needs to be considered in relation to both the
area that is available for storage, and also the number of objects – or the size of the
collection envisaged for the future. Again, as a new museum this will need to be
determined more in relation to abstract, long-term considerations such as the future
directions of the museum. It would be very frustrating to spend money and effort
organising storage that will be inadequate before long.
Security needs to be addressed, particularly if very rare or valuable items are to be
brought into the collection. If the storage areas are in a separate building to the exhibition
or office area alarms and superior locks need to be considered. Access to the storage
area, no matter where it is located, should be restricted, and care should be taken about
who has access to keys. At least one copy of the keys should be kept off site.
References and further reading
Heritage Collections Council, reCollections Caring for Collections Across Australia,
Managing Collections – Handling, Transportation, Storage and Display
Museums Australia Inc (NSW), Museum Methods, A Practical Manual for Managing Small
Museums, Sections 4.3 Recommended environmental conditions for museum objects and
4.6 Choosing the best display and storage materials
Links
http://www.collectionsaustralia.net/sector_info_item/3 Collections Australia Network,
reCollections: Caring for Collections Across Australia
http://mgnsw.org.au/resources/fact_sheets/ Museums and Galleries NSW, Fact Sheets
and Technical Information
Source: MAP/Reviewer: Zoe Scott/Edit LLW Dec 2006, reviewed JH April 2010
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