Collection+Development

These policies and procedures are intended to comply with the standards for accreditation as set out by the Arts Council of England and are based in part on the example given in Appendix 6 of the previous standards as made available by the Museums, Libraries and Archives council as well as those provided by Peggy Johnson in her text, //Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management// (Johnson, 2009, pp.349-353). __**Acknowledgement of Ownership and Responsibility:**__ The Rothwell Arts and Heritage Centre acknowledges that it is responsible for the items in its collection. It shall strive to provide a complete and accurate record of all items both for the purposes of accreditation and for its own internal use. To accomplish this in the least amount of time all acquisitions shall be halted until such a time that an adequate record is made available. With regard to future acquisitions, the RAHC shall take steps to ensure that they acquire all items legally and that a record is kept of both donor and the date the item was received. This record shall be for staff use only. __**Statement of Purpose:**__ The RAHC's primary purpose is to collect and record the history of Rothwell and the surrounding villages during the earlier half of the 20th century. Its intent is to educate the residents of the area with regard to the history of the community. It shall do so by making its collection available to view to all interested parties. Both the information and objects that make up the collection are concerned with the industrial history of Rothwell and the surrounding villages, but also with the style of life enjoyed by its residents in the aforementioned period. The RAHC intends to educate its users through informative display, but also through interactive learning and cultural activities. The purpose of the collection is to aid the staff in carrying out their duties but also to act as a physical record of the history of Rothwell and the surrounding area. Collection development shall be focused on obtaining artefacts, documents and images relevant to this purpose with the intent to provide a more complete vision of Rothwell's past.

__**Overview of the Collection:**__ As stated above the RAHC's collection contains at present a variety of artefacts, images and documents relating to the history of both Rothwell and the surrounding villages during the earlier half of the 20th century. The artefacts range from objects intended for personal use in the home to those used in the local industries during the relevant period. Examples of these artefacts include spinning wheels and sewing machines, examples of shoemaking as practised in the area as well as a replica of a typical household room of the time complete with the appropriate furnishings. Other artefacts include those of cultural significance such as the cup awarded at the annual Rowell fair. The images within the collection include postcards displaying local landmarks, photographs of artefacts too large to be included physically and images of the local people offering an insight into their lives as well as clothing styles and fashions. Documents include both town and parish records as well as personal documents donated by the residents of Rothwell. As with all other items in the collection documents shall be selected based on their relevance.

__**Acquisitions and Disposals**__ As previously stated the purpose of the collection is to exist as an example of life and industry in Rothwell and the surrounding villages during the earlier half of the 20th century. As such priority must be given to objects which are either unique to the area or fill a gap in the current collection. Therefore items shall be selected based on the following criteria:
 * Relevance to the collection
 * Relation to objects currently in the collection
 * Local significance of the object
 * Potential user appeal

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">However, in order to make the most of the resources available to the centre these additional criteria must also be considered:
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Condition of the item
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Cost of acquisition, repair or maintenance
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Requirements for proper storage and display of the item

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">While disposal of objects is to be avoided when possible, restrictions of both space and resources may make it necessary to thin the collection. In the event that disposal becomes necessary the following criteria shall be considered:
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Uniqueness: Can the item be removed without leaving a gap in the collection?
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Significance: Is this item of particular significance with regard to Rothwell or the surrounding area?
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Condition: Is the item suitable for display? Does the potential cost of repair outweigh the benefits of retaining it?

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Only once these criteria have been considered can an item then be disposed of discreetly.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">In order to ensure that acquisitions and disposals are handled appropriately the following guidelines shall be adhered to:
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">The Rothwell Arts and Heritage Centre shall not knowingly obtain which have been secured through illegal means. Nor shall it acquire objects which may be protected or restricted in nature, such as biological or geological materials or archaeological antiquities.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">The Rothwell Arts and Heritage Centre shall seek to provide a complete vision of the town and surrounding villages during the early 20th century, as such no staff member shall seek to censor the collection. Objects shall be selected or rejected based solely on the criteria previously stated in this document rather than a staff member's personal preferences.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">Due to the limited availability of both space and resources it may not be possible to receive or display an object, if this is the case the donor shall be made aware of the reasons behind this decision so as not to cause offence.
 * <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify;">If disposal of an object becomes necessary efforts shall be made to contact the donor in case they desire its return, if not then the object shall be discreetly removed from the collection and disposed of in an appropriate manner.

Documentation Procedures >

__References:__
Accreditation Scheme for Museums and Galleries in the United Kingdom: Accreditation Standard. //Arts Council England.// Retrieved 6th November 2011 from [] Accreditation Scheme for Museums in the United Kingdom: Accreditation Standard. //Museums Libraries and Archives Council.// Retrieved 19th November 2011 from [|http://www.mla.gov.uk/what/raising_standards/accreditation/~/media/Files/pdf/2008/Accreditation_Standard.ashx] Johnson, P. (2009). //Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management.// Chicago: American Library Association.