The usual apologies for x-posting, but this may be of interest

-----Original Message-----
From: The Forum for Information Standards in Heritage (FISH)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gordon McKenna
Sent: October 18, 2006 12:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [FISH] Benchmarks in Collection Care Now Available on Collections
Link Website

Apologies for cross-postings:

MDA is delighted to announce that Benchmarks in Collection Care for  
Museums, Libraries and Archives is now available from the Collections 
Link website as an interactive database.

Benchmarks in Collection Care is a self-assessment checklist to help 
collections holders evaluate how well they are caring for their 
collections, to give an indication of where and what improvements 
might be needed, and to provide a practical framework for measuring 
improvement.

Peter Winsor, Collections Link Project Director, commented, 'The  
publication of Benchmarks in Collection Care is one of the most  
significant additions to Collections Link since the service was  
launched earlier this year. The site is the only place where  
practitioners can find the original document, along with a simple  
Word version of the checklist and the interactive Access database  
version - making this a much more flexible, user-friendly resource.'

The scheme uses three practice levels, Basic, Good and Best, to  
evaluate the quality of practice in nine broad categories, including 
storage, conservation, environmental monitoring and control, and 
emergency preparedness. 

Benchmarks is simple to use by institutions of any size. Possible  
reasons for completing an assessment include:

* To develop a forward plan
* As preparatory work for an application for a development grant 
* To make a case for additional resources from a governing body
* As part of an application to MLA for Designated Collection status


Benchmarks in Collection Care is one of a range of resources added to 
the Collections Link service in recent months, alongside the new 
Accreditation Resource Directory and the Standards in Museum Care of 
Collections series.

To download Benchmarks in Collection Care, please visit: 

http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/collections_care