Conserving collections and electricity
August 20, 2003
As the province continues to encourage electricity conservation to avoid any future power blackouts, the Ontario Museum Association has gathered museum advice from professional colleagues.
The general practice for museums is to refer to their governing authority to establish levels of operation. The municipal emergency preparedness plan provides the guidelines to be followed by municipal museums. You should also refer to your museum’s emergency preparedness plan. The OMA would like to emphasize the following:
Security - The security of our museum collections and museum staff is the priority. Museums should be fully aware of the adequacy of their security and backup systems in case of power failures. Make sure you know how long your battery power will last. Similarly, exterior lighting for building and staff security should be maintained to avoid arson, vandalism or theft. If security systems are not adequate then consider hiring security staff or organizing regular visits to check the site.
Working conditions - Where personnel is concerned, working conditions should meet employment standards and follow health and safety guidelines.
Collections storage and exhibition areas- Museums need to maintain adequate temperature and humidity levels in their museums and storage areas. Extreme temperature or humidity fluctuations are most disruptive to the stability of artifacts and buildings and should be avoided at all costs.
Temporary closure of your museum may be the best option. If your collections are particularly sensitive, lights should be turned off, and temperature should be monitored as well as relative humidity levels. Proper ventilation is key. In some instances you may want to consider using fans, however, ensure they are not affecting sensitive artifacts. Similarly, on lower floors, or the cellars of historic sites, you may want to consider using dehumidifiers. Using common sense will go a long way.
The Association will update the community with more precise information on temperature and humidity levels when the Canadian Conservation Institute and Ministry of Culture resume operation. We want to ensure that Ontario’s museum collections are protected, while meeting the Ministry Standards for Community Museums during this emergency.
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