Use of collections

This resource, from the Society for Museum Archaeology, is a set of case studies into the wide range of use and engagement activities that archaeological collections are used to deliver. 

When sampling decisions for scientific investigations of heritage objects or sites are collaborative and transparent between researchers and owners/custodians, they encourage balanced, objective and consistent discussions and conclusions. However, finding, sharing or communicating information to support and direct common-ground decisions from multi-perspectives is not always easy. To fill this important information gap, the Heritage Science Group committee of the Institute for Conservation (Icon) has developed this guidance for materials research.

Part of their collections skills training resources, this film takes you through the various design and production stages when building and installing a new exhibition or display at the British Museum.

As part of the British Museum’s collections skills training, this film takes you through the planning stages for a display at the British Museum.

The Group for Education in Museums (GEM) supports heritage educators all over the world by providing resources, training, events and professional development and career advice.

A series of case studies from museums and archives throughout the UK on establishing, managing and using handling collections and hands on exhibits in museums, galleries and children’s centres.

The Archaeological Recording Kit (ARK) is an open-source, standards-compliant tool for recording archaeological data and making it available on the web.

In this film, we take a behind-the-scenes tour of the world’s largest collection of wasp nests with James M. Carpenter, entomologist and curator in the Museum’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology.

This report by Dr Suzanne Keene from UCL outlines how stored collections can be used more effectively. The research was prompted by calls for more effective use of museums’ stored collections.

The UK Medical Collections Group ‘Medicine at the Movies’ project invited adult learners to use medical museums as inspiration to make a series of short films. The project demonstrates how museums can be accessible and stimulating learning environments. This guide provides an outline of how similar projects might run.

Rural museum collections contain significant numbers of ploughs. With increasing pressure on stores, and greater emphasis placed on communication and learning, the Rural Museums Network chose ploughs as a suitable subject for a Museums Association Effective Collections project.

This template from Tate Research shows the information you should capture when planning the installation of a piece of time-based media.

This Revisiting Collections case study from Collections Trust outlines the Pitch To! Farming, Family and Tradition project at The Royal Cornwall Museum.

This case study outlines the Revealing Collections project at the Royal Cornwall Museum which aimed to use mostly unseen collections to encourage young people to challenge contemporary misinformation and outdated attitudes towards sex, relationships, identity, etiquette and health.

The Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford was used as a case study by Consultant Daniel Burt when he spoke at the DAM for Museums Conference in November 2013. This presentation covers the capture, cataloguing, storage and delivery of images and audio content.

You will find this helpful if you are considering different ways to open up your own museum stores. This resource focuses on what’s working for places like Leeds Discovery Centre, Jersey Heritage and other collections stores around the UK and pulls out some useful example and tips.

This handbook provides practical suggestions for museums on developing effective and accessible written communications, displays, text and websites.

The case studies presented in these 3 reports highlight how professional collections management helps museums to deliver more, to look ahead to the future with confidence while at the same time being more efficient in how they spend their money and reducing their impact on the environment.

The national curricula for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland may be relevant to museums creating educational resources for schools. The curriculum for Scotland (‘Curriculum for Excellence’) is not governed by any national legislation.

This resource provides two learning-based case studies from Fermanagh County Museum and Armagh Public Library.

This document describes a project at Creswell Heritage Trust, designed to develop and pilot outreach resources for use in schools.

This case study describes the development of a learning session at volunteer-run Grantham Museum. It focuses on finding a topic that would engage primary aged pupils, utilising the museum’s the Dambusters collection.

This case study focuses on the further development by the Framework Knitters’ Museum of their relationship with local schools, through the creation of a young persons’ steering committee that would offer students the chance to have a real input into the museum’s displays, interpretation, creative content and learning offer.

This case study describes a project to create a learning offer for schools focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects at the Bahamas Locomotive Society.

This case study describes a project to develop science related activities based on the important 18th century curiosity collection at Burton Constable Hall.

This website provides links to all Kids in Museums resources including fact sheets and information for Takeover day.

These guidelines focus on creating gallery text that is interesting, engaging and accessible for a wide audience, recognising people’s needs and interests, and use the devices of good writing to communicate ideas.

This case study describes a retail improvement project that aimed to transform a previously uninspiring shop area, enhance visitor experience and increase retail capacity at the Museum of North Craven Life.