Dear Ms Thomson,

Now, in museum studies, it is not easy to say, what is needed, and what is
not. Museums are undergoing deep transformations, with a complex role played
by technology. Just among the possible examples (which in turn combine in
various ways):
- We can see virtual museums developing (completely virtual), even if many in
the profession do not very much like that;
- We can also see various roles played by images and other non material media,
either in relation with, or independently of, material collections.

So, it is possible that, in your case, the choice of what to include as basic
and optional courses will also depend on what audience you target. Let me try
to explain in another way. I am myself a specialist of African museums and
African cultures. We have seen that we cannot separate, on one side, material
collections of traditional African arts and crafts, and, on the other side,
all the non material cultural creativity which creates and determines the
whole context in which they are produced, utilized, etc. Particularly, we have
to pay attention to the oral traditions, to songs, dances, etc. So, courses
designed for museum professionals in Africa will have to include a solid
introduction to oral tradition as a medium of cultural knowledge, and as an
important tool in understanding / interpreting material collections. I wonder,
whether you will not have the same need in Canada, in museums dealing with
Native-american cultures.

This can bring to look at the importance of the management of information for
museums. There is a tradition to put the emphasis on collection management,
which is of course a primary responsibility of museums. The role of
information management is less stressed, maybe because it is understood as
part of collection management, or as collection documentation. However, it
seems obvious that, today, the way information is managed by museums
(involving the management of collections, the strategies of exhibition, of on
site and distance outreach, of research, of collecting and utilizing relevant
information, etc.), and the very wide and dynamic connections which are
crossing the world, make information management a very sensitive aspect of
museum work. So, it is appropriate to reflect upon, whether, and in which
ways, your students can get familiar with these issues (which relate also to
other significant fields, such as cultural resource management and
preservation).

Another field of interest to the profession deals with the role of new
technologies in museum work. It is important for general museum management,
for collection management, for exhibition, education, etc., etc.

This was the short contribution I wanted to make to your question. I hope it
will be useful.

With respect, and Happy New Year to all the list,

Claude Ardouin
Free-lance consultant in Montpellier, France