A museum expert is working with the Watkins Community Museum of History to assess its operation and develop a long-range plan.

Jean Svadlenak, of Kansas City, Mo., was hired as a consultant several weeks ago to determine how the museum can improve and determine what the community wants it to be. She also is a former adjunct faculty member at Kansas University.

“I don’t think anyone has ever sat down and taken a serious look at the ongoing operation of the museum,” said Phyllis Tiffany, chairwoman of the Douglas County Historical Society’s Board of Directors, which oversees the museum.

Svadlenak was hired several weeks ago by Destination Management Inc., a separate entity that oversees the management activities at the museum, 1047 Mass. The project is expected to take several months, Tiffany said. DMI is drawing on an $18,000 grant Douglas County commissioners gave earlier this year for museum management issues.

“We are simply developing a structure to get as much input from the experts, (historical society) membership and the community in what they would like to see the museum become,” Tiffany said.

Svadlenak will do her work in three phases. The first phase, which is under way, is developing a museum profile and assessment, which looks at the museum’s history, Tiffany said. Preparing a strategic plan and implementing it are the next two phases, she said.

Svadlenak helps organizations develop and implement projects, write collections management policies and plan exhibits. She has worked with museums in the Kansas City area that include Shawnee Town and the Lee Jeans Corporate Archive & Museum in Merriam.

The board has put its search for a new museum director on hold during the project. Former Lawrence city manager Mike Wildgen was hired in March as part-time director.

“I’m pretty optimistic about things improving,” Tiffany said. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”