Collection management

This is where you will find information and practical help on cataloguing, collection policy, collection management systems, loan, deacessioning and gift of deed forms and so on. You might also look in Organisational management for resources relating to compliance—legal, taxation, copyright etc. as well as cultural policy, marketing and branding.

Collection Management Systems

This resource outlines the key considerations in the purchase and use of CMS programs and contains a list of some of the most commonly used software.

Storage on a shoestring: why collection storage matters

This video has been developed by Museums of History NSW, primarily for staff and volunteers working in small to medium-sized museums, particularly in regional and remote NSW.

Choose collections software

Not sure which collections management software to choose? Collections Trust has developed a web tool that allows you to select your preferred requirements and features.

Contemporary Collecting Toolkit

This toolkit is an introduction to contemporary collecting for museum staff and volunteers who don’t have direct experience of acquiring recent material and who want to understand the basics.

Small Museums Cataloguing Manual

The 5th edition of the Small Museums Cataloguing Manual by AMaGA Victoria. This key sector resource introduces users to the cataloguing process, from planning and procedures to digitisation and the management of digital collections. This essential practical tool is free to download.

Significance 2.0: a guide to assessing the significance of collections

Aims to help collecting organisations, collections professionals and the broader public to determine the significance of cultural and heritage objects.

Storage on a shoestring: getting started

This video has been developed by Museums of History NSW, primarily for staff and volunteers working in small to medium-sized museums, particularly in regional and remote NSW.

Storage on a shoestring: housing collection items

This video has been developed by Museums of History NSW, primarily for staff and volunteers working in small to medium-sized museums, particularly in regional and remote NSW.

How to do a significance assessment

In this video, Museums of History NSW Curator Anna Cossu steps through the significance assessment process.

What is Significance 2.0 and why use it?

In this video, Museums of History NSW Curator Anna Cossu briefly outlines what ‘Significance’ is and the benefits of using the significance assessment process.

Off the Shelf: a toolkit for ethical transfer, reuse and disposal

Developed by the Museums Association, this toolkit is designed to support museum workers to grasp the challenge of proliferating collections and undertake active disposals.

Collections Management as Critical Museum Practice

A new publication from UCL Press that critically assesses collections management from alternative perspectives.

Australian best practice guide to collecting cultural material

This guide describes the ethical and legal issues that museums, galleries and libraries need to consider when they acquire or borrow cultural material.

Acquisition fact sheet

This M&G fact sheet takes you through the formal process of obtaining legal possession by purchase, donation or through the bequest of an item.

Acquisition register template

Easily document your object accessions using this template.

Collections Law

The Collections Law website provides resources for those working in an archive, gallery, museum or library.

Cataloguing

Fact sheet about cataloguing for museum collections, including a template resource.

Collection policies

This resource explains what a collection policy is, its importance and how to develop one.

Computer Cataloguing Databases

This 'thinking about' resource by M&G tells you about the advantages and limitations of cataloguing your collection using a database.

Deaccessioning and Disposal

This fact sheet by M&G NSW takes you through the process of deaccessioning and disposing of objects in your collection.

Deed of gift form

You can use this template to document the transfer of ownership of donated objects.

Identify prints and photos

Online resource for all identifying all print types.

Inward Loan sample agreement

This template gives you the basics of inward loans agreements

List of approved valuers

This is a list of approved valuers under the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Loans Fact Sheet

This M&G fact sheet explains the process of documenting museum loans.

Outward Loan sample agreement

This template gives you the basics for creating an outward loan agreement.

Sample Loan register

This is sample Loan register gives you an easy way to document your loans

Cultural Gifts Program Guide

The Cultural Gifts Program encourages Australians to donate items of cultural significance from private collections to public art galleries, museums, libraries and archives.

Bequests fact sheet

Bequests are one means of acquiring objects or financial support. Museums and galleries need to be aware of some important legal and management considerations in this area.

Reviewing collections

A guide to support museums in considering and selecting appropriate methodologies to guide the rationalisation of their collections.