With more than 350 parks and 116 million items, the National Park Service (NPS) has one of the largest museum collections in the world. The NPS contractracted with the Academy to review collection storage practices as identified in its 2007 Park Museum Collection Storage Plan. The NPS sought to assess the current state of its storage of museum and archival collections and its ability to achieve current and future objectives for budget and resource sustainability while simultaneously meeting curatorial standards for preservation, public access, historical documentation, and cultural sensitivity.
The Academy developed 16 recommendations to maintain and improve current and future efficiency of collection storage and examine the National Park Service Facility Investment Strategy, the Park Museum Facility Management Plan, and the Park Museum Collection Storage Plan.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the study, please contact, Brenna Isman, Director of Academy Studies, at (202) 204-3625 or bisman@napawash.org.