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Museums and Collections Services

Today, Museums and Collections Services is the central source of information, services, and programs related to the University of Alberta Museums. Staff members provide professional museum expertise to the faculty and staff who maintain the University's museums and collections and to the museum community in general. As part of this mandate, the Department provides advisory services and training in exhibitions, public programs, collections management, and conservation issues. It also develops policies and procedures on the University's museums and collections and is a liaison between the collections on campus and the broader community.

Museums and Collections Services operations are organized under two program areas:

• The Collections Program ensures that collections management, collections development, and access to information services are planned, developed, and implemented.
• The Communication Program ensures that accurate and timely information about the University's museums and collections, Museums and Collections Services, and related programs and services is disseminated as required and that programs and services that provide access to collections are developed.

Specific programs and services offered by Museums and Collections Services staff members include:

• Advisory services in all areas of museum practice such as exhibitions, public programs, collections management, and conservation
• Training students and museum workers in contemporary museum issues and practice
• Implementation of Multi MIMSY, an Oracle-based relational database management software that provides electronic access to many of the University's collections
• Management of the University of Alberta Art Collection and the Art Loan program that Museums and Collections Services offers to the community
• Operation of the Print Study Centre, a celebrated resource for the University's teaching, research, and community service programs
• Development of campus-wide policies and procedures to assist departments and faculties with their collections
• Liaison to all campus collections, the museum community, government agencies, and numerous other related organizations, locally and internationally
• Community outreach and access via public programs such as the Muse Project, an innovative, curriculum-based program for grades 5-9; the University of Alberta Museums virtual museum website; exhibitions; and programs.