It’s every museum’s nightmare: an errant spark from construction causes a fire; sprinklers unleash water on some of the most vulnerable objects in the collection. Luckily this museum had an emergency response plan. In the Dec. 26, 2014 Wall Street Journal article “After Fire, a Rush to Preserve History,” the conservators at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) faced this all too common nightmare and successfully and quickly responded. Ironically, the damage occurred in the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians, the recent focus of a multi-year conservation project, described previously on this blog and also presented at last year’s AIC annual conference. The conservation department, led by Judith Levinson (pictured in the article), quickly removed the affected objects, catalogued them, and performed triage. Levinson was also featured in a video by local news channel Pix 11. This occurrence raises the question: does your museum have a emergency response plan?
Category: Topics
Job Posting: Safety and Occupational Health Manager – National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC)
Occupational Safety & Health Job Posting National Gallery of Art!
Application Deadline: February 6, 2015
Duties:
The position is located in the Risk Management department of the Office of Protection Services at the National Gallery of Art. The incumbent plans, organizes and implements the Gallery’s safety, health and environmental programs to protect the Gallery’s employees, visitors, collections, and facilities. Develops goals for these programs and researches and develops Gallery policies and procedures. Manages, administers and monitors inspection and monitoring programs to reduce actual and potential hazards. Administers the Gallery’s hazardous materials management program, and manages the MSDS database and monitors the work performed by Gallery contractors in the abatement of hazardous materials. Provides technical guidance and interpretation of standards to Gallery management and staff. Identifies employee and supervisory training needs, formulates training strategies and methodologies. Reviews and evaluates complex construction/renovation plans to identify potential hazards. Surveys these operations, documents issues and recommends corrective action. Administers the Gallery’s hazardous waste management program. Coordinates the management of workers’ compensation claims through the Gallery’s case management contractor
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the Qualification Standards Handbook requirements for GS-018-13. Specialized experience is professional work experience involving the development and enforcement of policies and procedures regarding safety, occupational health and environmental protection. Candidates must reflect in their submitted USAJOBS résumés the possession of this specialized experience. If their résumé does not include such specialized experience, they will be ineligible for this position.
Federal status candidates must also meet the time-in-grade requirements of having been at the GS-12 level for at least 1 year.
Those applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be evaluated against these factors to determine the best-qualified candidates.
- Technical knowledge of safety, health and environmental concepts, principles, regulations and exposures and the ability to apply the knowledge to implement risk control techniques as they apply to museum operations including security, maintenance, conservation, construction and other unique high risk exposures.
- Program management skills to develop program goals, objectives, and budgets to plan, direct and evaluate safety, health and environmental operations including the ability to formulate policy for a large, complex organization. Skill in inspection techniques, hazard assessment and prioritizing alternate control methods.
- Technical knowledge of industrial hygiene techniques to manage exposures to employees, assets and facilities from chemical use and other operations (noise, dust, etc.). Ability to administer technical aspects of contracts with consultants and/or contractors providing complex safety, health and environmental services.
- Skill in professional writing and oral communication, including the preparation of operating procedures and the development and presentation of management briefings and employee training programs.
- Skill in interpreting complex construction and renovation plans and specifications to identify potentially hazardous conditions and determine sufficiency of occupational health and environmental provisions, as well as the impact on high valued assets (such as art collections)and facilities.
- Knowledge of the requirements of EPA and DC regarding storage and disposal of hazardous waste at the Small Quantity Generator level.
- Working Knowledge of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act and the operation of Federal Workers’ Compensation programs.
Physical requirements: Incumbent must be able to climb ladders. Must be able to walk several miles over the course of each work day.
The National Gallery of Art provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
General Public Applicants:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/392308600
Federal Competitive Status Applicants:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/392308000
Call For Nominations: 2015 Spotlight Award (The Society of American Archivists)
The Society of American Archivists Spotlight Award Subcommittee invites nominations for the 2015 Spotlight Award.
This award “recognizes the contributions of individuals who work for the good of the archives profession and of archival collections, and whose work would not typically receive public recognition.” Nominees do not have to be members of SAA. Please share this message as you think appropriate. I hope you will consider recognizing a colleague (or yourself!) in this way. Additional information about the criteria and process is found below.
Purpose and Criteria for Selection:
Established in 2005, the Spotlight Award recognizes the contributions of individuals who work for the good of the archives profession and of archival collections, and whose work would not typically receive public recognition. The nominee(s) should have achieved distinction in one or more of the following ways:
* Participating in special projects.
* Exhibiting tireless committee or advocacy work.
* Responding effectively to an unforeseen or pressing need or emergency.
* Contributing innovative or creative ideas to the profession.
* Performing extraordinary volunteerism.
* Quietly but effectively promoting the profession.
Eligibility: Awarded to an individual archivist or a group of up to five archivists who have collaborated on a project. Preference is given to archivists working in smaller repositories, especially those without institutional support for professional activities.
Nomination Requirements: A completed nomination form, downloadable at http://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/Spotlight-Award-Form.rtf.
Sponsor and Funding: The Society of American Archivists Foundation.
Prize: A certificate and complimentary registration (for up to five individuals) to the SAA Annual Meeting occurring in the year in which the award is presented.
Submission Deadline and Nomination Form: Deadline: February 28, 2015. Please complete the nomination form (http://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/ Spotlight -Award-Form.rtf) and email it along with any applicable supporting documentation to awards@archivists.org with the subject line “Spotlight Award.” Attachments should not exceed 5MB.
Alternately, nominations may be mailed. Materials must be postmarked by February 28, 2015, and should be sent to:
Spotlight Award Committee
Society of American Archivists
17 North State Street, Suite 1425
Chicago, IL 60602-4061
Please visit http://www2.archivists.org/recognition for a list and explanation of all of the awards offered by SAA.
The above information and a list of past recipients is available at http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-spotlight.
Changes Afoot: Connecting to Collections Becoming Connecting to Collections Care
JOIN US, Thursday, January 29, 1 – 2:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time
As of January 1, the management of the Connecting to Collections online community passed from Heritage Preservation to the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation (FAIC). The features that you, the collections community, have enjoyed over the years – online forums, links to vital resources, and a free series of webinars – will continue. FAIC welcomes your thoughts on how Connecting to Collections can continue to serve your needs in the coming years.
This highly interactive, free webinar will introduce you to some changes that will be coming, give you the opportunity to meet us, and will offer you the opportunity to provide guidance on what webinar topics might be of most use, how the forums can be even more responsive to your needs, and what additional resources you might like to see.
Why Participate?
This is your first opportunity to meet the new team and to let us know what you have liked and found especially valuable about Connecting to Collections and to let us know how you would like to see this program grow. We welcome your feedback and want your ideas on how best to serve this community in the future.
Presenters include:
Eryl Wentworth, FAIC and AIC Executive Director
Eric Pourchot, FAIC Institutional Advancement Director
M. Susan Barger, FAIC C2C Coordinator
To register, please go to:
http://www.connectingtocollections.org/changes-afoot-connecting-to-collections-becoming-connecting-to-collections-care/
CALL FOR MEMBERS: AIC Sustainability Committee
The AIC Sustainability Committee Seeks a Professional Member
Term: June 2015 – May 2017
The Sustainability Committee is a dynamic group of conservation professionals with diverse specialties whose mission is to provide AIC members with resources on sustainability. At the AIC annual meetings, we host sustainability-themed sessions where members share their experiences and tips, and have a booth in the vendor hall where we share the committee’s work and “green” conservation products with the attendees. Throughout the year, we keep the AIC Sustainable Practices Wiki up-to-date, and write on the AIC Blog and for the AIC News on research topics of interest.
The committee aims to:
- Provide resources for AIC members and other caretakers of cultural heritage regarding environmentally sustainable approaches to preventive care and other aspects of conservation practice. Resources may be provided via electronic media, workshops, publications and presentations.
- Define research topics and suggest working groups as needed to explore sustainable conservation practices and new technologies.
Membership Parameters:
- The committee is comprised of 8 voting members.
- Members serve for two years, with an additional two-year term option.
- One member is a conservation graduate student.
- One member serves as chair for two years.
- During the second year of the chair’s term, another member serves as chair designate, assisting with and learning the chair’s responsibilities.
- As needed, corresponding (non-voting) members and non-AIC experts will be invited to guide research on special topics.
Tasks:
- Telephone conference calls with the committee members- about once a month.
- Research, write and edit the AIC Wiki Sustainable Practices Page.
- Participate in researching and writing any group presentations, publications, blogs, and social media posts.
- Initiate and support committee projects to increase awareness of sustainable practices in the conservation community.
- Collaborate with related committees, networks, and working groups.
Please submit a statement of purpose (1 page maximum length) and your resume by March 31, 2015 to Betsy Haude, Committee Chair.
Contact: Betsy Haude, mhaud@loc.gov
Conserving America's Archaeological Heritage
When we read or watch a program about a new archaeological discovery or the conservation of archaeological materials, it most often features a site and artifacts from a distant and foreign country. The sites and artifacts are captivating and eye-catching because they provide a glimpse into ancient cultures and highlight works created by skilled and accomplished artisans. International archaeology and archaeological conservation efforts certainly deserve the attention they receive but there are equally compelling projects and artifacts within the United States that merit the spotlight too.
To draw attention to the rich and diverse archaeological heritage present within the USA, this post features a handful of archaeological projects and their work to conserve the finds. The artifacts may not be as old as antiquity but they still convey important messages. For example, they can represent technical innovation, provide insight into life aboard navy and pirate vessels, or shed light on the diverse people colonizing and settling in the country.
To see and learn about some of the technical innovations that occurred during the 19th century, check out the websites for the H.L. Hunley submarine and the USS Monitor ship. The H.L. Hunley, built in 1863, is known as “the world’s first successful combat submarine.” http://www.clemson.edu/restoration/wlcc/project/hunley.html. The USS Monitor was a steam-powered iron clad warship launched in 1861 to counter the rival iron clad ship, the CSS Virginia. http://www.marinersmuseum.org/uss-monitor-center/. You can follow their ongoing research and conservation efforts through their website, by watching the lab cam, or visiting the museum in person.
The Queen Anne’s Revenge ship wreck is another interesting maritime site. Located in North Carolina, the Queen Anne’s Revenge was the pirate Blackbeard’s flagship. The investigation, recovery, research, and conservation of the ship and its contents reveals life aboard a pirate ship in the 18th century. http://www.qaronline.org/Conservation/QARLab.aspx. This is another project that can be followed through their website and where you can visit the lab through scheduled tours and open days.
And, finally, take a look at a couple of videos on YouTube created by the City of Deadwood, in South Dakota. From 2001 to 2004, the city carried out excavations along the main street, investigating the Chinatown section of Deadwood. The artifacts uncovered during this series of excavations provides a valuable narrative of Deadwood’s 19th and early 20th century Chinese population. The city partnered with a conservation lab in Maryland to conserve artifacts unearthed from the excavations, including several historic firearms and numerous Chinese coins. To see some of this work, watch this video about the excavation and discovery of the guns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMtr5ECYOo0. The second video, part two, covers the conservation of the guns and subsequent research: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l7eLuyRBTc.
This is only a small sample of the work going on in the country. Have you worked on or are currently working on archaeological objects from a site in the United States? Please consider sharing and posting your project on AIC’s blog or Facebook page, so that it too can receive a bit of the limelight. Even if you think your project does not warrant attention, please reconsider. James Deetz wrote eloquently, In Small Things Forgotten, that “for in the seemingly little and insignificant things that accumulate to create a lifetime, the essence of our existence is captured.”
This post was developed by the AIC’s Archaeological Discussion Group (ADG). For more information about ADG, please visit the ADG’s Facebook page.
Peek into the past: AIC/MFA Boston's Pam Hatchfield Opens Revere's Time Capsule
Conservator Pam Hatchfield, head of objects conservation at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and AIC’s board president, had the rare opportunity to excavate and open the oldest known time capsule in the U.S. The capsule was stored in the Massachusetts State House, wedged tight inside a cornerstone, and Hatchfield spent 7 hours carefully removing it. On January 6th, Hatchfield opened the box and removed its contents using a variety of tools, including a porcupine quill.
Hatchfield appeared on a local news show, Greater Boston on WGBH News, to discuss the time capsule and her process, accompanied by Michael Comeau, the executive director of the Massachusetts Archives and Commonwealth Museum. They talked with WGBH News Arts Editor Jared Bowen. You can watch the video of the interview here.
Call for Nominations: J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award (Society of American Archivists)
The J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award Subcommittee of the Society of American Archivists seeks nominations for the 2015 award.
http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-jameson
Established in 1989, this award honors an individual, institution, or organization that promotes greater public awareness, appreciation, or support of archival activities or programs. The individual’s or institution’s contributions may take the form of advocacy, publicity, legislation, financial support, or a similar action that fosters archival work or raises public consciousness of the importance of archival work. Contributions should have broad, long-term impact at the regional level or beyond. Up to three awards may be given each year.
Recent Winners:
- 2014: LGBT Center of Central PA History Project and National History Day
- 2013: Dr. Warren Stewart
- 2012: Eve Kahn, Bebe Miller, Phillip Stewart
- 2011: “Who Do You Think You Are?” (NBC)
- 2010: The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation
- 2009: Ross King (Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board)
- 2008: Data-Intensive Cyber Environments (DICE)
Eligibility: Nominees must be from outside the archives profession. Individuals directly involved in archival work, either as paid or volunteer staff, or institutions or organizations directly responsible for an archival program are not eligible for this award.
Mailed materials must be postmarked by February 28, 2015 and should be sent to:
J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award Committee
Society of American Archivists
17 North State Street, Suite 1425
Chicago, IL 60602-4061
Nominations may be submitted electronically; please see the nomination form for details. For more information on SAA awards and the nominations process, please go to: http://www.archivists.org/recognition/index.asp
Health & Safety and CIPP Call for Studio Design Submissions
Have a question about selecting a fume extractor for your studio? Or how you can safely solder or spray paint indoors? Or what studio work is never smart to do inside an apartment or condo? Have a basement or garage home studio renovation or DIY example you’d like to share?
This year in Miami, CIPP and the Health & Safety Committee will be hosting the Lunchtime Lecture, Studio Design Challenges–Creating a Safe and Practical Space (Wednesday, 12-2pm), which will be led by architects and engineers from EwingCole. Organizers are requesting questions and real-world examples from individuals operating private studios to be included in an extensive Q&A period following the formal presentation.
AIC members are invited to submit your studio design questions as well as examples of creative ways for overcoming challenges that you may have already implemented in your own space; examples from both home and commercial spaces are welcome. Submissions should be related to health and safety issues and can include, but are not limited to: fume extraction, chemical storage, fire/electrical safety, and ergonomic workspaces. For example, you may have created or seen a DIY exhaust system and would like to know if it is actually effective or potentially hazardous!
Please indicate whether you would like your name included for credit, or whether you want to remain anonymous. For photos, also include a brief description and applicable photo credits. By providing your questions and/or examples, even if you request your name not be used, you are agreeing to include them in the lecture as well as any published materials. Submissions are welcome from all AIC members, but priority during the presentation will be given to individuals registered for the lecture; those not included at the meeting may be addressed in post-conference materials.
Please send submissions as soon as possible, but no later than March 1, 2015, to Health & Safety Chair, Kathy Makos, kamakos@verizon.net.
You don’t have to wait until May to get answers! Members of the EwingCole design team will try respond to questions posted in the comments below or may contact you to discuss your submission if you provide your contact information.
Documentary film 'The Destruction of Memory' looks at the issue of cultural destruction
Following is a note from Tim Slade about his film project that may be of interest to conservators and those who work with cultural heritage:
My company, Vast Productions, is producing a documentary film called ‘The Destruction of Memory’, which looks at the issue of cultural destruction and efforts to stem it. The film, based on the book of the same name by Robert Bevan, looks back over the past century at how legislation, policy and awareness have followed behind the path of destruction, and focuses its lens in particular on Bosnia, and recent and ongoing narratives in Mali, Egypt, Syria and Iraq.
Interviewees include architect Daniel Libeskind, ICC Prosecutor Bensouda, former MINUSMA Head and current Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, ICTY Expert Witness András Riedlmayer, and with recent interviews of Corine Wegener of the Smithsonian Institution, Amr Al-Azm of Shawnee State, and other key players in current efforts in the Middle East.
We are currently running an Indiegogo campaign to complement broadcaster and other funds, and it would be great if you can spread the work. This is a project we are very passionate about. Our team are highly experienced, and have worked on documentaries that have screened at festivals like Sundance, and been nominated for and won Academy Awards.
Our fundraising page is here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-destruction-of-memory–2
Our Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/destructionofmemory
Thank you,
Tim Slade
Vast Productions, New York