Further to Rosemary Silvester's definition, which I thought was basically pretty good, I have received the following comment from Dr. Dan Gallacher, Director of History at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. I think Dan's points are good ones. Harry Needham Special Advisor - Programme Development Canadian War Museum 330 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0M8 Voice: (819) 776-8612 Fax (819) 776-8623 Email: [log in to unmask] > ---------- > From: Daniel Gallacher > Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 9:50 AM > To: Harry Needham > Cc: Daniel Gallacher; Stephen Inglis > Subject: RE: Definition of a Museum > > Hi Harry, > > Thanks for part one which is clear and sensible. Too bad they had to > go and define what they thought about each function; I don't see research > named at all. The word interpretation is definitely a key element of > serious research activity, but the trend in modern museums has been to > isolate that particular work and hire specialists (notably educators) to > perform it. Similarly, "associated information" really is too vague a > concept to stand as a substitute for, say, research findings. Hence, the > definitions in the Note are incomplete. Otherwise, it is a most servicable > item! > > Dan Gallacher > Rosemary Silvester's original message: > The list often seems interested in these definitions so here is the > definition of a museum agreed at the 1998 Annual General Meeing of the > Museums Association (UK): > > Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning > and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make > accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for > society. > > Note > > A collection is an organised assemblage of selected material evidence of > human activity or the natural environment, accompanied by associated > information. As well as objects, scientific specimens or works of art > held within a museum building, a collection may include buildings or > sites. > > Safeguarding includes undertaking conservation, security and collections > management. > > Making accessible includes undertaking interpretation, education, > exhibition, outreach, documentation, research and publication, within or > outside the museum's own buildings. > > The definition can also be used in the singular: A museum enables people > to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. It is an > institution that collects, safeguards and makes accessible artefacts and > specimens, which it holds in trust for society. > > > > > >