General Needs Assessment Questionnaire

Institution *

Reporting Deadline (if any) *

Please specify if this deadline is internal or grant-related. If grant-related, please specify grant (eg: CAP, NEH Preservation Assistance Grant, MN Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants Program, etc.)

Contact Name *

First

Last

Street Address

Mailing Address (if different)

Phone *

Email *

American Alliance of Museum accreditation?

If yes, indicate date.

Institution Type *

Collections Care Staff

Please list names and titles.

Mission Statement

Approximate Number of Items in the Collection *

Brief Description of the Collection *

Brief History of the Institution

Approximate Number of Visitors Per Year

Institutional Governance

Who Owns the Collection?

What Percentage of the Collection is on Display?

What Percentage of the Collection is in Storage Onsite?

What Percentage of the Collection is in Storage Offsite?

What Percentage of the Collection is on Loan?

Please Describe Recent or On-Going Projects

Please include any conservation work, additions, acquisitions, or large exhibitions from the last 3-5 years.

Please Describe Your Main Preservation Goals or Concerns

Annual Budget for Preservation/Conservation

Do You Have a Collections Management Policy?

If so, please have a copy available for the assessor during the site visit.

Do You Have an Emergency Plan?

If so, please have a copy available for the assessor during the site visit.

Do You Have a Long Range Conservation Plan?

If so, please have a copy available for the assessor during the site visit.

Do You Have a Collections Catalog?

Example: Past Perfect database

Do You Have an Up-to-Date Collections Inventory?

If not, please indicate approximately what percent of the collection is inventoried.

Do You Have Human Remains or Funerary Artifacts in the Collection?

If yes, please state the region of origin for these materials.

Do You Have Separate Storage for Sensitive Collections? If Yes, Please Describe.

Sensitive collections can include anything not appropriate for general display or study.

Would You Like Additional Information About the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)?

How Many Buildings are in Your Facility?

Please Provide the Name, Brief Description, and Date of Construction for Each of Your Buildings

What is the Greatest Distance Between Buildings in Your Facility?

FIRE: Are Any of Your Buildings Without Fire Detection or Suppression?

Please list the buildings with neither fire detection nor suppression.

FIRE: Please Describe the Fire System

Detection vs. suppression, dry-pipe system vs. wet-pipe system, etc.

FIRE: How Are the Fire Systems Activated?

FIRE: Who Is Notified When the Fire Systems are Activated?

FIRE: Where are the Controls Located?

FIRE: Who Is Responsible for Fire System Maintenance?

FIRE: How Frequently is Maintenance Performed?

FIRE: Does the Staff Practice Fire Drills?

FIRE: Is the Staff Trained to Use Portable Fire Extinguishers?

FIRE: Is the Local Fire Department Involved in Drills or Extinguisher Training?

FIRE: Are the Buildings Free-Standing?

FIRE: If No, Are the Adjoining Walls and Buildings Fire-Resistant?

FIRE: Are the Buildings Themselves of Fire-Resistant Materials?

FIRE: Do All Buildings Meet Applicable Fire Codes?

If not, please explain.

FIRE: Are There Fire-Resistant Walls and Door Separating Functional Sections in the Facility?

FIRE: Is Grounding Resistance Measured at Least Once a Year?

Please indicate who is responsible for this.

FIRE: Are Fire-Prevention Protocols Up to Date?

FIRE: Are Staff Trained on Fire-Prevention Protocols?

FIRE: Are Fire-Prevention Protocols Effective from a Practical Point of View?

FIRE: Are Warning Posters Used and in Good Condition?

SECURITY: Please Describe Automated Security Systems

For example: cameras, motion detectors, door contacts, etc. If cameras are in use, specify if they record and if they are monitored.

SECURITY: How is the System Activated and Who is Notified?

SECURITY: Who is Responsible for Security System Maintenance?

SECURITY: How Frequently are Systems Tested?

SECURITY: Under Whose Supervision is the Security Force?

SECURITY: What is the Total Number of On-Duty Security Personnel?

Please specify both during business hours and after hours.

SECURITY: Does the Security Force Receive Training in the Following?

Protection against material damage and techniques for recognizing damage
Art and artifact handling in the event of an emergency
Familiarity with the institution, its history and collections
Awareness of items at higher risk for theft
Observation techniques
Knowledge of emergency procedures

Please check all that apply.

SECURITY: Are Any Security Personnel Armed?

SECURITY: Does the Security Force have Official Police Status?

For example: powers of arrest

SECURITY: Are Guards Unionized?

SECURITY: Are Contingency Plans in Place to cover Union Strike Action?

SECURITY: How is Access between Public and Nonpublic Areas Controlled?

SECURITY: Do visitors Check Bags?

SECURITY: Are Visitors Required to Sign In?

Please specify if visitors sign in to staff only areas.

SECURITY: If Keys are Used, How Many Are Available?

Please list staff members responsible for keys.

SECURITY: Do You Do Staff Background Checks?

SECURITY: Which of Following Are Used to Prevent Theft or Damage on Exhibit?

Check all that apply.

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: What is the Layout of Your Exhibit Space?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Are All Exhibit Areas ADA Compliant?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Is Food or Drink Allowed in the Exhibit Space?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: What Lighting is Used in Exhibition Spaces?

Check all that apply.

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: How is Ultra Violet (UV) Radiation Mitigated?

Check all that apply.

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Are Light Levels Measured?

Yes, regularly
Yes, occasionally
No

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Please Describe Any Rotation Schedules You Have for Objects on Display

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: How Are Temperature and Relative Humidity Monitored?

Dataloggers
Manually, regularly
Manually, occasionally
Not monitored

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Is There a Central Heating System?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Is There a Central Air Conditioning (Cooling) System?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Is There Relative Humidity Control?

If so, please indicate the RH setpoints.

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Is There Air Filtration?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Where Are the Air Intake Vents?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Describe Any Area/s Without Environmental Control

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Do You Use Any of the Following?

Check all that apply.

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Who is Responsible for the Maintenance of Environmental Systems?

COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT: Is There Enough Storage Space?

RISK MANAGEMENT: Is Your Facility Located in an Earthquake Zone?

RISK MANAGEMENT: Is Your Facility Located in a Flood Zone or Near a Body of Water?

RISK MANAGEMENT: Are Your Exhibition or Storage Spaces Located Near Sprinkler Systems or Water Pipes?

RISK MANAGEMENT: Which of the Following Integrated Pest Management Strategies Do You Use?

Check all that apply.

RISK MANAGEMENT: Has Your Institution Ever Experienced an Insect Infestation?

RISK MANAGEMENT: Has Your Institution Ever Experienced a Mold Outbreak?

RISK MANAGEMENT: Are Your Collections Insured? (Fine Arts/Inland Marine Policy or Rider)

If so, please give the name of your insurance carrier.

RISK MANAGEMENT: Type of Insurance Policy

Check all that apply.

RISK MANAGEMENT: Are There Any Non-Standard Exclusions to Your Policy?

If so, please list them here.

RISK MANAGEMENT: How Much is Your Deductible?

RISK MANAGEMENT: Have You Received Over $5,000 Worth of Damage?

If yes, please explain.

RISK MANAGEMENT: Did Any Changes in Your Policy Occur as a Result of the Claim?