Inside Out: An Introduction to Housekeeping and Cyclical Building Maintenance
Inside Out: An Introduction to Housekeeping and Cyclical Building Maintenance is a virtual program series consisting of two sessions taking place on consecutive days. Each session will begin with a 30-minute presentation, followed by a brief Q&A with the speaker. Then, the speaker will lead a 30-minute synchronous activity over Zoom using tools and materials mailed to the participant in advance.
Session One: An Introduction to Housekeeping in Collection Spaces - May 31 at 11am ET
Housekeeping plays a crucial role in the successful management and care of archival, library, and museum collections. Informed and regularly scheduled cleaning and other housekeeping tasks bring great benefits for the health and safety of collections materials and the infrastructure that supports them. In addition, a well-rounded housekeeping program can benefit other essential functions of an organization, such as security, pest management, and building maintenance. This session will examine best practices for dusting and vacuuming. Discussion includes tips for drafting these tasks in a housekeeping plan, what to consider when purchasing supplies and equipment, and steps your site can implement to generally reduce dirt and dust from entering collections spaces. In a guided activity after the webinar, participants will practice dry dusting a small object and construct a filter for use in vacuuming.
Session Two: An Introduction to Cyclical Building Maintenance - June 1st at 11am ET
A key component of collections management, the cyclical building maintenance plan provides a regular schedule for inspection and maintenance activities. When consistently applied and updated, this document can guide collections staff, facilities, and other site departments in preparing for large maintenance expenditures while preventing small issues from turning into bigger, more costly projects. This session addresses what tasks to include in a cyclical maintenance plan and tips for making the plan a collaborative and living document, as well as steps to take when preparing collection spaces for routine maintenance projects. In a guided activity after the webinar, participants will begin drafting a checklist and budget for tasks to include in a cyclical maintenance plan.
About the Instructor:
Emilia Boehm Emig, Preservation Specialist, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts
In her position as Preservation Specialist, Emilia Boehm Emig conducts onsite preservation needs and risk assessments and assists with preservation and emergency planning at cultural heritage organizations across the country.
Emilia has worked with diverse museum collections and exhibitions. She has held roles in collections management, registration, and curation at the Marblehead Museum, The Frick Pittsburgh, and the Senator John Heinz History Center. Before joining CCAHA, Emilia worked as a Senior Project Manager for Crozier Fine Arts.
Emilia received a graduate certificate in Museum Collections Management and Care from The George Washington University, an MA in Archival, Museum, and Editing Studies from Duquesne University, and a BA in History and German from Mount Union College.