Thursday, May 7, 2015

"Safeguarding Cultural Properties" by Stevan Layne

Safeguarding Cultural Properties. by Stevan Layne

"Safeguarding Cultural Properties" by Stevan P. Layne
Elsevier Inc. Publishers, 2014
Review by Travis Simpkins, CIPS

     As the founding director of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection (IFCPP), Stevan Layne CPP, CIPM, CIPI is a recognized authority on Cultural Property Protection, security procedures and training officers tasked with guarding valuable museum collections. Mr. Layne has furthered his contributions to the field with the publication of his definitive textbook, Safeguarding Cultural Properties: Security for Museums, Libraries, Parks and Zoos. Designed to accommodate for limited budgets and Institutions of varying size, the book provides a helpful and adaptive overview of the policies and procedures that need to be in place in order to ensure the safety of visitors and staff, as well as the protection of valuable assets in cultural institutions.
     The covered topics include: Emergency Preparedness, Security Officer Code of Conduct, Personnel Security, Legal Rights and Restrictions, Physical Security, Fire Protection, Customer Service and Visitor Relations, Emergency Evacuations, Theft Prevention, Documentation, Protecting Valuable Collections, Protecting Rare Book Collections, Unruly Patrons and Conflict Resolution, Use of Force, Workplace Violence Prevention, Retail Theft Prevention and Apprehension and Special Events Protection. The chapters are written in a straightforward manner, are well-documented (with source information from ASIS, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security) and provide many relatable asides and anecdotes from Stevan Layne's own career experiences in law enforcement, consulting and private security.
     Safeguarding Cultural Properties is required reading for most of the national professional certification programs offered by the IFCPP: including the CIPS, CISS, CIPM and CIPI designations. However, the book would also provide a useful guide for non-security museum staff in understanding the structure & role of Security Departments and the duties of Security Officers in cultural institutions.


International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection IFCPP

Stevan Layne

The Cultural Property Protection Manual. by Stevan Layne


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and

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Portrait of Charles Hill, Scotland Yard Art Detective. by Travis Simpkins

Charles Hill, Scotland Yard Art Detective, 2014. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Charles Hill
former Art Detective at Scotland Yard
by Travis Simpkins



Charles Hill: "How I recovered The Scream"


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Charles Hill. by Travis Simpkins. Recovered Johannes Vermeer Painting

Portrait of Dr. Mark Koltko-Rivera, Author of "Freemasonry: An Introduction". by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Mark Koltko-Rivera, 2015. by Travis Simpkins


Portrait Sketch of
Mark Koltko-Rivera, Ph.D.
32nd Degree Scottish Rite Freemason 
Masonic Knight Templar
Author, Educator and Psychologist
by Travis Simpkins



Dr. Mark Koltko-Rivera: 
Masonic Initiation Rituals and Mormon Temple Ceremonies


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and


Mark Koltko-Rivera. by Travis Simpkins. Freemasonry: An Introduction