> A MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC BY
> INTERPRETING SCIENTIFIC, CULTURAL AND/OR NATURAL HERITAGE THROUGH
> THE USE OF A PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND OFTEN OBJECTS. MUSEUMS THAT
> HOLD COLLECTIONS CARE FOR THEM AS A PUBLIC TRUST AND PRESERVE THEM
> FOR THE FUTURE.

A few thoughts.

1) Is it better to write: "MUSEUMS ARE EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE
THE PUBLIC BY INTERPRETING SCIENTIFIC, CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE ..."

This gets rid of the ugly "and/or" construct.

2) Is science really not culture?

3) I really cannot get along with the idea that museums can be museums
without objects. Even "digital objects" have to have a physical existence.
Thus all museums have collections. And they all have to preserve them.

4)Presumably private museums don't come within this definition, since they
don't (necessarily) have an element of holding their collections in trust
for the public.

5) Are not the key words here education, interpretation, collections,
preservation, and public domain. Is an organization that cannot demonstrate
all these still a museum?

6) Why is there so much trouble with defining museums? It seems that
everyday I find a new definition. Is there something wrong with us if we
can't figure it out once and for all?


Michael

Michael P. Cooper
Nottingham Museums Registrar
T: +44 (0)115 915 3671
F: +44 (0)115 915 3601

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