1961-1962 - American Museum of Natural History

members of the museum profession for its clear and useful technical
articles as well as for its stimulating expressions of museum
philosophy.
PLANT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
Paul H. Grouleff, Plant Manager
Negotiations between the Museum and the American Federation
of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 1306,
which represents a majority of the non-supervisory personnel in
the Custodial Services division of the Museum culminated in the
mutual acceptance of a collective bargaining agreement, signed
on May 8, 1962. The agreement will remain effective until
June 30, 1963.
In an effort to utilize personnel more effectively, the employees
and duties previously assigned to the Protection division
were reassigned to the Custodial Services division. The total
number of custodial personnel, however, remains inadequate
for the needs of the Museum; at least twenty more attendants
are considered necessary.
The Architectural Planning section prepared sketches, plans,
specifications, and cost estimates for various projects throughout
the Museum, including the Hall of the Biology of Invertebrates
and the Hall of Ocean Life.
Continuing maintenance by the mechanical force involved
repair or replacement of some 200 locks and 400 windows,
extensive repairs to various roofs, complete repainting of 50
individual areas, and replacement of more than 40,000 incandescent
and fluorescent lights.
Among the capital program projects carried out with funds
supplied by New York City and completed during the year were
the adaptation of the former quarters of the Library on the fifth
floor to serve as storage space for anthropology and mammalogy
collections, the installation of new fluorescent lighting in the
school cafeteria, and improvements of the Columbus Avenue
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