Discovering Michigan’s Treasures: A Statewide Initiative

Q. What is Discovering Michigan’s Treasures?

A. Discovering Michigan’s Treasures is a statewide project funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.  The project is a part of the IMLS Connecting to Collections initiative, based on the Heritage Health Index results.  Launched in 2006, Connecting to Collections is:

• intended to raise public awareness of the importance of collections care for now and for future generations
• focuses on both the IMLS communities of libraries and museums, pulls in the archives community, and builds partnerships and collaboration among these entities
• builds on IMLS’s strong history of grant-making in conservation, preservation and collections management.

Q. What are the goals of Discovering Michigan’s Treasures?

A.  Discovering Michigan’s Treasures addresses the following goals and activities:

Directory -- A comprehensive list of collecting institutions in Michigan.  Michigan’s museum, library and archive communities  all share common concerns, especially in regard to collections care.  The directory will be beneficial to statewide preservation efforts by simply being able to identify the interested organizations.

Survey – A needs assessment of Michigan museums, libraries and archives will gather data on the state’s collections.  This will include an assessment of institutions’ capability to (1) provide safe conditions for collections, (2) deal with emergencies that threaten collections, (3) provide adequate resources to care for the collections, and (4) promote public awareness of issues affecting collections.

Q.  What is the “needs assessment survey”?

A.  The survey contains 69 questions under the following categories:

Institutional Contact Information

Institutional Profile

Type of Institution

Public and Accessibility

Budget and Staffing

Policies

Collections Profile

Storage/Exhibit Conditions

Environment

Fire Protection

Lighting

Buildings

General Security

Preservation and Conservation Planning and Activities

Emergency and Disaster Planning

The survey will take about 30 to 60 minutes to complete.  Answers will be submitted online.  You will have approximately four weeks to complete the survey.  You can look for more information about the survey itself in late September.

Q.  What happens if I need assistance with the survey or need a clarification of a question?

A.  We have a team of coordinators who will be on hand to help you understand the questions and even collect the answers if you need additional help.  When you receive the notice about the survey, it will include the name and contact information of your local coordinator.

Q.  Once my institution completes the survey, how will the data be used?

A.  The intent of the survey is not to seek or point out deficiencies in individual institutions.  The intent is to gather information which will provide a snapshot of collection conditions and conservation/preservation activities at the moment and to identify needed resources to help you.  The next steps following the survey will be to find the means to provide those resources to individual institutions.

Completed and returned surveys will be used to paint the most realistic pictures of:

• conditions under which collections are cared for
• challenges faced by institutions statewide
• how the Michigan Museums Association and other service organizations can provide assistance.

Q.  Why should my institution participate in the project?

A. Participating in the project and completing the survey will be beneficial for both the Michigan Museum Association (and its funding partners, IMLS and MCACA) and for individual institutions.

For MMA, survey results will allow for:

• identifying conditions under which collections are preserved
• identifying gaps between “best practices” and reality in collections care
• identifying ways in which statewide service/professional organizations can help you close the gap
• assist in identifying and then developing grant-fundable projects that will provide institutions the resources needed to preserve their collections.

For individual institutions, the survey will allow staff/volunteers to:

• discover activities you could be doing, but aren’t (some of these things could be easy to do)
• be introduced to best practices

Q. What else can I do to help?

A.  Make sure you complete the survey on time and as completely as possible.  And please share what you are doing with the other libraries, museums and archives in your community.  The more data we can gather, the stronger our case will be.

Q. I know of a museum, library or archive that did not get the survey.  How can they participate?

A.  If you know of another institution that did not receive a survey, please contact the Michigan Museums Association office at 313-334-7643 or at ssteele@michiganmuseums.org.  We’ll make sure they get a survey to fill out.