Final Report to the Faculty Senate of the Task Force on Museums and Performing Arts Gus Kousoulas, Laura Lindsay, Ravi Rau, Judith Schiebout submitted May 3, 2011 Museums: Rural Life Museum Shaw Center Museum of Art science museums, collections of natural history Faculty Senate Meeting, October 3, 2011

Collection of Amphibians and Reptiles Louisiana Arthropod Museum Collection of Birds Ethnology-Archaeology Collection Collection of Fishes Mineralogy and Petrology Collection of Genetic Resources Collection of Fossil Invertebrates Lichen Herbarium Log Library and Core Repository Mycological Herbarium Micropaleontolgy Center for Excellence in Palynology Collection of Fossil Protists Textile and Costume Museum Vascular Plant Herbarium Collection of Mammals Vertebrate Paleontology Collection Valuable resources for teaching, research and study 1999 Gov. Foster, House Bill 826

Building Program and Site Selection The Campus Perspective

Louisiana Museum of Natural History Existing Facility Mineralogy and Petrology Collections in the Department of Geology Palynology Collection Louisiana State Arthropod Museum Louisiana Geological Survey Log Library and Core Repository

Louisiana Museum of Natural History Existing Facility Locations Foster Hall Howe- Russell Life Sciences Log Library and Core Repository Human Ecology Gym Armory (Cox Communications Center) LSU Museum of Natural Science Space Holdings by Category Laboratory17,819 nasf Office 5,527 nasf Study 176 nasf General Use 5,829 nasf Support 5,339 nasf Total34,690 nasf

“From the standpoint of a university/state museum, the collections at LSU are superb.”

“The collections contain unique specimens/ objects that would be iconic that would excite the public to visit…: spectacular minerals, diverse items from many cultures, textile materials, and a variety of specimens that are currently not exhibited but that would be the envy of many major museums.” “Many, if not most, specimens and objects are irreplaceable their value measured in the tens of millions of dollars if they were on the market. The value to Louisiana is incalculable.”

“At LSU, the frozen tissue collection provides another excellent example …. The tissue collection is impacting research throughout the world and is clearly one of the most important such collections on the planet.”

Findings : 1 vital that they be preserved in perpetuity on the main campus for research even when extended to displays and traveling exhibits that benefit broader community and state. 2 other uses of the collections, e.g. public outreach and school groups, …. an accredited museum that also has a public face will require substantial additional space, staff and funds ….

3 a few collections in good shape, many others need urgent attention to protect collections. 4 a central museum that is accredited by the American Association of Museums and housed in a single attractive, modern building on central campus would of course be an important addition to LSU, add to its standing as an asset to the state and its people.

5 any such project will require a senior administrator such as a Vice-Provost or Vice-Chancellor. 6 no forum for the various curators of the Museum of Natural History to get together in regular meetings, no unified platform.

7 LSU's current policies on fund-raising are unduly restrictive, tying the hands of individual curators. 8 Outreach programs and traveling exhibits valuable. 9Models: in Oklahoma and Florida

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Louisiana Museum of Natural History Preliminary Cost Estimate – Generic Site

Louisiana Museum of Natural History Site Considerations Compliance with 2003 Campus Master Plan Easy access and identification by 1 st time visitors Proximity and easy access to campus core Access to parking facilities Site C Site B Site A

Recommendations: 1University should assign responsibility at the vice chancellor level for development and oversight of policies … VC-Research? 2he/she have an advisory group consisting of curators, faculty, … 3An experienced museum registrar who is knowledgeable about collections valuable.

4Increased and coordinated marketing of programs, exhibitions, and traveling exhibits. 5 Increase security and accreditable level of care. 6Create centralized inventory of collections.

7Establish policies and procedures for ownership, documentation and maintenance of objects. 8 Streamline application and approval of grants. 9 Obtain priority fundraising status and flexible policies for units that must self- generate support.

10 Encourage public supporters to help in fundraising, donating time, etc. 11 Seek accreditation of the Louisiana Museum of Natural History. 12 Plan, raise funds, and move towards a new building to house the above collections, still located centrally on campus but with modern facilities and safeguards.