of work areas and objects, and general cleaning of work areas. Spaces and objects should be monitored and inspected regularly to ensure that any problem is caught and resolved quickly or note any condition change. The regularity of dusting and cleaning will differ institution to institution, and will depend upon factors like foot-traffic, how well the space is sealed off from the outside, how long it takes for dust to build up, and the museum's housekeeping plan. As a general rule, work areas should be cleaned frequently, storage areas and furniture less so, and objects dusted occasionally and only after consulting a conservator. Inside work areas, floors should be swept or vacuumed and work surfaces should be cleared off and dusted. Storage areas likely need less frequent attention, but should still have the floors cleaned and exposed surfaces of storage furniture like shelves wiped down. Objects themselves may sometimes need dusting if they are not boxed or wrapped up. Prior to dusting an object, the condition and stability needs to be considered, and a conservator should be consulted before any attempt is made. Research should also be done into how best to clean a particular type of medium or object. Documentation Each institution develops a housekeeping plan individually designed for the spaces that house collections, including gallery spaces, storage areas, work and reference spaces, and curatorial offices. The housekeeping plan should be written by a curator or conservator who has expertise in the preventive care of museum objects. This plan should include a schedule of treatments, both routine and specialized, with consideration for how often tasks need to be completed. The equipment, materials, and techniques for each housekeeping task, along with who would be responsible for each task, will also be specified in the plan. A housekeeping log should be utilized to keep track of tasks that need to be accomplished and the ones that have already been completed. Changes in the status of the collection and a pest log can also be integrated to support existing documentation. A housekeeping log should at the minimum include: task, date, notes, and staff member name. Housekeeping Schedule Housekeeping Supplies Housekeeping Procedures Object handling Every time an object is handled, it is at risk for damage. Although high standards for general housing and for packing help eliminate direct handling and decrease chances of damage due to contact, some routine activities such as cataloging