Records Management for Museums and Galleries: An Introduction (Chandos Information Professional Series)

The systematic management of records is an important activity for ‘information businesses’ such as museums and galleries, but is not always recognized as a core function. Record keeping activities are often concentrated on small groups of records, and staff charged with managing them may have limited experience in the field.

Records Management for Museums and Galleries offers a comprehensive overview of records management work within the heritage sector and draws on over a decade of experience in applying fundamental principles and practices to the specific circumstances of museums. It introduces readers to the institutional culture, functions, and records common to museums, and examines the legislative and regulatory environments affecting record-keeping practices. The book is comprised of eight chapters, including: a history of records keeping in the UK museum and gallery sector; the basics of records management; making a business case for records management; requirements of legislation for records management; how to conduct a records survey; strategy and action planning; how to develop a file plan, retention schedule and records management programme; and a guide to useful additional resources.

• Gives practical and tested solutions to real world issues
• Fills a gap in the literature as a handbook in this important sector
• Provides an overview of the sector as a whole

Charlotte Brunskill is Archivist and Records Manager at the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art (sister institution to the Yale Centre for British Art). Before this, she spent seven years at the National Portrait Gallery where she was responsible for establishing, from scratch, a comprehensive records management and archive programme. Charlotte has published numerous articles and taught records management. She holds a Master’s degree in Archive Administration and Records Management from University College London, UK.

Sarah R. Demb is the first Records Manager at the Museum of London and is also responsible for its institutional archive. Previously, she was advisor to the London Museums Hub, and held similar posts for museums at Harvard University and the Smithsonian Institution. Sarah trains, lectures and publishes on museum archive and records management, and presents regularly at conferences. She holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin, USA.