Security Alert
Appendix H: Proposal Planning Document
Security Alert!
Proposal Planning
Document
Team Name:
____________________________________
Local Museum: ____________________________________
SITES Exhibit: ____________________________________
Team Members
Museum Director:
_______________________________
Curator:
_______________________________
Exhibit Designer:
_______________________________
Security Engineer:
_______________________________
_______________:
_______________________________
Team Mission
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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Choosing a SITES Exhibit
Name _____________________________
Team Name _____________________________
Directions: As a team, follow the directions below to complete this task.
The Museum Director should lead the group in a discussion about the Local Museum Research
from Day 1. What did you learn? What type of exhibit do you envision for your local museum?
Go to: http://www.sites.si.edu
Click: Host an Exhibition
Under Exhibition Criteria, click Search by Criteria including, size, cost, and security
Under Security Level, click High Security
1. According to the Smithsonian SITES website, what is the definition of a high-security
exhibit?
2. What types of protection are required for a high-security SITES exhibit?
A list of the available high-security Smithsonian SITES exhibits will appear on the screen.
Explore the various options by clicking on the links.
As a team, decide which SITES collection would best fit the mission of your local museum.
Remember, your goal is to boost attendance at your museum, so keep the desires of your
potential visitors in mind. Your group should come to a consensus based on thoughtful,
respectful discussion. If needed, refer to your Team Code of Cooperation.
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Our Team’s SITE Exhibit Choice
Name _____________________________
Team Name _____________________________
Exhibit Name: ___________________________________________________
Locate the Exhibition Specifications on the website and complete the chart below.
Exhibition Specifications
Contents
Participation Fee
Size
Crates
Weight
Category
Security
Shipping
SITES Contacts
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Museum Director
Individual Research
Name _____________________________
Team Name _____________________________
Directions: In order to obtain a SITES exhibit, museum directors must provide the Smithsonian
with detailed information about their museum, its location, and its construction. Today, you will
conduct more in-depth research about your local museum.
Step 1: Conduct additional background research about your local museum using your
local museum’s website, the AMA website, and perhaps your local fire department. Use
the “Resources Cited” section of this paper to record the URL of any sources
used to obtain this information.
Step 2: Create 2-3 multi-media slides, which summarize your individual research. You
will present these slides to your team during the debriefing session. After the debriefing
session, the museum director will compile all team members’ slides for use in the final
presentation to the Smithsonian SITES committee.
Your slides should:
1. Describe the background of project.
2. Describe your local museum, its mission, and the SITES exhibit you wish to display
3. Include any other noteworthy information from your individual research.
*Note: As Museum Director, you are responsible for combining each member’s research and
making sure team members add their part to the team presentation. Prezi.com allows several
people to collaborate and edit the same presentation. If you choose to use Prezi.com, each
team member will need a free Prezi.com account.
Resources Cited:
American Association of Museums:
http://www.aam-us.org/resources/assessment-programs/accreditation
Local Museum Website: __________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _______________________________________________________________
GENERAL INFORMATION
To answer the following two questions, go to:
http://www.aam-us.org/resources/assessment-programs/accreditation
Does the American Association of Museums currently accredit your institution?
____Yes
_____ No
If yes, date of most recent accreditation decision:
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Individual Research: Museum Director (continued)
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, CONFIGURATION AND MAINTENANCE (for your local museum)
Are all structures freestanding (not attached to any other buildings, businesses, stores, etc.)?
____Yes
_____ No
Is your museum undergoing renovation at this time (the museum website will inform you if they are)?
____Yes
_____ No
Do you anticipate any construction or renovation projects during the proposed loan period (the
museum website will inform you of any new or upcoming additions/renovations)?
____Yes
_____ No
If yes, explain:
GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE (for your local museum)
Note: In order to answer these questions, you will need to research the city in which your
museum is located.
Is your building located in an earthquake or earth movement prone zone?
____Yes
_____ No
Is your building located in an area designated as a flood zone or next to a body of water, which
can overflow its boundaries?
____Yes
_____ No
Is your building located in an area subject to other natural catastrophes such as hurricanes,
tornadoes, or severe windstorms?
____Yes
_____ No
Is your institution in a designated brush zone?
____Yes
_____ No
OTHER INFORMATION (for your local museum)
Is there any other pertinent information about your museum that your group and/or the SITES
committee should know?
When finished, assist other members of your team in completing their research.
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Curator
Individual Research
Name _____________________________
Team Name _____________________________
Directions: In order to obtain a SITES exhibit, museums must prove that their curators are
knowledgeable about the collection’s content and are trained to handle the collection’s items
appropriately. Today, you will conduct more in-depth research about the items contained in the
collection as well as how to care for them.
Step 1: Conduct additional background research about your team’s SITES collection
and answer the questions below. Record the URL of any sources used to obtain this
information.
Step 2: Create 2-3 multi-media slides, which summarize your individual research. You
will present these slides to your team during the debriefing session. These slides will
also become part of for your group’s final presentation to the Smithsonian SITES
committee.
Your slides should:
1. Describe the important items contained in the collection and explain how you will care for
them.
2. Include at least two photos or graphics.
Resources Cited:
Smithsonian SITES:
http://www.sites.si.edu
National Park Service Museum Handbook:
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/handbook.html
Local Museum Website: __________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _______________________________________________________________
What noteworthy or one-of-a-kind artifacts are included in this traveling collection?
What related publications are available?
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Individual Research: Curator (continued)
The National Park Service groups museum collections into three broad categories: cultural,
archival, and natural. Refer to Part 1, sections D-G of the National Park Service Museum
Handbook: http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/handbook.html, and read about
these various types of collections.
Are the items in your collection mainly archival, cultural, or natural?
These broad categories are broken down into general disciplines. Into which general disciplines
do the artifacts in your collection fit? Check all that apply.
ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS
CULTURAL COLLECTIONS
NATURAL COLLECTIONS
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Personal papers and
manuscripts
Resource management
records
Archeology
Ethnology
History
Biology
Geology
Paleontology
The Appendices I-U in Section 1 of the National Park Service Museum Handbook provide
detailed information about the curatorial handling and care of various types of collections.
Decide which appendix best describes the majority of artifacts in your collection.
For example, if most of the artifacts are photographs, you would read Appendix R.
After reading your Appendix, answer the following questions:
Appendix Title: ___________________________________________________
Briefly describe the nature of this material.
What agents of deterioration affect this type of artifact?
How can you prevent deterioration?
How should you handle items of this material?
How should these materials be stored?
What environmental parameters (i.e. temperature, light, air quality and humidity) should be used
when exhibiting this type of artifact?
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Exhibit Designer
Individual Research
Name _____________________________
Team Name _____________________________
Directions: In order to obtain a SITES exhibit, museums must prove that their exhibit designers
will house their collection according to the required parameters. Today, you will conduct more
in-depth research about the requirements and sketch a scale model of the exhibition.
Step 1: Conduct additional background research about your team’s SITES collection
and answer the questions below. Record the URL of any sources used to obtain this
information.
Step 2: Please attach a scaled floor plan of the exhibition room, indicating where and
how borrowed object(s) will be displayed. Please draw your model using the Metric
system of measurement to represent the standard (feet / inches) dimensions of the
room. Include a scale bar at the bottom of the diagram for reference.
Step 3: Create 2-3 multi-media slides, which summarize your research. You will present
these slides to your team during the debriefing session. These slides will also become
part of for your group’s final presentation to the Smithsonian SITES committee.
Your slides should:
1. Summarize your individual research.
2. Include a labeled diagram of the exhibit room you've designed.
Resources Cited:
Smithsonian SITES:
http://www.sites.si.edu
Local Museum Website: __________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _______________________________________________________________
Use the Smithsonian SITES web page: http://www.sites.si.edu
1. According to the Smithsonian SITES web page, what are the space requirements for a highsecurity exhibit? What are the space requirements for YOUR exhibit?
2. What environmental controls must be in place for a high-security Smithsonian SITES
exhibit?
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Individual Research: Exhibit Designer (continued)
3. What provisions can be put in place to prohibit the public from touching the artifacts in the
collection?
4. What are the requirements for display cases?
Planning Space for Blue Print of Your Local Musuem:
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Security Engineer
Individual Research
Name _____________________________
Team Name _____________________________
Directions: In order to obtain a SITES exhibit, museum committees must prove that their
museum is equipped with the proper security system to house a SITES exhibit. Today, you will
conduct more in-depth research about the security requirements. Your job is particularly
important, because you will be the security expert during your team’s debriefing session.
Step 1: Conduct additional background research about your team’s SITES collection,
types of museum security systems, and circuitry. Answer the questions below, and
record the URL of any sources used to obtain this information.
Step 2: Create 2-3 multi-media slides, which summarize your research. You will present
these slides to your team during the debriefing session. These slides will also become
part of for your group’s final presentation to the Smithsonian SITES committee.
Your slides should:
1. Summarize any important or noteworthy points from your individual research, including the
main risks and threats.
2. Explain the difference between closed and open circuit systems.
3. Include pictures or diagrams of different types of security systems (to help your team
members visualize the possibilities.
4. Be sure to mention any possible risks or threats.
Resources Cited:
Smithsonian SITES:
http://www.sites.si.edu
NDT Resource Center, Series and Parallel Circuits:
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriesparallelcircuits.htm
National Park Service Museum Handbook:
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/MHI/mushbkI.html
Local Museum Website: __________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _________________________________________________________________
Other: _______________________________________________________________
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Individual Research: Security Engineer (continued)
Use the National Parks Service Museum Handbook:
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/publications/MHI/mushbkI.html, Chapter 9:
“Museum Collections Security and Fire Prevention” to answer the following questions:
1. What are the general threats to museum collections?
2. In your opinion, which threat presents the greatest risk to your museum? Why?
3. According to Chapter 9, Section G, what are the four important questions you should ask
yourself before selecting an electronic security system to house museum collections?
Go http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriesparallelcircuits.htm to
answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper (you will have to press “Next”
to find all of the information):
1. Explain what circuit components are and list at least 3 examples.
2. Explain where voltage for an electric circuit comes from and what voltage does for an electrical
circuit.
3. Explain how a circuit is formed?
4. How is potential energy converted to kinetic energy in a circuit?
5. What do electrons in a circuit need in order to create their movement?
6. What is the purpose and importance of a circuit diagram (also called a schematic)?
7. What is a series circuit? When might a series circuit be useful?
8. Sketch an example of a series circuit diagram (schematic).
9. What is a parallel circuit? When might a parallel circuit be useful?
10. Sketch an example of a parallel circuit diagram (schematic).
11. Which do you think would be the best choice for your team’s challenge: a series or a parallel
circuit? Explain your reasoning.
12. What is a direct current (DC)?
13. What causes work to be done in a circuit? How do we see/know that work is being done in a
circuit?
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