Museum Basics
The International Handbook
5th Edition
Published on 16. July 2025
448 pages
978-1-040-36237-2 (ISBN)
Description
Museum Basics provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to professional practice in museums, galleries and related heritage organisations.
This new edition includes a number of international case studies from a diverse group of guest authors who work in a variety of museums around the world. Ambrose, Paine and their contributing authors respond to recent developments in the museum field and incorporate content on new technology, as well as political and social issues, such as decolonisation, climate change and social justice. The book also covers different approaches to museology and current methods in core areas, such as collections, exhibitions, policy, education and management. Using the same modular structure as previous editions, the book includes 130 units. A number of new units have been added, including material about museums and conflict, museums and communities, loans, maintaining displays and exhibitions and sensitive objects and human remains. This edition is supported by refreshed diagrams, an updated glossary and its own Instructor and Student Resources, which provide a wide range of additional material for readers.
Museum Basics will be essential reading for students engaged in the study of museums, heritage, public history, culture, archaeology, anthropology and tourism, who are learning to critically examine the ideas and ideals around museum culture. Staff and volunteers working in museums, galleries and other heritage and cultural institutions will be able to use the book to identify best practices for their daily work.
This new edition includes a number of international case studies from a diverse group of guest authors who work in a variety of museums around the world. Ambrose, Paine and their contributing authors respond to recent developments in the museum field and incorporate content on new technology, as well as political and social issues, such as decolonisation, climate change and social justice. The book also covers different approaches to museology and current methods in core areas, such as collections, exhibitions, policy, education and management. Using the same modular structure as previous editions, the book includes 130 units. A number of new units have been added, including material about museums and conflict, museums and communities, loans, maintaining displays and exhibitions and sensitive objects and human remains. This edition is supported by refreshed diagrams, an updated glossary and its own Instructor and Student Resources, which provide a wide range of additional material for readers.
Museum Basics will be essential reading for students engaged in the study of museums, heritage, public history, culture, archaeology, anthropology and tourism, who are learning to critically examine the ideas and ideals around museum culture. Staff and volunteers working in museums, galleries and other heritage and cultural institutions will be able to use the book to identify best practices for their daily work.
More details
Series
Edition
5th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
82 Line drawings, black and white; 82 Illustrations, black and white
File size
4,91 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-36237-2 (9781040362372)
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
Additional editions
Book
07/2025
5th Edition
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€66.40
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Book
07/2025
5th Edition
Routledge
€230.65
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Book
04/2025
Routledge
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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 and a Fellow of the UK Museums Association. He has a particular interest in the role of museums in place-making and destination development and has published widely on museums and cultural heritage.
Crispin Paine is a former curator and museum consultant, now an author and museum volunteer. He is a Visiting Lecturer at the Open University, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Fellow of the UK Museums Association. He has particular interests in local community museums and the material culture of religion.
Crispin Paine is a former curator and museum consultant, now an author and museum volunteer. He is a Visiting Lecturer at the Open University, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Fellow of the UK Museums Association. He has particular interests in local community museums and the material culture of religion.
Content
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
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
