Collections Policy and Planning

One of the most integral aspects of museum management, collections stewardship, relies on the systematic development and implementation of policies, plans, and procedures to guide the proper management and care of collections and achieve mission-related goals and objectives.

At the Smithsonian, collections stewardship is guided by Smithsonian Directive 600, Collections Management. More information and additional guidance are available in the internal Directives Library.

Collections Management Policies

Collections Stewardship Plans are strategic procedures that guide the content and development of collections and lead staff in a coordinated direction over a specified period to refine, shape, and expand the vision of the collection. These plans provide mechanisms to strengthen intellectual control over collections through logical assessments of collections and resources.

Collections stewardship plans engage staff and stakeholders to develop a compelling, shared vision for the collections and refocus collecting activities to move from idiosyncratic, reactive collecting to strategic, integrated, and proactive collecting – to shape, rather than build, collections.

Components

  • Context – Who, What, Why, and How?
  • Intellectual Framework – Where are we going?
  • Analysis of Existing Collections – Where are we now?
  • Plan to Shape the Ideal Collection – Where do we want to be?
  • Implementation Strategy – How are we going to achieve our shared vision for the collections?

Collections Stewardship Plans

Components
  • Context – Who, What, Why, and How?
  • Intellectual Framework – Where are we going?
  • Analysis of Existing Collections – Where are we now?
  • Plan to Shape the Ideal Collection – Where do we want to be?
  • Implementation Strategy – How are we going to achieve our shared vision for the collections?

Approved strategic procedures guiding the content and development of collections, collections stewardship plans lead staff in a coordinated, uniform direction over a specified period to refine, shape, and expand the value and vision of the collection. Collections stewardship plans provide mechanisms to strengthen intellectual control over collections through logical assessments of collections and resources.

Collections stewardship plans engage staff and stakeholders to develop a compelling, shared vision for the collections and refocus collecting activities to move from idiosyncratic, reactive collecting to strategic, integrated, and proactive collecting – to shape, rather than build, collections.