Museum Basics

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Section 1 Introduction to museums

Unit 1.1 About this handbook

Unit 1.2 About museums

Unit 1.3 Types of museums

Unit 1.4 Making the case for museums

Section 2 The museum and its responsibilities

Unit 2.1 Museums and sustainability

Unit 2.2 Museums and social justice

Unit 2.3 Museums and theory

Unit 2.4 Museums and ethics

Unit 2.5 Museums and decolonisation

Unit 2.6 The role of museums in climate justice

Unit 2.7 Museums and conflict

Section 3 The museum and its users

Unit 3.1 Museums are for people

Unit 3.2 Museums and their location

Unit 3.3 Understanding your market context

Unit 3.4 Museums and their communities

Unit 3.5 Equality, diversity and inclusion

Unit 3.6 Special audiences: museums and people with disabilities and special needs

Unit 3.7 Developing new audiences

Unit 3.8 Working with Friends' organisations and volunteer groups

Unit 3.9 Researchers as users

Unit 3.10 Marketing and promoting your museum

Unit 3.11 Public relations and the media

Section 4 The museum and its services

Unit 4.1 The museum visit

Unit 4.2 Museum websites

Unit 4.3 Information services

Unit 4.4 Facilities for visitors

Unit 4.5 Access and accessibility

Unit 4.6 Providing services: shops and sales points

Unit 4.7 Providing services: food and drink

Unit 4.8 Providing facilities for hire

Unit 4.9 Museum publications

Unit 4.10 Social media and museums

Section 5 Learning in the museum

Unit 5.1 Engagement and participation

Unit 5.2 Learning in museums

Unit 5.3 Learning inside the museum

Unit 5.4 Learning beyond the museum

Unit 5.5 Learning resources

Unit 5.6 Events and activities: creating programmes

Unit 5.7 Learning partnerships

Unit 5.8 Evaluating learning programmes

Section 6 Presenting and interpreting collections

Unit 6.1 Introducing interpretation

Unit 6.2 Planning new displays and exhibitions

Unit 6.3 Research for displays and exhibitions

Unit 6.4 Briefing a designer

Unit 6.5 Display and exhibition design and production

Unit 6.6 Writing text

Unit 6.7 Presentation techniques: graphics

Unit 6.8 Presentation techniques: three-dimensional

Unit 6.9 Presentation techniques: audio-visual

Unit 6.10 Presentation techniques: interactives

Unit 6.11 Presentation techniques: replicas and reconstructions

Unit 6.12 Presentation techniques: using people

Unit 6.13 Digital media

Unit 6.14 Museum lighting

Unit 6.15 Museum showcases

Unit 6.16 Evaluating displays and exhibitions

Unit 6.17 Maintaining displays and exhibitions

Section 7 Presenting and interpreting collections: collecting and collections development

Unit 7.1 Types of collections

Unit 7.2 Policies for collecting

Unit 7.3 Sensitive objects and human remains

Unit 7.4 Policies for disposal

Unit 7.5 Donations and purchases

Unit 7.6 Loans

Unit 7.7 Collecting and field documentation

Unit 7.8 Object research

Unit 7.9 Fieldwork and record centres

Unit 7.10 Photography, video and 3D imaging

Unit 7.11 Audio recording and oral history

Unit 7.12 The role of collections in research

Unit 7.13 Repatriation and ethical considerations

Unit 7.14 Museum archives and museum history

Section 8 Managing and caring for collections

Unit 8.1 Collections audits

Unit 8.2 Collections management plans

Unit 8.3 Documentation systems

Unit 8.4 Conservation plans

Unit 8.5 Preventive conservation: principles

Unit 8.6 Environmental monitoring and control: light

Unit 8.7 Environmental monitoring and control: humidity and temperature

Unit 8.8 Environmental monitoring and control: air pollution/pest and insect attack

Unit 8.9 Materials testing

Unit 8.10 Health hazards in collections

Unit 8.11 Collections storage: principles

Unit 8.12 Collections storage: practice

Unit 8.13 Handling, packing and moving collections

Unit 8.14 Remedial conservation: principles

Unit 8.15 Remedial conservation: practice

Unit 8.16 Disaster planning

Unit 8.17 Insurance

Unit 8.18 Collections security: physical and electronic

Unit 8.19 Collections security: systems and procedures

Unit 8.20 Copyright

Section 9 The museum and its buildings

Unit 9.1 Museums and their physical setting

Unit 9.2 Museum buildings: form and function

Unit 9.3 Options analysis and feasibility assessment

Unit 9.4 Working with architects

Unit 9.5 Museum buildings: planning for access

Unit 9.6 Orientation and signage

Unit 9.7 Atmosphere, pace and flow

Unit 9.8 Museum buildings: physical security

Unit 9.9 Museum buildings: sustainability

Unit 9.10 Museum buildings: management and maintenance

Unit 9.11 Moving the museum

Section 10 The museum and its governance and management

Unit 10.1 Legal status, governance and management structures

Unit 10.2 Working with others

Unit 10.3 Networking

Unit 10.4 Policy development and management planning

Unit 10.5 Developing a forward plan

Unit 10.6 Measuring performance in museums

Unit 10.7 Evaluating the museum's success

Unit 10.8 Project management

Unit 10.9 Financial management

Unit 10.10 Sources of income

Unit 10.11 Fundraising

Unit 10.12 Museum closure

Section 11 The museum and its staffing

Unit 11.1 Staff structures

Unit 11.2 Volunteers in museums

Unit 11.3 Recruiting museum staff

Unit 11.4 Conditions of service

Unit 11.5 Performance standards for the individual

Unit 11.6 Job appraisal and assessing performance

Unit 11.7 Staff training and professional development

Unit 11.8 Management of change

Unit 11.9 Internal communications

Unit 11.10 Using consultants and outsourcing

Unit 11.11 Health and safety

Unit 11.12 Administrative procedures

Unit 11.13 Information technology and the museum

Unit 11.14 Hybrid working

Section 12 Supporting resources

Unit 12.1 Sources of information and support

Unit 12.2 Resources for museums on the Internet

Glossary

Select bibliography

Index