Hi Anne . . . I too liked the Crysler Museum's open storage, tho I was
struck by the dust that was on the glass collections when I visited (after
hours, as part of a VAM group reception).  I can imagine that the cleaning
of open storage is probably much more intense (or the needs are anyway).
Labeling was another problem I noticed . . . there wasn't much, so I became
frustrated with the lack of information (being a glass freak).  For other
examples of good storage, visit the Wallace in Williamsburg . . . waaaayyyy
cool (especially their treatment of fragile textiles).

Lee :)

Lee Langston-Harrison
Director of Curatorial Operations
Montpelier, Home of James & Dolley Madison
Montpelier Station, VA 22957
(540) 672-0007
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----------
> From: Anne Wood Humphries <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Open storage
> Date: Monday, February 08, 1999 7:07 PM
>
> I have subscribed to this list for a month or so and find the discussions
> quite interesting. Although I am a librarian by profession, as a museum
> visitor I am struck by the similar issues and concerns that are faced by
> libraries and museums.
>
> I just wanted to comment that as a visitor to the Chrysler Museum in
Norfolk,
> VA, I had my first encounter with "open storage."  I had never seen this
done
> before, but thought it was done wonderfully by this museum.  The open
storage
> cases are secure and well-lit, but are located in discreet, somewhat
screened
> off, areas directly behind the more formal, labelled displays, so they
seem
> quite optional and don't detract at all from the main exhibit.  I found
that
> once I had read the information prepared for the exhibit and listened to
the
> audio information available through the portable device, I gained a good
> understanding of the material that I was viewing ( in this case the
marvelous
> glass collection).  At each historical point in the exhibit, I was able
to
> walk behind to the open storage area (in which the pieces were not
labeled)
> and still be able to see further examples of the types of objects
displayed in
> the exhibit.  I found that this gave me a deeper understanding of each
type of
> object because I was not just seeing the "exemplary" pieces (which must
be
> very difficult for the exhibitor to select) but also perhaps the less
> "important" or "imperfect" pieces.  This was only an enhancement in my
view,
> somewhat like delving into the "further reading" section of an historical
> overview.
>
> I've enjoyed reading this list and hearing the issues and concerns it
raises,
> which are applicable to many professions, and I thought I should try to
> contribute some comments from a museum visitor's point of view.
>
> Anne Wood Humphries
> ----------------------------------
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