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Definition
A registrar is in charge of caring for specific aspects of a museum collection. Some of the registrar's roles might include keeping documentation for the objects in the collection, facilitating storage arrangements for objects, processing objects (accessions, deaccessions, loans), and coming up with policies and procedures for the handling and storage of objects.

Processing Objects
Objects coming into the museum are considered potential acquisitions. An acquisition is an object that has potential to become part of a museum's permanent collection. During the acquisition phase, objects are evaluated for their value to the collection and researched for provenance. Should an object be determined to meet the requirements for the museum collection it will be accessioned into the collection (become a permanent item in the collection). When an object is accessioned, the registrar assigns it an accession number. The accession number will be marked on the object and is specific to it. The number allows for the object to be documented and tracked through all of its movements.

Occasionally, a museum will find an object in its collection that no longer meets the scope of the museum's mission or that is damaged beyond repair. In these cases, the object may need to be deaccessioned or permanently removed from the collection. During this process it is important for the registrar and curator to work with the board to explain in detail why the object is no longer relevant to the collection. During the deaccession process the registrar is responsible for recording all actions taken towards the outcome of the object.

Museums commonly make loans of objects to one another. In the case of incoming loans, the registrar is responsible for understanding or providing terms of insurance, packing and shipping arrangements, tracking the objects, unpacking the object, inventorying the object and creating a temporary accession number, providing assistance during installation, and communicating with the sending institution through the entire process. If the loan is leaving the registrar's museum for another location the registrar must, document the condition of the object, arrange for shipping, determine the object's insurance, and stay abreast of all movements of the object from one location to another.

Object Storage
Object storage is one of the most important roles of the registrar. The way an object is stored will help ensure the longevity of the life of the object. Ensuring the longevity of an object through proper care and storage is often referred to as preventive conservation. The registrar ensures that all objects in a museum's collection is properly cared for by following the basic tenets of preventive conservation. The registrar uses general guidelines for light, climate, relative humidity (RH), and theft control to keep the collection safe.

In general, an object should receive as little light as possible. Light causes the most damage to objects and will accelerate deterioration if left unchecked. Guidelines on how much light an object can receive in a given year have been established based on the object's composition. . It is the duty of the registrar to ensure that the object stays within the recommended guidelines of light exposure so as not to increase deterioration.

The temperature of the storage environment will vary on an object's material. Most objects will be prolonged in a temperature of 70°F +/- 2° Some objects, like furs and taxidermy, need to be kept at colder temperatures to reduce the chances of deterioration and embrittlement. Registrars will monitor temperature for objects in storage. Any variations are recorded. If a storage area undergoes an extreme fluctuation in temperature, it is the responsibility of the registrar to inform the proper channels to fix the problem.

Registrars must also monitor relative humidity. The type of material the object is made out of will determine the appropriate RH for that object. In most cases a RH of 40-60% works well. A high RH will encourage mold growth. A low RH will result in dehydration.

Pest control is an important aspect of prolonging an object's life. Pests range from insects to small rodents, and birds. A registrar should create an integrated pest management (IPM) plan to mitigate pest control issues. Consultation with a conservator will ensure that the method that is the least invasive and destructive is chosen should a pest problem occur.

Collections Management Policy
A registrar is often in charge of creating the collections management policy (CMP). This policy will form the backbone for how the collection is cared for. Important things for the CMP to cover are the following:
 * Personnel Functions
 * Collection Acquisition and Deaccession
 * Collections Care
 * Policy Review