The 10 Biggest Threats to Your Museum Collections

Museum lets people explore past, arts, and culture through their collections.

And it is equally true that the collection they exhibit is not easy to maintain and preserve. Over time, these objects get deteriorated or damaged due to temperature, humidity, and negligence. Top of that, museum items are always prone to theft.

It is safe to say that it is quite challenging to preserve and protect your museum items.

Here I have rounded up some key threats to your museum collections that should be addressed quickly.

Theft:

The stealing of museum objects is not a novel trend among criminals.

While stealing paintings and sculptures from the museum is common, the last 10 years have witnessed a series of thefts of bronze items from public venues and private houses. In 2015, Italian authorities revealed 25 stolen antique items from the USA, including the ones smuggled by the notorious dealer Giacomo Medici.

Objects are generally stolen from museums because of their financial value or as pieces of rare art. They are generally sold on the black market at high prices. Some thefts are conducted by organized networks that hire locally-based criminals to get their job done.

To minimize such risks, it is important to invest in robust security and traceability. There is a need to deploy PIN code access and sophisticated cabinets so that the access can only be granted to the authorized personnel.

Also, opt for an audit trail system that will let you track the person who has accessed stored items.

Fire:

Damage to items from fire is perhaps the greatest threat, as it can easily damage or destroy an entire building, whereas thieves are generally restricted in their activity by physical security measures. Most fire breakouts are caused by carelessness. For example, the overloading of electrical outlets with multiple types of equipment and contractor’s negligence can lead to fire damage.

Not only will fire damage valuable collections, but soot and smoke can also affect specimens. Make sure to have efficient storage and fire suppression systems to protect your collections against this threat.

Water:

Water can risk sensitive museum items such as paper documents and wooden collection. Floods, increasing dampness, leaking pipes or roofs can lead to irreparable damage to the collections.

Choose appropriate storage to protect such delicate items from water damage.

Metal shelving can offer more resistance to water damage than wood or particleboard. Steel compactors minimize the risk of flood damage by lifting the shelves 4–6” off the floor which is above the common flood level.

Contaminants:

Contaminants or pollutants can speed up the chemical deterioration of the materials. Some of them are acetic acid, ozone, sulfur dioxide, fine particles, hydrogen sulfide, and water vapor.

Make sure to store your collection in sealed cabinets.

Temperature:

Most museum items are not directly prone to fluctuations in temperature. Changes between cold and hot can impact other climatic elements, such as water presence, mold growth, and humidity, which lead to damage and deterioration directly. Moreover, extreme fluctuations can cause wood warping.

It is important to control the temperature in the storage areas to preserve your museum items safely. An extreme temperature can lead to the chemical deterioration of unstable items. A low temperature can impact flexible structures.

Humidity:

Like temperature, fluctuating humidity can harm materials. In fact, it can do more damage than temperature change and leads to mold growth and metal corrosion.

Light Exposure:

Did you know that light can damage your collections? However, the level of damage is determined by the intensity and type of light as well as the natural resistance of the object. Light damage can lead to fading, discoloration, yellowing, and weakening. Keep in mind that damage caused by light is irreversible.

The simplest solution to this problem is to protect your collection from light as possible. When storing your items in compactors, keep them closed when not in use and cover them to protect them from ambient light. LED aisle lights that don’t emit UV radiation can be installed in your storage.

Direct Physical Forces:

Direct physical forces can also damage your museum collection. Extreme cases of this include sudden shocks such as an earthquake or dropping an item. But even smaller shocks and vibrations triggered by mishandling, bumping, rolling carts seismic activity, and even walking can deteriorate sensitive specimens over time.

Minimize these risks by installing stabilizing accessories on your shelves. If your museum is located in a seismic prone area, an anti-tip rail system can be used to improve the reliability of your compact shelving.

Anti-tip bars are also useful as they protect your museum collection from falling. For an improved level of protection, make sure to attach cabinets back to back using closed rib nuts.

Pest:

A pest invasion can take a heavy toll on your museum collection. Organic collections are likely to attract rodents and insects. Humid conditions make organic material prone to mold growth. These pests can eat into and destroy your specimens if you don’t take serious precautions.

To protect your museum collection against infestations, make sure to store organic collections in raised cabinets that are simple to inspect and clean. Light-colored equipment and storage can make it easier to detect the earlier stages of an infestation and damage.

Make sure to seal your cabinets with caulk and door sweeps, around the exterior and interior doors, baseboards, and ductwork.

Negligence:

Last but not least — negligence is the ultimate source of damage to your museum collections. Failure to maintain collection storage and abandonment can lead to the loss and damage of the items. Most of the above-given threats can be avoided with the proper care.

Bottom Line:

So you must have understood the factors that can harm your valuable museum collections. Some of them pose more threat to your particular collections than others, depending on the situation and the artifact types you have.

Therefore, it is important to have robust protective measures to keep your museum items in top shape.

What do you think? Let me know by commenting below!