Jennifer,

I was intrigued by your post.  I would think that due to their nature,
interactive science exhibits wouldn't be classified as part of a collection.
A "collection" is basically a group of objects which are preserved for study
and posterity.  (IMHO) However, an interactive exhibit serves it's mission by
being used by the public, broken, re-built... etc.  In a previous position,
the closest I came to cataloging exhibits was helping to develop a
comprehensive parts and repair manual for interactive exhibits.  This included
illustrations, diagrams and instructions for the most common repairs.  Which
doesn't really seem to be related to what you are doing... EXCEPT... you could
also include information on the educational function of the exhibit.  What
information was it designed to convey... how does it teach?  I found in my
experience that the information and thoughts applied to the original exhibit
design may get a little fuzzy over the years.  When you are dealing with
electro-mechanical exhibits, even something that appears as simple as
replacing a gear or drive wheel can have an impact on the effect displayed so
it is important for the exhibits staff to approach any service knowing what
purpose the exhibit was designed for.  Also, if your exhibit staff has the
ideas and original focus put into the creation of the exhibit, they might
think up better ways convey the educational information... new people have new
ideas.

As a final helpful tidbit.  The system employed at my last workplace used a 3
digit number with 3 decimal places.   (xxx.xxx)  Every individual exhibit was
designated a number in the primary set (111.xxx) while components or parts of
the exhibit were assigned in the second series (111.001... etc.).  These
numbers were also applied to parts bins and exhibit files where original
drawings, specifications, illustrations and text copy are kept.  The system
was implemented when the entire museum was designed and the original exhibit
blueprints are numbered with the same system.

Hope that helps.

Mark C. Vang
Freya Ventures
2100 Mediterranean Ave. Suite 15
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 340-0099
* Interactive touch-screen computer exhibits and other technical exhibit
stuff. *


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Date:    Fri, 10 Jan 1997 11:06:07 +1200
From:    Jennifer Taylor <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Collection management query on interactive science exhibits

Hi, I have just been employed by The Science Centre and Manawatu
Museum (Palmerston North, New Zealand) to design a collection
management system for interactive science exhibits.  I need to apply
museum principles to this task yet the exhibits are quite different
from museum/art objects and the documentation of them requires a
different approach.  I have to devise a numbering system, compile a
catalogue, and develop condition reports.  Is there anyone who is
developing or using  documentation of this type?  I can't seem to