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Alaska Museums Surveys and Data

Data gathered from museums surveyed around Alaska during 1984, 2000, 2010, and 2020.

Objects

Question: Total objects in your collection?
# of Objects # of Museums
Not Sure 4
1-500 12
500-1,000 7
1,000-2,000 6
2,000-3,000 7
3,000-4,000 3
4,000-5,000 1
5,000-7,500 2
7,500-10,000 3
10,000-20,000 4
20,000-40,000 2
40,000-75,000 1
75,000-100,000 1
100,000-500,000 4
500,000-1,000,000 1
1,000,000+ 1

Question 21: Environment Monitoring

How often do you monitor…?
  Monthly Quarterly Annually "As Needed" Basis We haven't - yet! Total
Relative humidity (RH) levels? 43.33% 26 5.00% 3 3.33% 2 13.33% 8 35.00% 21 60
Light levels in your exhibition area? 16.39% 10 13.11% 8 9.84% 6 29.51% 18 31.15% 19 61
Pest traps/signs of insects? 27.87% 17 11.48% 7 6.56% 4 24.59% 15 29.51% 18 61

Question 22: Exhibit Maintenance

How often do you&hellip?
  Annually or more often Five year cycle "As Needed" basis We haven't - Yet! Total
Clean your exhibitions? 65.57% 40 1.64% 1 27.87% 17 4.92% 3 61
Rotate out objects on exhibit? 13.33% 8 11.67% 7 61.67% 37 13.33% 8 60
Update object labels? 18.33% 11 6.67% 4 63.33% 38 11.67% 7 60
Update education/visitor guides for exhibits 26.23% 16 9.84% 6 50.82% 31 13.11% 8 61
Reinterpret existing exhibitions 15.52% 9 6.90% 4 58.62% 34 18.97% 11 58
Install new exhibitions 39.34% 24 8.20% 5 39.34% 24 13.11% 8 61

Question 31: Volume of collection (by type)

What is the approximate total number of objects in your collection?
  Not Sure 1-500 500-1,000 1,000-2,000 2,000-3,000 3,000-4,000 4,000-5,000 5,000-7,500 7,500-10,000 10,000-20,000 20,000-40,000 40,000-75,000 75,000-100,000 100,000-500,000 500,000-1 Million 1 Million+ Total
Permanent collection? 6.56% 4 22.95% 14 11.48% 7 9.84% 6 11.48% 7 4.92% 3 1.64% 1 3.28% 2 4.92% 3 6.56% 4 3.28% 2 1.64% 1 1.64% 1 6.56% 4 1.64% 1 1.64% 1 61
Educational/Hands-on? 11.32% 6 73.58% 39 7.55% 4 1.89% 1 1.89% 1 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 1.89% 1 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 1.89% 1 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 53

Question 32: Collection Database

Which collections database does your museum use?
  % of Museums # of Museums
No Computerized Database 8.20% 5
PastPerfect 63.93% 39
MS Access 3.28% 2
Snap! 1.64% 1
Accession 0% 1
Argus 1.64% 1
FileMaker Pro 0% 0
MIMSY 0% 0
Re:Discovery 4.92% 3
Excel 9.84% 6
Oracle 0% 0
KeEmu 0% 0
Embark! 0% 0
TMS 1.64% 1
Intuit 0% 0
Open Source 0% 0

Question 33: Insurance

Museum insurance.
  Yes No
Is your collection insured? 58.33% 35 41.67% 25
If so, is your collection insured separate from your facility? 60.00% 24 40.00% 16

Question 34: Accessions

Museum accessions.
  None Not Sure 1-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-100%
Approximately what percentage of your collection is accessioned? 3.28% 2 11.48% 7 13.11% 8 8.20% 5 16.39% 10 47.54% 29

Question 35: Policies & Procedures

Does your museum have written policies and procedures for collections management?
  Museums (% and #)
Not Sure 1.64% 1
Yes 77.05% 47
No 21.31% 13

Question 36: Archives

Archives within museums.
  Yes No
Does your institution have an archive? 72.13% 44 27.87% 17
If so, is it managed as part of your collection? 78.72% 37 21.28% 10

Question 41: Collections on Exhibit

Approximately what percentage of your collections are on exhibition?
  Not Sure 0-5% 6-10% 10-20% 20-40% 40-60% 60-80% 80-100%
Permanent collection on display 0.00% 0 11.11% 6 11.11% 6 7.41% 4 7.41% 4 14.81% 8 18.52% 10 29.63% 16

Question 42: Collections in Open Exhibits

Approximately what percentage of your collections are on open exhibit inside your facility?
  Museums (% and #)
0-20% 31.03% 18
20-40% 10.34% 6
40-60% 15.52% 9
60-80% 15.52% 9
80-100% 27.59% 16

Question 43: Community Objects

Approximately what percentage of objects on exhibition come from your community?
  Museums (% and #)
0-20% 14.75% 9
20-40% 1.64% 1
40-60% 9.84% 6
60-80% 24.59% 15
80-100% 49.18% 30