Presenters: Emily Houf and ​Doug Remley

Best practices for documenting and making sensitive collection content available is at the forefront of discussions on descriptive practice, open access, and cultural responsibility. With the launch of the Open Access Initiative in early 2020, NMAAHC began an endeavor to not only accurately define and identify sensitive objects in the collection, but also determine any applicable use restrictions for sharing content online and with the public. A collaborative team of curators and DigiTeam specialists worked to identify sensitive objects across the collection and develop workflows, documentation procedures, and usage guidelines for 1,458 objects falling within ten sensitive object categories as outlined in NMAAHC’s Collections Management Policy.