The Operations Section is responsible for:

• a collection that was started in 1831;
  
• a collection of more than 120 000 cultural artifacts ranging from 18th to 20th century furniture, ceramics, furnishings, textiles, and other objects of social record;
  
• an archeology collection reflecting the earliest human occupation of the region including Paleo-indian (approx 11 000 BP);
  
• European and American settlement, including Acadian French;
  
• an ethnology collection dating from the 18th century that includes the largest collection of Mi'kmaq quillwork in the world. It also includes information about Afro-Canadian settlement;
  
• a collection of more than 165 buildings on their original sites dating from mid-1700s to the early 1900s including large and small homes, small workplaces and working mills representing a wide range of architectural styles;
  
• an evaluation and financial grants program for more than 50 community museums.

• creating and distributing information that helps museum visitors and users learn about and enjoy 23 museums through the use of heritage interpreters, printed information and other media;
• developing and co-ordinating exhibits for display at more than 14 sites in Nova Scotia and elsewhere;
• developing education kits for distribution through 15 locations in Nova Scotia;
• training in all aspects of museum interpretation.