Discover Giles County Historical Society article from the Virginian Leader, November 18, 2009
Earlier this year, Giles County Historical Society was the recipient of a Museum Assessment Program (MAP) grant from the American Association of Museums (AAM) and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS). The focus of the MAP grant has been on a Collections Management Assessment. The Historical Society contains a variety of collections representing different facets of Giles County history. From books, letters, and tax records to furnishings, clothing, and a hearse, the collections of the Historical Society are widely varied in size, shape, and other characteristics. Each provides a different challenge for care, exhibits, and management. The Collections Management Assessment focuses on collections policies, planning, access, documentation, and care within the context of the Historical Society’s total operations.
The first step of the MAP process was a self study. The Historical Society completed this very thorough 60-page study in August which included questions about how the collections are used, how items are accepted into the collection, collections care, and institutional governance. The questions were thought-provoking and helped identify strengths and weaknesses in our current collections management policies.
The second step of the MAP process is a peer review. Ms. Lee Langston-Harrison, the Executive Director of the Museum of Culpeper History will visit the Giles County Historical Society on November 18th and 19th critically review the Historical Society’s operations from a fresh perspective. She has reviewed the Historical Society’s self assessment and other documents and will visit all four buildings – the Andrew Johnston House, Doctor’s Office, Research Office, and Museum – and interview staff and volunteers about collections issues. Once Langston-Harrison’s review is complete, she will write an Assessment Report which summarizes the visit and makes recommendations for change.
The third step of the MAP process will be for the Historical Society to incorporate the self assessment and peer assessment information into our planning process. The information will help the Historical Society to formulate goals and strategies to improve its collections management and focus grant writing and fundraising activities for several years to come.
Earlier this year, Giles County Historical Society was the recipient of a Museum Assessment Program (MAP) grant from the American Association of Museums (AAM) and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS). The focus of the MAP grant has been on a Collections Management Assessment. The Historical Society contains a variety of collections representing different facets of Giles County history. From books, letters, and tax records to furnishings, clothing, and a hearse, the collections of the Historical Society are widely varied in size, shape, and other characteristics. Each provides a different challenge for care, exhibits, and management. The Collections Management Assessment focuses on collections policies, planning, access, documentation, and care within the context of the Historical Society’s total operations.
The first step of the MAP process was a self study. The Historical Society completed this very thorough 60-page study in August which included questions about how the collections are used, how items are accepted into the collection, collections care, and institutional governance. The questions were thought-provoking and helped identify strengths and weaknesses in our current collections management policies.
The second step of the MAP process is a peer review. Ms. Lee Langston-Harrison, the Executive Director of the Museum of Culpeper History will visit the Giles County Historical Society on November 18th and 19th critically review the Historical Society’s operations from a fresh perspective. She has reviewed the Historical Society’s self assessment and other documents and will visit all four buildings – the Andrew Johnston House, Doctor’s Office, Research Office, and Museum – and interview staff and volunteers about collections issues. Once Langston-Harrison’s review is complete, she will write an Assessment Report which summarizes the visit and makes recommendations for change.
The third step of the MAP process will be for the Historical Society to incorporate the self assessment and peer assessment information into our planning process. The information will help the Historical Society to formulate goals and strategies to improve its collections management and focus grant writing and fundraising activities for several years to come.
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