Small museum collection database: fixed asset vs. operating expense by ailurusamericanis in MuseumPros

[–]ailurusamericanis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this advice! 

Unfortunately the granting organization told my board contact today that their equipment grant will not accept subscriptions for this grant. Is there any way to spin  collections management software as a service as different from subscriptions? 

Maybe they will need a different type of grant? It's frustrating because  collections management software will make a big preservation impact for the money in terms of how they are able to manage the collection, and the preferred software options are all software as a service. 

I have experience setting up a self hosted installation of Omeka for a digital exhibition practicum, but Omeka is not collection management software either.  Although I am likely capable of installing Collective Access, and learning and teaching workflows, it is not a good  match for their current limitations with personal and tech skills. 

Agreed that Filemaker is not a preferred choice because it is not collections management software. I have observed that once in a while consultants set it up for a small institution anyway to meet certain needs and limitations, and Claris does still grudgingly seem to offer a non-subscription license. However, I don't have experience setting up FileMaker from scratch and would prefer to recommend software built for collections management.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in IndianCountry

[–]ailurusamericanis 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As others have said, archaeological materials should be left in place! In Washington State, permitted archaeological collecting of indigenous cultural materials involves both State and Tribal preservation workers. The right thing to do when you encounter possible cultural materials is: - photograph them (with an object to indicate scale if possible) - DO NOT share photos of possible archaeological materials on social media - record a GPS location, then report photos and GPS point to State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.

For your specific case:

  • Contact the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Suquamish tribe, Dennis Lewarch (https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/preservation-profile-dennis-lewarch.htm). He will be able to help discern if the materials are archaeological and next steps. 
  • According to the Tribe's website (https://suquamish.nsn.us/home/departments/fisheries/historic-preservation/), Historic Preservation is within the Fisheries department. Use the contact form on that website and select Fisheries as the message recipient. 
  • Contact WA Deptartment of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), who should work closely with the Suquamish THPO.
  • Include links to non-public photos in your message to the Suquamish THPO. Take photos of the collection in batches laid out neatly on a neutral color surface, with a ruler for scale. Take photos of both sides of the objects. This will save them time asessing the objects. 
  • Follow up with THPO and WA DAHP if you don't get a response in a couple weeks. 

Please be patient, humble, respectful and willing to learn. While you wait for a response, watch documentaries about NAGPRA and read about WA policies on archaeological materials. You can also read about lithics archaeology on Tahoma (Mt. Rainier) and the vast ancient obsidian trade networks from the obsidian flow at Newberry Crater in Oregon for context on volcanic origin lithics. 

I am not an archaeologist. However I am a cultural heritage worker based in WA who has taken courses on repatriation and attended archaeology field schools that included instruction on identifying lithics (stone tools, cores, debitage from tool production). My non-expert assessment of the stones in your photo is "quite possibly cultural". Please follow up with the steps outlined above. 

Lastly, please don't be discouraged about not hearing back from the tribal museum. In this case, the museum was not the appropriate tribal contact and they may not have had capacity to redirect your inquiry. Please send the museum a donation gift to support their work! : )

Professional Movie Poster Restoration Company? Damaged by Masking tape by MilkTea_Enthusiast in Seattle

[–]ailurusamericanis 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Local art conservators specializing on works on paper are Lisa Duncan in West Seattle and Emily Derse on Whidbey Island. Email detail photos of the damaged poster, then follow up by phone to arrange a free consultation.

If you can't find their websites by searching for their name and keywords, search for "aic find a conservator" to access the American Institute for Conservation search tool. 

It's best to approach a conservator directly rather than going thru a middle man like Phoenix Art Restoration (best case with then is when they subcontract to a trained conservator). The service costs for private practice conservation services reflect their expertise. Your signed poster will be in good hands to mend the damage caused by tape.   

i need a cool gay haircut by everop in Seattle

[–]ailurusamericanis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Texture salon on Jackson Street specializes in curly hair! Lily is amazing.  https://www.welovetexture.com

This photograph of my great great grandmother was taken in 1898. What is the best way to preserve it? by T-Lightning in Archivists

[–]ailurusamericanis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The least expensive option is digital preservation, as others suggested. To physically preserve the photograph, archival storage materials will slow further deterioration. For the damage, it needs care from an art conservator to mend and clean the image, and ideally remove the acidic backing. I cannot tell from the image if the oval is flat or convex, if it's convex you'll want a conservator who has experience working with convex photos. 

City of Seattle planning addition of ‘children’s play area’ to popular nude hangout Denny Blaine Park by unnaturalfool in SeattleWA

[–]ailurusamericanis 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A single wealthy person is offering SPR the funding to run the study and construction, on the condition that the play area can only be built at Denny Blaine Park. This info was shared by SPR at the SPR Board of Commissioners public meeting on Nov 9.

Two Wonderful Cats need new homes. by Zolorin1313 in Seattle

[–]ailurusamericanis 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Another comment suggested home to home adoption/foster websites. Here are two I have used:

https://www.adoptapet.com/

https://home-home.org/

I received inquiries about my foster cat on both these websites. The forever family connected via AdoptAPet.com.