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  • May 06, 2024 10:06 AM | Anonymous

    Reposted from American Alliance of Museums

     

    Collections Stewardship

    (From American Alliance of Museums)

     

    Standards Regarding Collections Stewardship

    ·     The museum owns, exhibits or uses collections that are appropriate to its mission.

    ·     The museum legally, ethically and effectively manages, documents, cares for and uses the collections.

    ·     The museum conducts collections-related research according to appropriate scholarly standards.

    ·     The museum strategically plans for the use and development of its collections.

    ·     The museum, guided by its mission, provides public access to its collections while ensuring their preservation.

    ·     The museum allocates its space and uses its facilities to meet the needs of the collections, audience and staff.

    ·     The museum has appropriate measures in place to ensure the safety and security of people, its collections and/or objects, and the facilities it owns or uses.

    ·     The museum takes appropriate measures to protect itself against potential risk and loss.

     

    Purpose and Importance

    Stewardship is the careful, sound and responsible management of that which is entrusted to a museum’s care. Possession of collections incurs legal, social and ethical obligations to provide proper physical storage, management and care for the collections and associated documentation, as well as proper intellectual control. Collections are held in trust for the public and made accessible for the public’s benefit. Effective collections stewardship ensures that the objects the museum owns, borrows, holds in its custody and/or uses are available and accessible to present and future generations. A museum’s collections are an important means of advancing its mission and serving the public. 

     

    Implementation

    Museums are expected to: plan strategically and act ethically with respect to collections stewardship matters; legally, ethically and responsibly acquire, manage and dispose of collection items as well as know what collections are in its ownership/custody, where they came from, why it has them and their current condition and location; and provide regular and reasonable access to, and use of, the collections/objects in its custody.

    Achieving this standard requires thorough understanding of collections stewardship issues to ensure thoughtful and responsible planning and decision making. With this in mind, national standards emphasize systematic development and regular review of policies, procedures, practices and plans for the goals, activities and needs of the collections.

     

    How Does A Museum Assess Whether Its Collections and/or Objects Are Appropriate for Its Mission?

    This is determined by comparing the institution’s mission—how it formally defines its unique identity and purpose, and its understanding of its role and responsibility to the public—to two things: (1) the collections used by the institution; and (2) its policies, procedures and practices regarding the development and use of collections (see also the Standards Regarding Institutional Mission Statements). 

    A review of a museum’s collections stewardship practices examines: whether the mission statement or collections documents (e.g., collections management policy, collections plan, etc.) are clear enough to guide collections stewardship decisions; whether the collections owned by the museum, and objects loaned and exhibited at the museum, fall within the scope of the stated mission and collections documents; and whether the mission and other collections stewardship-related documents are in alignment and guide the museum’s practices. 

     

    Assessing Collections Stewardship 

    There are different ways to manage, house, secure, document and conserve collections, depending on their media and use, and the museum’s own discipline, size, physical facilities, geographic location and financial and human resources. Therefore, one must consider many facets of an institution’s operations that, taken together, demonstrate the effectiveness of its collections stewardship policies, procedures and practices, and assess them in light of varying factors. For instance, museums may have diverse types of collections categorized by different levels of purpose and use—permanent, educational, archival, research and study, to name a few—that may have different management and care needs. These distinctions should be articulated in collections stewardship-related policies and procedures. In addition, different museum disciplines may have different collections stewardship practices, issues and needs related to their specific field. Museums are expected to follow the standards and best practices appropriate to their respective discipline and/or museum type as applicable. 

     

    The standards require that:

    ·     A current, approved, comprehensive collections management policy is in effect and actively used to guide the museum’s stewardship of its collections.

    ·     The human resources are sufficient, and the staff have the appropriate education, training and experience to fulfill the museum’s stewardship responsibilities and the needs of the collections.

    ·     Staff are delegated responsibility to carry out the collections management policy.

    ·     A system of documentation, records management and inventory is in effect to describe each object and its acquisition (permanent or temporary), current condition and location and movement into, out of and within the museum.

    ·     The museum regularly monitors environmental conditions and takes proactive measures to mitigate the effects of ultraviolet light, fluctuations in temperature and humidity, air pollution, damage, pests and natural disasters on collections.

    ·     An appropriate method for identifying needs and determining priorities for conservation/care is in place.

    ·     Safety and security procedures and plans for collections in the museum’s custody are documented, practiced and addressed in the museum’s emergency/disaster preparedness plan.

    ·     Regular assessment of, and planning for, collection needs (development, conservation, risk management, etc.) takes place and sufficient financial and human resources are allocated for collections stewardship.

    ·     Collections care policies and procedures for collections on exhibition, in storage, on loan and during travel are appropriate, adequate and documented.

    ·     The scope of a museum’s collections stewardship extends to both the physical and intellectual control of its property.

    ·     Ethical considerations of collections stewardship are incorporated into the appropriate museum policies and procedures.

    ·     Considerations regarding future collecting activities are incorporated into institutional plans and other appropriate policy documents.


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  • April 23, 2024 5:15 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from Apple

    Exciting news! The Emergency Response and Salvage (ERS) App is back for iOS users! Download the app from the Apple Store here: apps.apple.com/us/app/emergency-response-and-salvage/...

    The Android version is coming soon; I'll post the link here when it's ready for download.

    See Original Post

  • April 23, 2024 5:11 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from EMR-ISAC

    Law enforcement agencies across four states were left scrambling following reports of major 911 outages that saw millions unable to contact authorities late Wednesday, April 17. Many of the outages — reported in Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota and Texas — were restored by the late evening. So far, there's no indication that the 911 outages overnight were caused by a cyberattack or other malicious act, law enforcement officials told NBC News on Thursday.

    See Original Post

  • April 23, 2024 4:48 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from EMR-ISAC

    The National Security Agency (NSA) is releasing a Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI) on Monday, April 15, Deploying AI Systems Securely: Best Practices for Deploying Secure and Resilient AI Systems. The CSI is intended to support National Security System owners and Defense Industrial Base companies that will be deploying and operating AI systems designed and developed by an external entity.

    The CSI is the first release from NSA’s Artificial Intelligence Security Center (AISC), in partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, the New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-NZ), and United Kingdom National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-UK).

    While intended for national security purposes, the guidance has application for anyone bringing AI capabilities into a managed environment, especially those in high-threat, high-value environments.

    See Original Post



  • April 23, 2024 4:40 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from EMR_ISAC

    On April 16, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced more than $1.8 billion in funding for eight fiscal year (FY) 2024 preparedness grant programs. These grant programs provide critical funding to help state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) officials prepare for, prevent, protect against and respond to acts of terrorism and disasters.

    DHS continues to emphasize six national priority areas in the FY 2024 grant cycle: cybersecurity; soft targets and crowded places; intelligence and information sharing; domestic violent extremism; community preparedness and resilience; and election security.

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  • April 23, 2024 4:30 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from The Guardian

    Firefighters at Copenhagen’s historic former stock exchange have been battling a huge blaze that has engulfed the 17th-century building’s roof, toppled its distinctive spire and threatened one of Denmark’s most valuable art collections.
    “We are witnessing a terrible spectacle. The Bourse is on fire,” the Chamber of Commerce, which occupies the building next to Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish parliament, wrote on X. “Everyone is asked to stay away.”
    Dramatic footage showed huge plumes of black smoke rising from the Dutch Renaissance-style building, which was undergoing renovation and clad in scaffolding. Police said they had blocked off a main road and part of the city centre.
    Copenhagen’s fire service said the blaze was reported at 7.30am. The extensive scaffolding around the building was making it significantly harder to tackle the flames, it said, while the Bourse’s copper roof was trapping the heat.
    “The extinguishing work is very difficult,” said a fire service spokesperson, Jakob Vedsted Andersen, adding that there were substantial areas of the building that firefighters could not yet access because it was too dangerous.
    Parts of the roof had collapsed and the fire had spread to several floors, Vedsted said. About 120 people were fighting the fire but only about 40% of it was under control and the operation was expected to continue for at least 24 hours, he said.
    About 90 conscripts from the Royal Life Guards, an army unit, were also helping to cordon off the site and secure valuables inside, local media reported.
    The Bourse, commissioned by King Christian IV and built between 1619 and 1640, was topped by a 56-metre (184ft) spire in the shape of the tails of four dragons entwined. The building housed Denmark’s stock exchange until 1974.
    The dragons on the roof were seen as symbolically protecting the exchange from enemies, as well as from fire, the Chamber of Commerce said on its website. The spire also had three crowns at the top, symbolising the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
    Ulla Kjaer, a senior researcher at the National Museum of Denmark, described the spire as “absolutely iconic”, adding: “There is no other like it in the world.”
    King Frederik said Denmark’s royal family “woke up to the sad sight” of “part of our architectural heritage” being destroyed, while the prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said “irreplaceable cultural heritage” and “a piece of Danish history” was on fire.
    The deputy prime minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, described the blaze as “our own Notre-Dame moment”, referring to the devastating blaze that destroyed the roof and spire of the medieval Paris cathedral in April 2019, five years ago almost to the day.
    Denmark’s culture minister, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, said on X that 400 years of Danish cultural heritage were in flames. It was “touching to see Bourse staff, emergency services and passing Copenhageners … saving art treasures”, he said.
    People were seen rushing in and out of the building carrying works of art to safety, and Danish media reported an annexe of the parliament and several ministries nearby, including the finance ministry, had been evacuated.
    The head of the Chamber of Commerce was among those helping to save historic paintings from the building. The pictures were carried to the nearby parliament and the Danish National Archives, which sent 25 staff to help with the rescue operation.
    “We have been able to rescue a lot,” a visibly moved Brian Mikkelsen told reporters, adding that many works had already been removed from the Bourse for the extensive renovation. The blaze was nonetheless “a national disaster”, he said.
    The Bourse holds one of the country’s most valuable collections of art, including the iconic From the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, by the 19th-century Danish-Norwegian artist Peder Severin Krøyer, which was carried to safety by eight people.
    Finished in 1895, the painting shows a large group of men in coat-tails standing in the exchange hall. It was paid for by the people portrayed, with those in the front having paid 550 Danish kroner to be the most visible, and cheaper rates for those at the back.
    Kasper Nielsen, of the auction house Bruun Rasmussen, told local media that Krøyer’s picture was worth millions of kroner, adding: “If, God forbid, the entire Stock Exchange burns down, we are looking at the loss of top-end, inalienable cultural heritage.”
    Christiansborg Palace has burned down several times. Most recently, a fire broke out in an annexe of the parliament known as Proviantgården in 1990. Police asked people to avoid the inner part of the city.
    Tommy Laursen, of the Copenhagen police, said it was too early to say what caused the Bourse fire and police would not be able to enter the building for “a few days”.
    French investigators believe the massive blaze at Notre-Dame – which was also undergoing major renovation at the time – was caused by either a cigarette end or an electrical short circuit.
    Most of the cathedral’s lead-clad timber roof was destroyed but the vaulted stone ceiling prevented massive interior damage and allowed priceless relics and artwork to be rescued. Notre-Dame is due to reopen in December.

    See Original Post



  • April 23, 2024 4:24 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from National Trust for Historic Preservation

     

     

    Logo for PastForward NOLA that says celebrating 75 years of National Trust for Historic Preservation

     

    PastForward Registration Rates

    Mark your calendars for PastForward in New Orleans, October 28-30! The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference will explore the evolving practice of preservation in one of the country’s most historic cities this fall.

    Registration will go live in July but you can start planning today. Learn more about registration rates and hotel information.

    Rates start at $500 for Forum members who will receive early access to Field Studies–it makes sense to join Forum today!

    LEARN MORELEARN MORE

     

    Learn more about PastForward 2024 and sign up for conference updates.

     

    Join Forum

    Learn how Preservation Leadership Forum—the premier community for preservation practitioners—can support your work through programs, resources, and grant funding, and offer discounts on conferences and trainings.

    JOIN TODAYJOIN TODAY

    See Original Post
  • April 23, 2024 4:17 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from Newswire

     

    Member News

     

    Be sure to follow us on FacebookInstagram, and LinkedIn where we regularly post highlights of the great work our members are doing every day!

     

    Not a PLA Member? Join us today!

     

     

    Education & Training

     

    PLA Members and Corporate Partner members have access to resources and 100 webinar recordings offering best practices, cutting-edge topics, and the latest trends in the public lands community.

     

    Learn more about becoming a PLA nonprofit member or corporate partner to access this benefit. Non-members and government employees may contact us to purchase recordings for $35 a webinar.

     

     

    Visit Our Resource Library

     

     

     

    llllllllllllllOpportunities & Resources

     

    Public Lands Alliance Job Board

     

    Check out our Public Lands Careers page for current job listings, currently including positions such as:

    ·     Field Operations Manager

    ·     CEO

    ·     Director of Membership

     

    Visit the webpage to submit your seasonal, part-time, and full-time employment opportunities.

     

    Public Lands Careers

     

     


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  • April 23, 2024 3:48 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from CISA/DHS

    The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is hosting its ninth iteration of the Cyber Storm (CS IX) Cyber Exercise. It’s the nation’s largest cyber exercise designed to improve the cybersecurity posture of our nation’s critical infrastructure. Through extensive planning, this exercise strengthened cybersecurity preparedness and response capabilities through exercising policies, processes, and procedures for identifying and responding to a multi-sector significant cyber incident impacting critical infrastructure.   CS IX Cyber Exercise generates lessons learned from previous exercises and real-world incidents and presented participants with a challenging scenario to evaluate their incident response capabilities. CISA is hosting more than 2,000 players from all levels of government, the private sector, and international partners. Participants are using this unique opportunity to work together in their response to a simulated national-level cyber incident, improving coordination mechanisms and relationships.  CISA will publish a blog with additional details and results from this Cyber Storm after the event.

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  • April 23, 2024 3:43 PM | Anonymous

    Reposted from CISA/DHS

    The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in partnership with National Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and international partners, released a Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI) today, “Deploying Artificial intelligence (AI) Systems Securely: Best Practices for Deploying Secure and Resilient AI Systems.”   This guide provides best practices to secure the deployment environment, validate and protect the AI system, and secure AI operation and maintenance The three goals of this joint guide are:  

    1.     Improve the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of AI systems;  

    2.     Assure that known cybersecurity vulnerabilities in AI systems are appropriately mitigated; and 

    3.     Provide methodologies and controls to protect, detect and respond to malicious activity against AI systems and related data and services. 

    The CSI is intended to support organizations that will be deploying and operating AI systems designed and developed by an external entity. It builds upon the previously released joint Guidelines for Secure AI System Development and Engaging with Artificial Intelligence.

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