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Advisory board accepts museum assessment action plan with recommendations on accreditation, collections and exhibits
Summary
The Cultural and Environmental Learning Center advisory board voted Sept. 25 to forward a post–museum-assessment action plan to town council after a staff presentation of peer-review recommendations on collections, insurance, exhibit flow and accreditation steps.
On Sept. 25 the Town of Fort Myers Beach Cultural and Environmental Learning Center advisory board voted to forward a post–museum-assessment action plan to town council for adoption after a staff presentation on recommendations from the American Alliance of Museums’ peer review.
Adam Knight, museum manager, walked the board through a concise "post-MAP action plan" that condensed recommendations from a longer MAP evaluation. Knight described the plan as a road map toward professional best practices and eventual accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. He said the action plan lists short-term 'low-hanging fruit' items already completed and a larger list of steps for future work.
Key recommendations Knight highlighted included:
- Developing or updating a strategic plan (to be aligned with the townwide strategic planning process).
- Rewriting the collection management policy and pursuing fine-arts insurance to protect artifacts (staff said current town insurance covers the building but not artifact-level fine-arts coverage).
- Cataloging and rehousing artifacts in museum-grade storage (staff reported new cabinets and ongoing inventory work but that original excavation records are missing and must be recovered).
- Writing a code of ethics, emergency preparedness plan and integrated pest-management/housekeeping plan.
- Pursuing grants and external funding for virtual-classroom equipment, internships and exhibit upgrades, and creating an audio tour (staff have identified an affordable web-based audio tour platform and plan to collaborate with local tribal partners and regional archaeology networks).
Knight also told the board that some original excavation documentation appears to be in the possession of a former director, Teresa Sjoberg. He said institutional records should be requested because staff believe those documents are town property; advisory board members recommended a gentle inquiry through the town attorney to recover missing documents.
After discussion, Becky Warner moved that the advisory board forward the post-MAP action plan as presented; Ellen Vaughn seconded. The board recorded a unanimous vote in favor and staff said the plan will be presented to the town council for consideration and adoption.
The board and staff agreed to follow up on several items at future meetings, including inviting Tracy Koehler (assistant town manager leading the townwide strategic plan) to explain timing and coordination and scheduling continued updates on collections inventory and emergency planning.
