This part of the inspection takes place every few years and is carried out by Supervisory Committee of the Board of Trustees. It is implemented by accredited collections submitting collection monitoring forms, receiving an evaluation report from the monitoring committee, and finally with an on-site visit by the monitoring committee. The second part of the monitoring was developed in collaboration with National Museum of Iceland, a principal repository for cultural heritage.
Here you can see the collections' monitoring forms, but they are in two parts, in addition to a photo form:
- Collections Monitoring Form, Part 1 – Storage Facilities
- Collection Inspection Form, Part 2 – Exhibition Space
- Collection Inventory Form, Photograph Form
Other documents that a collection must submit:
- Confirmation of the effectiveness of security systems
- Results of measurements of humidity, temperature, and light intensity.
- Drawings of the building
The items that will be specifically inspected during the inspection are as follows:
- Which collection will follow the terms of the board of trustees regarding
- housing
- security issues
- security system
- preservation (condition of storage and exhibition facilities, arrangement in storage areas and on display)
About results and follow-up:
- The Audit Committee will submit the audit findings to the museum within 4 months of the deadline for submitting reports.
- The collection committee's findings will be accompanied by recommendations for improvements, if deemed necessary.
- The collection has 12 months to correct deficiencies that, in the opinion of the regulator, are not costly.
- More extensive improvements will be given 2 years or 5 years to remedy.
- The Collection Council reserves the right to decide on an alternative timeframe for remediation if necessary.
Inspector's visit
At least two years after notification of an inspection, the museum council sends an inspector to the museum to assess the success of the improvements and to conduct a further investigation of the conditions if necessary. Following that visit, the museum receives notification that it has passed the monitoring visit if the museum board and the monitor deem it so. If further improvements are needed, the next steps are evaluated by the Museum Council. If the outcome of the monitoring visit is that a museum has not formally completed Part 2 of the monitoring, further improvements are required, which consist of three parts:
- Some items that need improvement – The monitor assesses that several items require corrective action. The Collection Council follows up on the items requiring corrective action within a specified timeframe. The collection informs the Collection Council that the corrective actions are complete within 12 months.
- Many issues that need to be improved – The inspector determines that multiple issues require corrective action. The Board of Trustees follows up on these issues within a specified timeframe. The museum informs the Board of Trustees of a plan for corrective action within 12 months.
- Serious concerns. Does not meet the museum board's criteria for accredited museums. – Extensive issues require remediation, and it must be reviewed whether the museum meets the Museum Council's requirements for accreditation in accordance with Article 10 of the Museum Act No. 141/2011. The museum shall, within 6 months, inform the Museum Council of a plan for corrective action, which must be approved by the Museum Council. The museum is under the special supervision of the Museum Council.
The terms of reference for the Council of Recognized Museums can be found. here and in Handbook on the preservation of museum collections
Supervisory Group of the Board of Trustees
The Museum Board's Oversight Group consists of curators with extensive experience. Typically, 4-5 curators serve on the oversight committee. The following curators are currently serving:
- Ingibjörg Áskelsdóttir
- Karen Thora Sigurkarlsdottir
- Kristín Gísladóttir
- Thordis Baldursdottir
On behalf of the National Museum of Iceland, Nathalie Jaqueminet was primarily involved in development and consulting.