***#ARCSchat June 1 with John Simmons*** The Collections Continuum: Where do we go from here?
We haven't arrived, but where have we been? More than a year after global lockdowns have forced all of our collections and institutions to rethink nearly every operating protocol, we look back at what the road traveled says about the road that lies ahead. To put our world in context for us on this last chat of the season, collections encyclopedia (with a specialty in natural history collections) John Simmons joins us on #ARCSchat to lay out some scenarios for the future of collecting institutions based on what we can learn from trends of the past. John has authored multiple books including Things Great and Small: Collections Management Policies (2nd ed. 2017), Foundations of Museum Studies: Evolving Systems of Knowledge (2014, with Kiersten Latham), Herpetological Collecting and Collections Management (3rd edition, 2015), Museums: A History (2016), and the chapter on "Collections Management: History, Theory, and Practice" in The International Handbook of Museum Studies (2015). Perhaps most notably, he has co-edited the 6th edition of Museum Registration Methods (with Toni Kiser). June 1st, 1:00 p.m. ET Live on the ARCS YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofRegistrarsandCollectionsSpecialists Don't forget to sign in to your Google/Gmail/YouTube account to participate in the chat. ***Meet the Global Connections Committee*** Did you know ARCS has a Global Connections Committee? Initially formed as a task force in the Fall of 2019, the group was recently formalized as an essential component of ARCS strategic plan. The committee is composed of six professionals from the United States, Canda, and Europe, from a wide variety of institutions, including public, private, government and academic museums. Our objectives are to establish guidelines and connections to ensure ARCS is a leading partner in a global community of registrars and collections specialists. Over the past year and a half we worked on ways of increasing connections among existing organizations and exploring how to support the growth of regional groups. We developed a spreadsheet of existing professional organizations in the field as well as adjacent professions, with the goal of developing more meaningful organizational partnerships and relationships. Initially, we spent particular attention on regional groups in Canada, Central and South America, with the intention of expanding further with time. We are also concerned with the role of emerging professionals, focusing on supporting them in creating their own professional development networks, assisting their ARCS membership fees, and advocating for their roles when collection specialists and registrars titles and responsibilities are not clearly outlined or considered. Last, but not least, under Global Connections, there is one sub-committee dedicated to support us on international courier practices and guidelines. The sub-committee was formed just prior to the pandemic to establish a set of guidelines for couriers. Their work quickly turned to exploring and evaluating alternatives to in-person couriers: partnerships with colleagues, contract professionals, and new technologies both for transit and installation. They organized an ARCSchat and they’re hard at work on a Courier Decision Tool and various resources and programs. (You’ll hear more from them in the future!) As we approach the end of FY 2021, two of our members will transition off the Committee, but we have lined up two new terrific additions to continue planning strategic partnerships, explore more possibilities of creating international and regional chapters, and actively provide opportunities for virtual and face-to-face meetings, networking opportunities, webinars, and other events. If you have any questions, comments, or you just want to reach out email us at [email protected] and be sure to put “Global Connections Committee” in the subject line. Martina Caruso, Caitlin Corrigan, Nicole Fletcher, Suzanne Hale, Rebecca Romere, and John E Simmons ***Upcoming Events and News*** -EMP Meetup June 8- Are you an Emerging Museum Professional? Are you not quite sure? Neither are we! Let’s connect and discuss. Whether you’re just starting out or you feel like you’re outgrowing the “emerging” title we want to meet you and talk about the issues facing EMPs today. Hosted By ARCS Virtual Connections Task Force Members: Katie Hall, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Katie Leavens, Los Angeles County Museum of Art Tuesday, June 8, 7 PM EST We’re taking questions and topic submissions! Be sure to RSVP and submit your questions RSVP Here- https://www.arcsinfo.org/news-events/event/1350/1/arcs-virtual-meetup-emerging-museum-professional -Internship Stipend- ARCS is proud to announce that we will be offering internship stipends to qualified applicants starting in fall 2021. ARCS is committed to advocating for paid internships in an industry that remains inaccessible to many. Starting in fall, 2021, ARCS will be offering a $1,000 stipend plus an annual membership to two applicants pursuing internships in registration and/or collections management. Candidates are asked to submit their application materials by July 16 and awardees will be notified by August 16. Applicants should already have been accepted into an unpaid internship program and will be asked to submit a letter of support from their internship supervisor with their application materials. A call for applications will be issued in the next ARCS update on June 15. -Save the Date Speed Mentoring June 22- ARCS is excited to announce its first Virtual Speed Mentoring Session. The goal is to provide attendees a fun and fast-paced opportunity to connect with Mentors in the field on a variety of topics, including: Getting a foot in the door, and, Advocating for the value of collections professionals – no more behind the scenes! Registration to open soon. Virtual Speed Mentoring - June 22nd, 6PM-7:30PM EST For more info: https://www.arcsinfo.org/news-events/event/1347/1/arcs-cs-aam-virtual-speed-mentoring _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: [email protected] To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://lists.mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
