2423 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, BC V8L 1X5

(250) 655-6355 • info@sidneymuseum.ca

MUSEUM ASSISTANT’S ACTIVITY REPORT (13th May - 19th June)

Submitted to Michael Goodchild June 19th, 2023

By
Orion Denroche
Museum Assistant & 2023 Summer Student

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreword
Hia Michael! Welcome back! I figured you might want to have something to reference to see
what I’ve been up to while you were away, so I’ve compiled it all here. I’m sure I’ll also tell you in
person about a lot of the stuff but this is more to make sure I don’t forget anything :). Also I have
a day-by-day activity log, so if you ever want that for record keeping just let me know! I keep it
as a word doc on my computer since I update it constantly and use it as a memory aid 😀.
Anyway, no pressure to read this right away I’m sure you got lots of emails to read! (good luck
with that by the way)

CatalogIt Standardization Work

(This is the longest paragraph, sorry) Since you’ve been gone I’ve finished up the standard
procedures manual for CatalogIt (it’s got pictures and examples and everything!), although there
will still be a few points I want clarity on, and I’ve highlighted them in neon green (of course I
also want to go over the whole thing at the next collections management meeting but I'll save
that for later haha). I’ve also created a set of standard images for entries which are duplicates or
have been fully deaccessioned so that at a glance while scrolling people can tell what we
actually have available for new displays, and put these in a folder with the onboarding doc under
the “curatorial” -> “2023 CatalogIt standardization” folder for volunteers to have easy access to.
Link: (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10o1jo0QHXVLVOtyEADA0YiPVhP9S-5jR) I also
added the deaccessioned image as the primary image on many of our deaccessioned items
(any containing the phrases “removed from collection, disposed of, approved by”), and
confirmed any ambiguous entries with the physical records. I’ve also switched our location data
from static (each location is a unique place in the museum) to hierarchical (hierarchical meaning
that alpha is it’s own location, and within alpha are all 20 areas, and within each area is each
shelf, and within each shelf is every box/item, and every boxed item is within the box, and the
database knows and remembers this) and onboarded the volunteers to the new system Luckily
the location data we’re using couldn't have been better suited to it and works perfectly (this has
also led to a suggestion for a new way to label boxes, but I can give you mark’s document on
that before the next collections meeting). I’ve also started using the “collections” feature of
catalogit as a convenient way to organize the database into categories and other useful
collections. ALso I Located all entries which were erroneously updated from XXXX. .XXX to
XXXX.000.XXX by both myself and others, and corrected them physically and digitally and
updated the standards manual. Finally I standardized the place names (one Sidney B.C. instead
of 4 variations therein) and some other option menu bloat that had clearly happened by accident
as well as trimming old locations which didn't exist anymore and had no entries referencing
them. In addition to this I’ve started creating a new location system for the permanent display
areas and adding the artifacts on display to those new locations, as they were previously falsely
listed as missing or still in storage.

General Organizational Work

The storage lockers have all been organized, though I’m still working on getting rid of the stuff
you O.K.’d for getting rid of as we think we might be able to use some of it after all. All of the
tools from Foxtrot and the MPR have all been consolidated and organized into boxes on one
shelving unit in the MPR, along with all the cables and IT supplies. The computer monitors have
been moved to foxtrot for safekeeping during renos and much of the office supplies,
construction materials, and other non-artifact bits and bobs have been removed from foxtrot &
the mpr to more permanent organized homes. The furniture in the MPR has been moved about
to better locations, and the hallway between Alpha & foxtrot has been fully cleaned out. After I
write this I’m going to start working on a final inventory of the storage lockers, as I think I’ve
finally cleared out most of the junk piles around the museum and sorted them into more
permanent homes. Also the back of the office door has a working inventory of each of the
lockers.

Collections Management Work

Since you’ve left I’ve processed 23 new accessions, and processed 22 board approved
deaccessions. I’ve also Updated & cataloged all of indigenous collection with new tags, pictures,
searchable information, and sorted them into categories both digitally and physically (minus 6
boxes of archaeological objects i found in foxtrot and wanted to ask you about). In addition I’ve
also rearranged some of the shelves in alpha to better house the indigenous collection in 2
shelves rather than 3 (One item is still stored on a different shelf but it must remain there due
the depth of the shelf required).

Display Creation Work

In terms of Display creation/upkeep work, I’ve rearranged the tags in the kitchen display at
Charlotte's request (I need to talk to you about the shelf in the kitchen display - It’s dangerously
unstable). I’ve also gone around and re-affixed the numbers to the cases with stickier tape, as
around ⅔ of the number tags were only affixed with masking tape (I kept finding them on the
ground in the morning). I also created a new window display to fill the gap left by the removal of
the disney castle, as well as put into motion Charlotte’s vision for the “artifact of the month” case
in the front of the museum, with help and input from the front desk volunteers. Finally I also
created the Pride Month exhibit for the secondary exhibit display case.

Miscellaneous Work of Note

Created vector graphics (dot maps instead of pixel graphics) for high-resolution printing & pride
variant logos for the museum using my amazing graphic design skills. Set up the MPR for
Friday fiber friends meeting, board meeting, and several volunteer coffee mornings. Started
preliminary compiling of information for the waterfront signage project (I want to clarify the tone,
style, and subjects of the written position with you before I go any further). I pressure washed
the front entrance walls & floors, and also started on a style guide to help future employees (and
myself) with making signage and displays. And Finally, I started work on a Sencoten
pronunciation resource document with Jessica’s help.