NEXT MICROCLIMATE COURSE TO BE OFFERED IN JUNE - SEE JANUARY COURSE BELOW

COURSE ON TRAVELLING EHXIBITIONS TO BE OFFERED IN MAY WITH A SECTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL BY JERRY SHINER

MS242: Museum Microclimates
Dates: Jan 4 - Jan 29, 2010
Price: $475
Instructor: Jerry Shiner

Description:
A microclimate is the environment immediately surrounding an artifact. Microclimates designed for optimum storage, display, or treatment conditions can be created and maintained in showcases, storage cabinets, rooms, or
plastic bags. This course covers the basics of creating and maintaining microclimates, including discussions of suitable enclosures and appropriate means of controlling humidity, temperature, pollution, and oxygen. Learn what
constitutes a microclimate, how to use silica gel and other environmental control materials, how to reduce internally generated pollutants, and techniques for monitoring the microclimate you have created.

Course Outline:
1. Introduction to Microclimates and History of Microclimates
2. Components of a Microclimate
3. Microclimate Enclosures
4. Passive Environmental Controls
5. Active Environmental Controls, Pollution, Case Leakage
6. Monitoring a Microclimate

Logistics:
Participants in Museum Microclimates work through sections on their own. Materials and resources include online literature, slide lectures and dialog between students and the instructor through online forums.

Museum Microclimates runs four weeks. To reserve a spot in the course, please pay at http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html If you have trouble please contact Helen Alten at helen(at)collectioncare.org

The Instructor:
Jerry Shiner has been providing consultant services for environmental control of museum display and storage applications for almost twenty years. Mr. Shiner has extensive expertise in both active and passive methods of mitigating and controlling humidity, temperature, pollution, and oxygen levels for display and storage enclosures. His experience includes working with architects, engineers, and conservators to design both local and central systems for large museums. As founder of Keepsafe Microclimate Systems he has provided hundreds of
active and passive solutions for low oxygen treatment and storage (anoxia), and showcase humidity and temperature control. Mr. Shiner is author of numerous articles on microclimate storage and display. His clients include
museums in the US and Europe.

From students:

"Thank you so much for such an eye opening class! Your sense of humor made it fun even when I started to feel overwhelmed. I particularly liked the final chapter that wrapped up the course nicely. Thank you for the impromptu phone conversation. Your suggestions and insights were much appreciated."

"The readings really opened my eyes to a completely new topic that is not covered very much in the world of registrars, curators and collection managers. It was so helpful being able to ask specific questions and get clear answers."

"I like the on-line format because it is economical and allows museum workers the opportunity to obtain professional development without having to pay for travel. This may be my only outlet for professional development and interaction with instructors for the near future because all travel has been cancelled."

"The bonus of the class for me was familiarizing me with the vocabulary of the technology. I do not think that I would attempt to make decisions on the type of technology to use within my museum but I do feel more comfortable in having discussions with engineers and designers."