Prepared by U.S. National Park Service Regional Curator Kent Bush (Pacific Northwest Region) ... [et al.]; Cover title: Collections management plan, Crater Lake National Park; "Cultural Resources Division, Pacific Northwest Region, Seattle, Washington"--Cover;
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY During June 1994, a multi-specialty planning team visited Crater Lake National Park to prepare a plan that will guide the park Collection Management program for the next three to five years. This Summary will briefly present all of the areas covered by the plan and highlight those items that will require particular attention from park management. Scope of Collections Statement The park Curator has developed a draft revision of this document that requires limited work in preparation for final review. Specific comments are in the text. Museum Collections Overview The park should consider the establishment of a standing committee to review and advise park management on matters concerning large accessions, accountability procedures, collection permit procedures and follow-up, as well as space and operational funding needs. Crater Laker National Park CMP Museum Records Currently, the museum records are in fairly good shape. The Curator needs to schedule work on the backlog (including the archives), review all collecting permits for cataloging requirements, develop and implement policies and procedures for documenting and securing museum collections in administrative office spaces, and develop and support the increased use of museum and archival collection information. Museum Security and Fire Protection The Curator needs to update the DOI Checklist to reflect adequately the needs of the fire protection and security systems. The Curator also needs to update the park RMP project statements regarding the request for funding to address the identified deficiencies. Key control needs to be reviewed on a park-wide basis, and the possibility of a card access system should be investigated. Storage of Collections Revise the current response to the DOI Checklist to reflect adequately the needs of a combined storage and study area for museum collections, archives manuscript collections, and park library. Prepare a funding package to address these needs. Executive Summary Exhibits Update the current response to the DOI Checklist to reflect the needs of objects on exhibit and prepare RMP Project Statements (see the appendices for examples) to address these needs. Separate museum objects from sales items at the Rim VC. Consider expanded use of museum objects in exhibits wherever practical. Natural Resource Collections The Natural Resource collections at the park were considered important enough by the team to warrant a separate section. The park should plan for active expansion and use of these collections on-site and at selected off-site locations (such as universities identified through specific agreements). The documentation of all specimens resulting from scientific methods applied at the park should be actively pursued. Library Services Combine the management of the library with the other park "information resource" related services and consolidate it with museum collections and with archival and manuscript collections for program efficiency. Ensure that the management of the library serves all park divisions with on-site collections and automated access to a wide range of off-site information services. Crater Laker National Park CMP Archival and Manuscript Collections Combine the management of these collections with other related park information services and consolidate for program efficiency. Develop park procedures that will route copies of all plans, reports, and administrative correspondence into this portion of the information collection for organization, integration, and preservation for future use. Planning, Programming, and Staffing Establish a Division or Branch of Cultural Resource Management (see attached appendix for position description for manager). Review all existing and future plans for adequate reference to the archival and manuscript collections, library, and museum collections as resources to be actively managed for the benefit of park resources and the visiting public. Update the existing Resource Management Plan using the suggested Project Statements in the appendices.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY During June 1994, a multi-specialty planning team visited Crater Lake National Park to prepare a plan that will guide the park Collection Management program for the next three to five years. This Summary will briefly present all of the areas covered by the plan and highlight those items that will require particular attention from park management. Scope of Collections Statement The park Curator has developed a draft revision of this document that requires limited work in preparation for final review. Specific comments are in the text. Museum Collections Overview The park should consider the establishment of a standing committee to review and advise park management on matters concerning large accessions, accountability procedures, collection permit procedures and follow-up, as well as space and operational funding needs. Crater Laker National Park CMP Museum Records Currently, the museum records are in fairly good shape. The Curator needs to schedule work on the backlog (including the archives), review all collecting permits for cataloging requirements, develop and implement policies and procedures for documenting and securing museum collections in administrative office spaces, and develop and support the increased use of museum and archival collection information. Museum Security and Fire Protection The Curator needs to update the DOI Checklist to reflect adequately the needs of the fire protection and security systems. The Curator also needs to update the park RMP project statements regarding the request for funding to address the identified deficiencies. Key control needs to be reviewed on a park-wide basis, and the possibility of a card access system should be investigated. Storage of Collections Revise the current response to the DOI Checklist to reflect adequately the needs of a combined storage and study area for museum collections, archives manuscript collections, and park library. Prepare a funding package to address these needs. Executive Summary Exhibits Update the current response to the DOI Checklist to reflect the needs of objects on exhibit and prepare RMP Project Statements (see the appendices for examples) to address these needs. Separate museum objects from sales items at the Rim VC. Consider expanded use of museum objects in exhibits wherever practical. Natural Resource Collections The Natural Resource collections at the park were considered important enough by the team to warrant a separate section. The park should plan for active expansion and use of these collections on-site and at selected off-site locations (such as universities identified through specific agreements). The documentation of all specimens resulting from scientific methods applied at the park should be actively pursued. Library Services Combine the management of the library with the other park "information resource" related services and consolidate it with museum collections and with archival and manuscript collections for program efficiency. Ensure that the management of the library serves all park divisions with on-site collections and automated access to a wide range of off-site information services. Crater Laker National Park CMP Archival and Manuscript Collections Combine the management of these collections with other related park information services and consolidate for program efficiency. Develop park procedures that will route copies of all plans, reports, and administrative correspondence into this portion of the information collection for organization, integration, and preservation for future use. Planning, Programming, and Staffing Establish a Division or Branch of Cultural Resource Management (see attached appendix for position description for manager). Review all existing and future plans for adequate reference to the archival and manuscript collections, library, and museum collections as resources to be actively managed for the benefit of park resources and the visiting public. Update the existing Resource Management Plan using the suggested Project Statements in the appendices.