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Collections management self assessment
SYNTHESYS Collections self-assessment form
To enable institutions to assess their collections managements against the SYNTHESYS benchmark, SYNTHESYS NA2 has developed an online self assessment tool. This will provide valuable information that institutions can use in planning, management and in seeking funding. In addition, it will provide SYNTHESYS with valuable data on collection management needs across Europe so that training courses can be targeted to meet these needs.
The survey tool will be available (free of charge) online from February 2011 until at least the end of the project (August 2013).
The self assessment tool builds upon previous successful SYNTHESYS museum collections surveys undertaken by a panel of external experts (2006-2009). Feedback on the process was positive, with many institutions using the results to improve internal procedures. Some institutions used the results to obtain additional funding for collections management.
What’s involved?
The assessment can either be completed at department or institution level. The institution must nominate an individual to register and act as the main contact point. This individual will be responsible for entering data on the institution and for completing the questionnaire.
The questionnaire has two sections that relate to the institution as a whole (e.g. management structure) and three that are department specific (e.g. collection care). The self assessment should take approx. 2-3 days for data gathering and a couple of hours to enter the results. The results are submitted online to the SYNTHESYS admin.
Within one month of completing the form the contact person will receive a report summarising the results of the assessment which will include recommendations for improving any areas which do not meet the benchmark level.
Audit
In order to ensure consistency of the results an efficient audit system will be developed to validate the results of the self-assessments. This will involve two members of SYNTHESYS visiting the institution to validate results and will take two days. A more detailed report will be produced within two months of the audit being completed.
Not all institutions completing the self-assessment will be audited. Institutions will be selected at random. Self assessments completed at departmental level will not be audited.
Confidentiality
The results of the survey are completely confidential. The report will be sent to the institutions contact person only. The data may be used in a summary report and associated publications on the status of collections in Europe but all data will be anonymous.