Dear Carrie,
Posing the question of what is appropriate reading material is fair enough, especially as explained below - why would it be detrimental for the committee to read and understand about what has been collected in the past, especially as they do not sound very familiar with the collection? How often does the committee change - what is the rate of turnover, and would you constantly have to remind the committee to keep up with their reading list? Are there docents at your museum? What do they read, how do they keep up with your museum's subjects? Perhaps you have already asked the committee to suggest their own reading lists? Since you are already on the road to re-thinking your mission, it sounds like there is creative and lively discussion going on. No matter how many books I read about a subject, I find I never absorb it all, so yes, you should cut down on the reading list - but there'd be no point in asking the members to read any of this unless there is genuine interest - what
is the level of resistance, and if there is, how do you overcome that? What I mean is, you have curators there who are helping explain principles and so forth - why is this information insufficient, what have the curators offered as reading lists?
O
Olivia Anastasiadis, Curator
Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 993-5075, ext. 224
Carrie Snow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Thank you all for your suggestions. To answer Ware's question about the needs of our museum. We are a Church museum that collects images and artifacts relating to religious themes, events and artist that belong to our Church. We have several people on the committee that are not art historians or historians, but have tried to bring themselves up to speed in the field and when in doubt will ask Curators to explain a principle or opinion to them. Conversely, we have several art historians or historians that are not current on collecting practices and larger museum issues. We are also currently undergoing a large strategic planning process that will most likely change how and what we collect as the Church continues to grow through out the World.
From what you have told me, we might be missing the mark. So far our draft list is focused on our collections and includes several exhibit catalogs and articles written by museum staff members. I am wondering if these are appropriate things to include on the list and if so, how much is too much? We want to inform committee members on the current collections, but we do not want to shut the door on innovation in collecting and interpretation. Some committee members have expressed the opinion that by using several in-house publications may stifle creative thinking and give the impression that there is only one way to interpret our collection.
Carrie
Carrie Snow
Senior Registrar
Museum of Church History and Art
45 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
(801) 240-4619
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