INTERNATIONAL LINKS FOR UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS, COLLECTIONS AND HERBARIA

At the ICOM meeting in Melbourne in October, there will be a meeting
to discuss the establishment of an International Committee (or similar
group) for university museums.  All ICOM memebers, especially those
from universities are invited to participate.  The meeting will be
held at 2.30 pm on Tuesday 13 October in the La Trobe Theatre of the
Conference venue.

The aim of the meeting is to discuss and collect signatures of those
interested in asking ICOM to establish such a Committee; or to
establish a group in some other way.  The aims of the new Committee
might include, for example, to:

 -  form a network of  partners within university museums, collections
 and herbaria to undertake research and other projects
 - publish and  share more widely the resources of university
museums, collections and herbaria,  and the skills of their staff;
- assist the staff of university museums, collections and herbaria to
develop appropriate policy, conservation strategies and other
essential practices;  and
-  encourage the interchange of ideas, research and staff between
university museums, collections and herbaria,  and other sectors of
the museum profession.

For those attending the UNESCO University and Heritage Forum
immediately prior to the ICOM conference, a similar meeting (to
discuss the formation of an international university museums group)
will be held at 1.30 pm on Tuesday 6 November.  Once again all are
welcome.

Relevant references include:

Yerbury et al, (1998) Transforming Cinderella Collections: The
Management and Conservation of Australian University Museums,
Collections and Herbaria, AV-CC, Canberra, Australia, 331 pp.
McMichael et al, (1996) Cinderella Collections: University Museums and
Collections in Australia 1996, AV-CC, Canberra, Australia, 226   pp.
Directory of Museums, Vol 1: University Museums, Total Media
Development Institute, Tokyo, Japan 1997 118 pp. Survey of University
Databases, Collections and Archives, New Zealand Vice-Chancellors'
Committee, Wellington, New Zealand, 1994, 141 pp. Drysdale, Laura
(1990) A World of Learning: University Collections in Scotland, HMSO,
Scotland Kate Arnold-Foster (1992) Held in Trust - Museums and
Collections of Universities in Northern England ; HMSO, London.
Humphrey, Phillip (1992) University Natural History Museum Systems
Curator, 35, pp. 49-70 Museums and Galleries Commission (1998)
Collaboration between Museums 121 pp, MGC, London

Further information is available  from Peter Stanbury, Museums,
Collections and Heritage, Vice-Chancellor's Office, Macquarie
University, NSW 2109.  If you are unable to attend the meeting/s but
wish to express support for the idea, please write, fax (02 9850 7565)
or email ([log in to unmask]).

Peter Stanbury, OAM, PhD
Museums, Collections & Heritage
Vice Chancellor's Office
Macquarie University
NSW, 2109
Australia
Phone: 61 2 9850 7431
Fax:   61 2 9850 7565