Regarding open or visible storage in museums:

The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia has
had "open storage" for some time.  Other members of this list
are better qualified to describe it (e.g., Kersti Krug or Carole
Mayer) but I can give those interested some basic information.

The Museum, on the campus of theUniversity of British Columbia,
features a superb collection of the art and artifacts of the First
Nations peoples of the Pacific Northwest in its permanent galleries.
It also has objects reflecting cultures from the rest of the world
in a few galleries and in its Visible Storage area.  These objects
are behind glass  in cases and drawers, with coded catalogs
identifying and documenting each object.  The locks on the cases and
drawers are of high quality and closed-circuit video
cameras were installed to monitor the area during visitor hours.  To
the best of my knowledge they have never had a problem with security
in Visible Storage from the 150,000 or so who visit the museum each
year.  I don't know exactly how many objects are there but there were
about 12000 documented items in 1977 when Michael Ames, the
Director, wrote about the Visible Storage system in CURATOR
(20/1,1977).  All objects are visible but the cases are quite dense.
It is explained at the beginning of the Visible Storage area that the
objects are not on exhibit in the usual sense but are used in the
teaching programs of the Museum and the academic departments
(anthropology and archaeology) of the University.  Even so, visitors
are invited to go through Visible Storage if they wish.  Some still
complain about the many duplications and the density of objects but
most understand the purpose of the area and appreciate being shown
what would otherwise be "back stage."

A great deal of the scholarly needs for access to the objects can be
accomodated without handling the objects.  When that is not
possible, arrangements can be made through the curatorial staff to
gain access to the objects.  The system still works well today and
minimizes wear and tear on both staff and the collection.

There are a few classes of light-sensitive objects not kept in visible
storage - textiles, for example, but nearly the entire collection is on display.

In addition to the CURATOR article, MOA's Visible Storage system was
described by Michael Ames in a paper delivered to ICOM's
Architecture and Museum Techniques Committee in London back in 1983
( and, likely, in lots of other places of which I am not aware).
Direct communication with the Museum of Anthropology at the
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B. C., Canada is advised
for those interested.

bob kelly
Robert F. Kelly, Chair, Marketing Division
Faculty of Commerce and
Faculty Research Associate,Museum of Anthropology
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, B.C., Canada  V6T 1Z2

(604) 822-8346  Fax: 822-8521
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