Supporting Membership is for institutions wishing to join the Collaborative Storage Scheme or to get a range of Member benefits. Supporting Membership provides:
- Free access to basic telephone and email advice on conservation issues;
- Eligibility for discounted conservation and digitisation work undertaken by our team of conservators;
- Eligibility for entry to the NCS Collaborative Storage Scheme and Cold Storage Scheme;
- Entry to our Free Environmental Monitoring scheme;
- Bespoke, password secured access to our Members Area of this website;
- Free access to our growing library of published conservation standards, resources and template tools;
- Periodic news bulletins updating you on our activities and information.
Introductory Membership is intended solely for those insitutions planning to send collections for storage under NCS monitored stores such as Upper Heyford. This one day membership will pay for the costs of a 'due diligence' visit by an Accredited Conservator to the site where the collections are held before uplift to the stores, to check for mould, pests, damp and excessive dirt or other contaminents. The visit can also include advice from the Conservator on packaging and if necessary decontamination or other conservation methods. After the first year of storage, the membership level can reduce to Supporting level, the minimum for contonued eligibility for NCS monitored storage, or the membership can be upgraded to Full level if desired.
Subscription BAND 1
Band 1 is the most affordable Full Membership level. In addition to the services indicated below, you will have Members' Area access, be eligible to join our Storage Schemes at Upper Heyford, to participate in our Free Environmental Monitoring Scheme, discounts on rental of monitoring equipment and on conservation studio project rates. Under this Band you can choose between 2, 3 or 4 days p.a. for site visits with your Associate Expert, logged as half or whole days, or remote online meetings logged as quarter day increments.
In addition, the following are the kinds of support members receive under Band 1, or you can mix and match with others listed under Bands 2 and 3:
| i. |
any of the following within the annual time available under the membership level chosen:
- basic preservation priority evaluation based on use/nature of collection;
- basic environmental survey;
- advice and guidance for staff in care, handling, benchmarking, survey etc;
- outline for development of a collection project or disaster plan;
- advice and support with a funding application for a project;
- follow-up reports for any of the above as necessary.
|
| ii. |
One free conservation condition assessment report in the studio for a significant item including photography/microscopy as necessary and specification for works; |
| iii. |
At least 4 additional remote hours p.a. telephone and email support for technical advice and support. |
| |
|
Alternatively, at the same Band price option you can choose defined conservation treatment, monitoring or digitisation works to the same level rawing on subscription days. The non-profit membership company retains up to 15% of Full membership subscriptions to pay for auditing, financial administration, membership secretary support and the members' area and a community travel pot so further flung membes are not disadvantaged. If additional services or purchases are selected for expenditure of unused membership days, the sum we can use on your behalf is currently £250 per day equivalent for days bought before 2025 and £295 per day in subsequent years.
Subscription BAND 2
Band 2 provides amore days p.a. for higher level of advisory support at an affordable price. In addition to the typical services indicated below, you will have Members' Area access, and be eligible to join our Storage Schemes at Upper Heyford, to participate in our Free Environmental Monitoring Scheme, or add further monitoring, and discounted studio project rates.
Under this Band you can choose between 5, 6 and 7 full days on site with your Associate Conservator or Expert, logged as half or whole days. You can also schedule online meetings with your Associate, recorded by quarters (2, 4, 6 or 8 hours) by agreement, to be drawn from your membership days.
In addition, the following are the kinds of support members typically seek under Band 2, or you can mix and match with others listed under Bands 1 and 3:
| i. |
any of the following within the annual time available under the membership level chosen:
- conservation priority evaluation based on use/nature of collection;
- a wide ranging standards compliance survey;
- advice and guidance for staff in care, handling, benchmarking, survey etc;
- outline for development of a collection project or disaster plan;
- advice and support with a funding application for a project;
- a sample survey using up to 50 items/boxes in a suitable collection;
- design of an environmental monitoring regime and installation of data loggers and periodic downloads;
- a detailed collection project plan with financial estimates;
- conservation plan or similar structured input to a funding application;
- follow-up reports for any of the above as necessary.
|
| ii. |
Two detailed conservation condition reports for items including photography/microscopy as necessary and specification for works; |
| iii. |
Up to 8 additional remote hours p.a. telephone and email support for technical advice and assistance. |
| |
|
Alternatively, at the same Band price option you can choose defined conservation treatment, monitoring or digitisation works to the same level rawing on subscription days. The non-profit membership company retains up to 15% of Full membership subscriptions to pay for auditing, financial administration, membership secretary support and the members' area and a community travel pot so further flung membes are not disadvantaged. If additional services or purchases are selected for expenditure of unused membership days, the sum we can use on your behalf is currently £250 per day equivalent for days bought before 2025 and £295 per day in subsequent years.
Subscription BAND 3
Band 3 provides amore days p.a. for more in depth advisory support at an affordable price. In addition to the typical services indicated below, you will have Members' Area access, and be eligible to join our Storage Schemes at Upper Heyford, to participate in our Free Environmental Monitoring Scheme, or add further monitoring, and discounted studio project rates.
Under this Band you can choose between 8, 9 and 10 full days on site with your Associate Conservator or Expert, logged as half or whole days. You can also schedule online meetings with your Associate, recorded by quarters (2, 4, 6 or 8 hours) by agreement, to be drawn from your membership days.
In addition, the following are the kinds of support members typically seek under Band 2, or you can mix and match with others listed under Bands 1 and 2. The support can be tailored to suit your needs in discussion with your appointed Associate, within the range of services provided under i – iii below:
| i. |
Any of the following or similar by agreement up to the time available in the annual contract:
- conservation priority evaluation based on use/nature of collection;
- institutional conservation policy and strategy, including benchmarking and action plans;
- detailed environmental survey for collection spaces and other building areas affecting them;
- advice and training for staff in care, handling, benchmarking, surveys etc;
- planning and development of a large scale collection conservation project;
- in depth planning support for a project funding application;
- planned statistical sample survey up to 400 items and preservation plan based on agreed survey criteria;
- basic bespoke disaster plan to a template and annual updates thereafter;
- conservation standard specification for improvement works to archive spaces and appropriate liaison during works;
- minimal remedial treatment in situ (if space allows), to facilitate reader access to an otherwise inaccessible item or items;
- follow-up reports for any of the above as necessary.
|
| ii. |
Three free detailed conservation condition reports for individual items plus tendering for contractor if appropriate, or one large scale conservation treatment assessment and plan for a whole collection and specification etc as above (or agreed combination of smaller collection and individual items); |
| iii. |
Up to 12 hours p.a. additional remote hours p.a. telephone and email support for technical advice and assistance. |
| |
|
Alternatively, at the same Band price option you can choose defined conservation treatment, monitoring or digitisation works to the same level rawing on subscription days. The non-profit membership company retains up to 15% of Full membership subscriptions to pay for auditing, financial administration, membership secretary support and the members' area and a community travel pot so further flung membes are not disadvantaged. If additional services or purchases are selected for expenditure of unused membership days, the sum we can use on your behalf is currently £250 per day equivalent for days bought before 2025 and £295 per day in subsequent years.
