Top Most Endangered Artifacts

This week, I stumbled across "Salem Museum nominates recently discovered documents as on of 'Virginia's Top 10 ,most Endangered Artifacts." The article describes a unique collection that is part of a campaign by the Virginia Association of Museums "to create awareness of the importance of preserving artifacts in care at museums, libraries and archives throughout the Commonwealth and in the District of Columbia."

People may choose their favorite nominated artifact on Vote for Virginia's Top Ten Endangered Artifacts 2014 or go to YouTube to see videos by museums promoting their collections up for nomination. A simple Google search of new on Virginia's Top Ten reveals a long list of institutions promoting their collections and their needs. This is a fabulous and simple idea that we can all model in our towns and states to help our materials and raise awareness about archives and other artifacts. Virginia provides a wonderful slideshow to explain the Top Ten program.

What endangered artifacts are in your collection?

Here are some good reasons to consider this type of event in your community:

• It raises awareness about cultural heritage institutions and their work
• It encourages donations for individual collections and institutions
• The program provides a way for museums to learn about each other
•  It provides a platform where institutions can work together for promotion (working together we are stronger)
• It establishes the Virginia Museum Association as a true leader in their Commonwealth, which assists with all the work they do
• It is a fun campaign that brings the work of museums to people without potential patrons needing to leave their homes [Outreach!]
• It is a fun campaign that has the potential to energize museum staff and raise pride in their institution
• It has the capacity to encourage future visitation to institutions
• It keeps museums in the public's mind as the event that takes place annually
• The program in Virginia is done statewide, but this event could also be done on a local level

What are some other advantages of this program that you can see? Can we make this an annual event beyond the Commonwealth of Virginia? Are there any other states doing similar projects?