Museum Basics
The International Handbook
4th Edition
Published on 20. March 2018
Book
Hardback
508 pages
978-1-138-29248-2 (ISBN)
Description
This fourth edition of Museum Basics has been produced for use in the many museums worldwide that operate with few professional staff and limited resources. The fourth edition has been fully updated to reflect the many changes that have taken place in museums around the world over the last six years.
Drawing from a wide range of practical experience, the authors provide a basic guide to all aspects of museum work, from audience development and learning, through collections management and conservation, to museum management and forward planning. Museum Basics is organised on a modular basis, with over 100 units in eight sections. It can be used both as a reference work to assist day-to-day museum management, and as the key textbook for pre-service and in-service museum training programmes, where it can be supplemented by case studies, project work and group discussion. This edition includes over 100 diagrams to support the text, as well as a glossary, sources of information and support and a select bibliography. Museum Basics is also supported by its own companion website, which provides a wide range of additional resources for readers.
Museum Basics aims to help the museum practitioner keep up to date with new thinking about the function of museums and their relationships with the communities they serve. The training materials provided within the book are also suitable for pre-service and in-service students who wish to gain a full understanding of work in a museum.
Drawing from a wide range of practical experience, the authors provide a basic guide to all aspects of museum work, from audience development and learning, through collections management and conservation, to museum management and forward planning. Museum Basics is organised on a modular basis, with over 100 units in eight sections. It can be used both as a reference work to assist day-to-day museum management, and as the key textbook for pre-service and in-service museum training programmes, where it can be supplemented by case studies, project work and group discussion. This edition includes over 100 diagrams to support the text, as well as a glossary, sources of information and support and a select bibliography. Museum Basics is also supported by its own companion website, which provides a wide range of additional resources for readers.
Museum Basics aims to help the museum practitioner keep up to date with new thinking about the function of museums and their relationships with the communities they serve. The training materials provided within the book are also suitable for pre-service and in-service students who wish to gain a full understanding of work in a museum.
Reviews / Votes
'A truly international hands-on guide tailored to museums of different sizes, collection focuses, audience bases, national contexts, and funding and management structures! In its step-by-step account and easy-to-read prose, Museum Basics has made the complex task of running museums in our ever-changing world more manageable for museum professionals.'Yunci Cai, University College London, UK
'Museum Basics is a clearly written and wonderfully practical book for staff at small and medium-sized museums who desire a highly professional approach to the day-to-day issues of museum practice and visitor experience.'
Ed Gyllenhaal, Gencairn Museum, US
'An easy to follow primer for operating a museum. Updated sections such as on new technologies or the impact of armed conflict consider important present challenges and the authors remain sensitive to the different conditions of museums across the globe.'
Jennifer Kingsley, John Hopkins University, US
'Museum Basics is an important and enduring resource for museum studies students and museum professionals. This fourth edition offers a comprehensive overview and guide to not only museological practice and policies, but also ongoing debates and discussions about what constitutes ethical and considered practices and engagements with the many and varied stakeholders and communities with whom museum professionals must work and engage.'
Laurajane Smith, The Australian National University, Australia
More details
Series
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
105 s/w Zeichnungen
105 Line drawings, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 174 mm
Weight
1338 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-138-29248-2 (9781138292482)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
07/2025
5th Edition
Routledge
€230.65
Shipment within 10-20 days
Additional editions
Book
03/2018
4th Edition
Routledge
€73.31
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition
Timothy Ambrose | Crispin Paine
Museum Basics
Book
04/2012
3rd Edition
Routledge
€156.24
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Timothy Ambrose is an international consultant working in the field of museums and cultural heritage. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Fellow of the Museums Association, and a Visiting Fellow at the Open University, UK. He has a particular interest in the role of museums in destination development and has published widely on museums and cultural heritage issues.
Crispin Paine
is a former curator and museum consultant, now an author and museum volunteer. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Fellow of the Museums Association. He has particular interests in local community museums and in the material culture of religion.
Crispin Paine
is a former curator and museum consultant, now an author and museum volunteer. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Fellow of the Museums Association. He has particular interests in local community museums and in the material culture of religion.
Content
List of figures
List of boxes
Acknowledgements
Foreword
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTORY
UNIT 1 ABOUT THIS BOOK
UNIT 2 ABOUT MUSEUMS
UNIT 3 TYPES OF MUSEUMS
UNIT 4 MAKING THE CASE FOR MUSEUMS
UNIT 5 MUSEUMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
UNIT 6 MUSEUMS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
UNIT 7 MUSEUMS AND THEORY
UNIT 8 MUSEUMS AND ETHICS
SECTION 2 THE MUSEUM AND ITS USERS
UNIT 9 MUSEUMS AND THEIR LOCATION
UNIT 10 MUSEUMS ARE FOR PEOPLE
UNIT 11 ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY
UNIT 12 UNDERSTANDING YOUR MARKET
UNIT 13 MARKETING YOUR MUSEUM
UNIT 14 DEVELOPING NEW AUDIENCES
UNIT 15 SPECIAL AUDIENCES: MUSEUMS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS
UNIT 16 THE MUSEUM VISIT
UNIT 17 LEARNING IN MUSEUMS
UNIT 18 LEARNING: INSIDE THE MUSEUM
UNIT 19 LEARNING: BEYOND THE MUSEUM
UNIT 20 EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES: CREATING PROGRAMMES
UNIT 21 FACILITIES FOR VISITORS
UNIT 22 PROVIDING SERVICES: SHOPS AND SALES POINTS
UNIT 23 PROVIDING SERVICES: FOOD AND DRINK
UNIT 24 PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR HIRE
UNIT 25 INFORMATION SERVICES
UNIT 26 PUBLICATIONS
UNIT 27 MUSEUM WEBSITES
UNIT 28 SOCIAL MEDIA AND MUSEUMS
UNIT 29 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE MEDIA
UNIT 30 WORKING WITH FRIENDS' AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS
UNIT 31 RESEARCHERS AS USERS
SECTION 3 PRESENTING AND INTERPRETING COLLECTIONS
UNIT 32 INTRODUCING INTERPRETATION
UNIT 33 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: GRAPHICS
UNIT 34 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: THREE-DIMENSIONAL
UNIT 35 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: AUDIO-VISUAL
UNIT 36 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: INTERACTIVES
UNIT 37 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: USING PEOPLE
UNIT 38 MUSEUM LIGHTING
UNIT 39 MUSEUM SHOWCASES
UNIT 40 PLANNING NEW DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITIONS
UNIT 41 RESEARCH FOR DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITIONS
UNIT 42 WRITING TEXT
UNIT 43 BRIEFING A DESIGNER
UNIT 44 DISPLAY AND EXHIBITION DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
UNIT 45 NEW MEDIA
UNIT 46 EVALUATING DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITIONS
SECTION 4 COLLECTING AND COLLECTIONS
UNIT 47 TYPES OF COLLECTIONS
UNIT 48 POLICIES FOR COLLECTING
UNIT 49 POLICIES FOR DISPOSAL
UNIT 50 DONATIONS, PURCHASES AND LOANS
UNIT 51 COLLECTING AND FIELD DOCUMENTATION
UNIT 52 OBJECT RESEARCH
UNIT 53 FIELDWORK AND RECORD CENTRES
UNIT 54 PHOTOGRAPHY, FILM AND VIDEO
UNIT 55 AUDIO-RECORDING AND ORAL HISTORY
UNIT 56 THE ROLE OF COLLECTIONS IN RESEARCH
UNIT 57 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND REPATRIATION
UNIT 58 MUSEUM ARCHIVES AND MUSEUM HISTORY
SECTION 5 MANAGING AND CARING FOR COLLECTIONS
UNIT 59 COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT PLANS
UNIT 60 COLLECTIONS AUDITS
UNIT 61 DOCUMENTATION SYSTEMS
UNIT 62 WORKING WITH CONSERVATORS AND CONSERVATION PLANS
UNIT 63 PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION: PRINCIPLES
UNIT 64 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND CONTROL: LIGHT
UNIT 65 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND CONTROL: HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE
UNIT 66 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND CONTROL: AIR POLLUTION/PEST AND INSECT ATTACK
UNIT 67 MATERIALS TESTING
UNIT 68 COLLECTIONS STORAGE: PRINCIPLES
UNIT 69 COLLECTIONS STORAGE: PRACTICE
UNIT 70 HANDLING, PACKING AND MOVING COLLECTIONS
UNIT 71 REMEDIAL CONSERVATION: PRINCIPLES
UNIT 72 REMEDIAL CONSERVATION: PRACTICE
UNIT 73 DISASTER PLANNING
UNIT 74 INSURANCE
UNIT 75 COLLECTIONS SECURITY: PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC
UNIT 76 COLLECTIONS SECURITY: SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES
UNIT 77 COPYRIGHT
SECTION 6 THE MUSEUM AND ITS BUILDINGS
UNIT 78 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: FORM AND FUNCTION
UNIT 79 MUSEUMS AND THEIR PHYSICAL SETTING
UNIT 80 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: PLANNING FOR ACCESS
UNIT 81 OPTIONS ANALYSIS AND FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT
UNIT 82 WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS
UNIT 83 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: PHYSICAL SECURITY
UNIT 84 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
UNIT 85 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: SUSTAINABILITY
UNIT 86 MOVING THE MUSEUM
UNIT 87 ORIENTATION AND SIGNAGE
UNIT 88 ATMOSPHERE, PACE AND FLOW
SECTION 7 THE MUSEUM AND ITS MANAGEMENT
UNIT 89 LEGAL STATUS, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES
UNIT 90 PARTNERSHIPS
UNIT 91 NETWORKING
UNIT 92 POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLANNING
UNIT 93 DEVELOPING A FORWARD PLAN
UNIT 94 MEASURING PERFORMANCE IN MUSEUMS
UNIT 95 EVALUATING THE MUSEUM'S SUCCESS
UNIT 96 PROJECT MANAGEMENT
UNIT 97 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
UNIT 98 NEW SOURCES OF INCOME
UNIT 99 FUND-RAISING
UNIT 100 MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE
UNIT 101 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
UNIT 102 STAFF STRUCTURES
UNIT 103 VOLUNTEERS IN MUSEUMS
UNIT 104 RECRUITING MUSEUM STAFF
UNIT 105 CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
UNIT 106 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
UNIT 107 JOB APPRAISAL AND ASSESSING PERFORMANCE
UNIT 108 STAFF TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
UNIT 109 USING CONSULTANTS AND OUTSOURCING
UNIT 110 HEALTH AND SAFETY
UNIT 111 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
UNIT 112 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE MUSEUM
SECTION 8 SUPPORTING RESOURCES
UNIT 113 SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
UNIT 114 RESOURCES FOR MUSEUMS ON THE INTERNET
Glossary
Select bibliography
Index
List of boxes
Acknowledgements
Foreword
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTORY
UNIT 1 ABOUT THIS BOOK
UNIT 2 ABOUT MUSEUMS
UNIT 3 TYPES OF MUSEUMS
UNIT 4 MAKING THE CASE FOR MUSEUMS
UNIT 5 MUSEUMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
UNIT 6 MUSEUMS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
UNIT 7 MUSEUMS AND THEORY
UNIT 8 MUSEUMS AND ETHICS
SECTION 2 THE MUSEUM AND ITS USERS
UNIT 9 MUSEUMS AND THEIR LOCATION
UNIT 10 MUSEUMS ARE FOR PEOPLE
UNIT 11 ACCESS AND ACCESSIBILITY
UNIT 12 UNDERSTANDING YOUR MARKET
UNIT 13 MARKETING YOUR MUSEUM
UNIT 14 DEVELOPING NEW AUDIENCES
UNIT 15 SPECIAL AUDIENCES: MUSEUMS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS
UNIT 16 THE MUSEUM VISIT
UNIT 17 LEARNING IN MUSEUMS
UNIT 18 LEARNING: INSIDE THE MUSEUM
UNIT 19 LEARNING: BEYOND THE MUSEUM
UNIT 20 EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES: CREATING PROGRAMMES
UNIT 21 FACILITIES FOR VISITORS
UNIT 22 PROVIDING SERVICES: SHOPS AND SALES POINTS
UNIT 23 PROVIDING SERVICES: FOOD AND DRINK
UNIT 24 PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR HIRE
UNIT 25 INFORMATION SERVICES
UNIT 26 PUBLICATIONS
UNIT 27 MUSEUM WEBSITES
UNIT 28 SOCIAL MEDIA AND MUSEUMS
UNIT 29 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND THE MEDIA
UNIT 30 WORKING WITH FRIENDS' AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS
UNIT 31 RESEARCHERS AS USERS
SECTION 3 PRESENTING AND INTERPRETING COLLECTIONS
UNIT 32 INTRODUCING INTERPRETATION
UNIT 33 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: GRAPHICS
UNIT 34 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: THREE-DIMENSIONAL
UNIT 35 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: AUDIO-VISUAL
UNIT 36 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: INTERACTIVES
UNIT 37 PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES: USING PEOPLE
UNIT 38 MUSEUM LIGHTING
UNIT 39 MUSEUM SHOWCASES
UNIT 40 PLANNING NEW DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITIONS
UNIT 41 RESEARCH FOR DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITIONS
UNIT 42 WRITING TEXT
UNIT 43 BRIEFING A DESIGNER
UNIT 44 DISPLAY AND EXHIBITION DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
UNIT 45 NEW MEDIA
UNIT 46 EVALUATING DISPLAYS AND EXHIBITIONS
SECTION 4 COLLECTING AND COLLECTIONS
UNIT 47 TYPES OF COLLECTIONS
UNIT 48 POLICIES FOR COLLECTING
UNIT 49 POLICIES FOR DISPOSAL
UNIT 50 DONATIONS, PURCHASES AND LOANS
UNIT 51 COLLECTING AND FIELD DOCUMENTATION
UNIT 52 OBJECT RESEARCH
UNIT 53 FIELDWORK AND RECORD CENTRES
UNIT 54 PHOTOGRAPHY, FILM AND VIDEO
UNIT 55 AUDIO-RECORDING AND ORAL HISTORY
UNIT 56 THE ROLE OF COLLECTIONS IN RESEARCH
UNIT 57 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND REPATRIATION
UNIT 58 MUSEUM ARCHIVES AND MUSEUM HISTORY
SECTION 5 MANAGING AND CARING FOR COLLECTIONS
UNIT 59 COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT PLANS
UNIT 60 COLLECTIONS AUDITS
UNIT 61 DOCUMENTATION SYSTEMS
UNIT 62 WORKING WITH CONSERVATORS AND CONSERVATION PLANS
UNIT 63 PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION: PRINCIPLES
UNIT 64 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND CONTROL: LIGHT
UNIT 65 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND CONTROL: HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE
UNIT 66 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND CONTROL: AIR POLLUTION/PEST AND INSECT ATTACK
UNIT 67 MATERIALS TESTING
UNIT 68 COLLECTIONS STORAGE: PRINCIPLES
UNIT 69 COLLECTIONS STORAGE: PRACTICE
UNIT 70 HANDLING, PACKING AND MOVING COLLECTIONS
UNIT 71 REMEDIAL CONSERVATION: PRINCIPLES
UNIT 72 REMEDIAL CONSERVATION: PRACTICE
UNIT 73 DISASTER PLANNING
UNIT 74 INSURANCE
UNIT 75 COLLECTIONS SECURITY: PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC
UNIT 76 COLLECTIONS SECURITY: SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES
UNIT 77 COPYRIGHT
SECTION 6 THE MUSEUM AND ITS BUILDINGS
UNIT 78 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: FORM AND FUNCTION
UNIT 79 MUSEUMS AND THEIR PHYSICAL SETTING
UNIT 80 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: PLANNING FOR ACCESS
UNIT 81 OPTIONS ANALYSIS AND FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT
UNIT 82 WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS
UNIT 83 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: PHYSICAL SECURITY
UNIT 84 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
UNIT 85 MUSEUM BUILDINGS: SUSTAINABILITY
UNIT 86 MOVING THE MUSEUM
UNIT 87 ORIENTATION AND SIGNAGE
UNIT 88 ATMOSPHERE, PACE AND FLOW
SECTION 7 THE MUSEUM AND ITS MANAGEMENT
UNIT 89 LEGAL STATUS, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES
UNIT 90 PARTNERSHIPS
UNIT 91 NETWORKING
UNIT 92 POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT PLANNING
UNIT 93 DEVELOPING A FORWARD PLAN
UNIT 94 MEASURING PERFORMANCE IN MUSEUMS
UNIT 95 EVALUATING THE MUSEUM'S SUCCESS
UNIT 96 PROJECT MANAGEMENT
UNIT 97 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
UNIT 98 NEW SOURCES OF INCOME
UNIT 99 FUND-RAISING
UNIT 100 MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE
UNIT 101 INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
UNIT 102 STAFF STRUCTURES
UNIT 103 VOLUNTEERS IN MUSEUMS
UNIT 104 RECRUITING MUSEUM STAFF
UNIT 105 CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
UNIT 106 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
UNIT 107 JOB APPRAISAL AND ASSESSING PERFORMANCE
UNIT 108 STAFF TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
UNIT 109 USING CONSULTANTS AND OUTSOURCING
UNIT 110 HEALTH AND SAFETY
UNIT 111 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
UNIT 112 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE MUSEUM
SECTION 8 SUPPORTING RESOURCES
UNIT 113 SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
UNIT 114 RESOURCES FOR MUSEUMS ON THE INTERNET
Glossary
Select bibliography
Index