Mariana:

I think it is a matter of the type of collections you have. Here at SMU
we have the Bridwell Library with has artifacts and art as well as old
rare documents which are displayed in a museum-like setting. They have
special exhibits, open house parties, etc. just like a museum, but the
majority of the building is just a library.

We (the Anthropology Department) is currently looking into building a
new curation facility to house archaeological collections (this would be
a storage and research facility with little if any public exhibit
space). Since archival documents are an important part of the
collections we will have to have a special room for storage of paper
documents. This brougth up the suggestion the space should be expanded
to house the university archive which is current housed in the DeGolyer
Library on campus. Thus, expanding the curation facility to encompass
document archives. Since the facility is to have academic ties and be
primarily used for research a small Library space will be included in
the building plan. In our case archaeologists always need to do library
research in association with collection studies. Having the two in the
same building makes things easy.

You need to consider the climate, security, and access needs to the
materials that are to be housed in your new building. If your museum
items and library items have similar climate control needs, can share
security systems and personel, and will be accessed by the same group of
visitors then this sound like a good mix. But if very different climate
control is need for the two, special separate security is required, and
it is unlikely that a museum visitor would also be a library visitor,
etc. then you should probably look at two buildings.

Sue Linder-Linsley
Director, Collections Managment
Southern Methodist University


Mariana Mace wrote:

> ------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
> From:          Self <REDBARON/MACEM>
> To:            [log in to unmask]
> Subject:       Museum/library combinations
> Date:          Wed, 30 Jul 1997 16:00:21 PDT
>
> I've just been struck by a perhaps insurmountable opportunity - to
> make a case for a combined library/museum facility as a new building.
> I need some quick information on any such facility that you might be
> aware of.  If you also have opinions on why this or is not a good
> idea, i'd appreciate hearing them.
>
> Thanks folks.  This one is important! (to me anyway)
>
> Mariana