Leveraging Preservation Funding to Enhance a Museum’s Reach

• Shelburne, Vermont• Founded 1947• Electra Havermeyer

Webb• 45 Acres• 39 Buildings/25 Historic• 150,000 Works • Folk Art• Fine Art• Furniture• Textiles• Firearms

Current Infrastructure

• Copper• Over 50 years old• Inflexible• Easily damaged• Attractive to

lightening/rodents

• No Internet/network access

• No remote access to systems

• Outdated technology• No room for growth

Rick Kerschner, Director of Preservation and Conservation, was acutely aware of the limitations of the old infrastructure. Rick saw the Save America’s Treasures Grant offered by the National Parks Service/National Trust for Historic Preservation, as a source of funding to replace this infrastructure. The idea started with him and grew to include input from most departments at Shelburne Museum. This clip was released in late 2009 when we were awarded the grant. (Click on picture for video)

Fiber Optic Network

• Ability to upgrade Environmental/Security Systems– Quicker notification of events– More information – Remote access– Work efficiently

• Flexibility/Growth Potential– Change office/equipment locations– Add equipment

• Web Access on Museum Grounds• VoIP Phone System

Obvious Benefits as seen by Rick Kerschner

Fiber Optic Network• Ability to upgrade Environmental &

Security Systems- Quicker notification of events- More information - Remote Access

• Flexibility/Growth Potential- Change office/equipment locations- Improve network with backup sites- Easily incorporate new buildings

• VoIP Phone System- Remove limits of digital phone

system- Easily add more users

• Web Access on Museum Grounds– Interactive exhibits– Enhance school programs– Webcasts of speakers/special

events– Visitor access– Quicker update to CM records– Seamless communications between

Admissions , Membership and Finance

• Maintenance/Financial– As-Builts of buildings for future

work– Less damage due to

storms/construction– Easier to maintain means less cost

Benefits /potential seen by all staff

Major Collaborators

9 Departments/Staff• Rick Kerschner (Preservation &

Conservation/Project Director)• Rick Peters (Protection Services)• Rick Schneider (Project Manager)• Chip Stulen (Director of

Buildings)• Narda Carlson (Technology) • Education • Finance • Development• Collections/Curatorial

11+ Field Experts• Gould Associates (Engineer)• Vermont Underground Locaters

(Utility locators) • Integrity (Cabling Installation)• Tech Group (IT Consultants)• Menard & Sons (Conduit/Boring)• Several Security , Environmental

Control, & Telecommunications Companies

Evolution of a Plan

The more people collaborated, the more change occurred. It affected design – what was the layout for the network, Should it be a ring or have spokes? What are the needs of applications on this network? Redundancy vs. latency? Power outages,? How many strands? Where should the hubs be? How to protect equipment in unheated buildings? What building need a higher level of security/cameras/protection? What if we build a new gallery? Where ISN’T access needed? What are the costs of all these considerations? The more we collaborated, the more the plan for the network changed.

Lessons Learned

• Collaboration takes time• Leader/Coordinator• Open to input/change• Requires focus on goal• Meetings, meetings and more meetings• Communication: constant and open

Cons to Collaboration

• Takes Time• Conflicting Information• Unrealistic Expectations• Can’t Do it All• Lose Focus• Meetings, meetings, meetings

Benefits of Collaboration

• Stronger plan• Checks & Balances• Better research• Buy-In• Better planning in current purchases• AND….

Center for Art & Education

It is enabling Shelburne Museum to build the Center for Art and Education. The 16,000-square-foot center will include galleries, an auditorium and classroom space and will accommodate a year-round calendar of exhibitions and programs for youth and adult audiences. With the current network, the resources would not be available to provide phone, security, or any connectivity in this building. With the FO network, the building will be outfitted in a state of the art manner allowing Shelburne Museum to go from a seasonal operation to year-round increasing our audience and moving Shelburne Museum into the future.