Know what you have, and where it is.
This is Collections Management 101 – audits and inventories sit at the heart of responsible museum practice and are essential for meeting both SPECTRUM requirements and UK Museum Accreditation standards.
Your inventory will be a list of all the objects you hold, and regular inventories ensure objects are properly documented, stored, and accessible. Audits test the accuracy of those existing records, spot checks focusing on a type of object or a location. They highlight gaps, and strengthen accountability, something that has come into focus recently with current issues regarding losses and thefts at some of our national museums.
Fire fighting equipment in storage prior to a condition report project.
Collection managers love to accession new acquisitions, we will all probably be reincarnated as magpies. However, this means retrospective accessioning and audits are often neglected due to lack of time and resources. Engaging an external contractor can really give this task a kick up the backside. I will help to break the job down into manageable chunks and set up systems for internal teams to continue if necessary.
I can create primary inventory as required by SPECTRUM, to add to your database as a simple spreadsheet. I can also carry out object or location specific audits, to ascertain how well your collections management procedures are working, to confirm that items are where they should be and that the cataloguing is as thorough as possible.
I have also produced ‘all areas’ audits in response to existing collections assessments, see Bodmin Keep Case Study. By casting a fresh eye over your museum, I can gauge how well you are fulfilling your mission statement and accreditation responsibilities. Maybe there is one area that is proving a challenge, and you’d like a new perspective, let me come in and see if we can work together to unstick that troublesome task.
As an independent, I arrive without internal assumptions, spotting issues that long‑standing staff may overlook. An external assessment can reassure funders, trustees, and stakeholders that the review is impartial and robust.
I will always be working towards improved documentation, stronger procedures, and a more resilient collections management framework that supports ongoing compliance and sector excellence.