The word museums originate from the Greek word mouseion which means temple of muses __the nine daughters of Zeus who are said to have protected and encouraged Greek arts. Use of Latin derivation of ‘mouseion’ is museum and it had been restricted in Roman times mainly to places of philosophical discussion.
Use of the word museum during the 19th and most of the 20th century denoted a building housing cultural material to which the public had access. Museum is a place which houses artifacts that have historical, scientific, cultural, archeological, anthropotical values. As museums continued to respond to the societies, the emphasis on the building became less dominant. There are also open-air museums consisting of buildings and monuments preserved as objects and ecomuseums, involving the interpretation of all aspects of an established outdoor environment. The first known museum was opened in the University of Alexandria in Egypt in the third century.
In Nigeria, the first museum to be established was the Esie Soap- Stone museum in 1943.
Now, virtual museums exist in electronic form on the internet, but remain dependent upon the collection, preservation and interpretation of material things by the real museum. Therefore a museum is an institution that conserves its collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific importance, and exhibits its collection of objects for public viewing that may be permanent or temporary. Nigeria has about 52 national museums.
OBJECTIVES:
To know the meaning of a museum
To know the latest definition of museum
To understand various scope of museum
To know the various functions of museum
DEFINITION OF MUSEUM:
Many organizations and people define museum in different ways, many scholars have attempted to define museums in such a way as to capture its essence, functions or role in the society that makes it so relevant all over the world for some scholars, the museum is a building with rich cultural collections, it is a store house of knowledge or an institution which houses our cultural wealth and enable people to discover their roots.
However, the international council of museum (ICOM) has proffered an apt and also all-encompassing definition of the museum.
In August 24th 2022, ICOM approved a new definition for museums:
A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage, open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museum fostering diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.
SCOPE OF MUSEUM:
A scope is a stand-alone planning document of a museum that defines the purpose of its collection holding at the present and for the future. It is derived from the mission of the respective museum, as well as laws and regulations mandating the preservation of collections.
A museum must have a scope of collection statement. It guides the museum in the acquisition and management of those objects. The scope of a museum document is a valuable tool for museum operation. It describes the museum collection, plan activities for the public, and management. It guides the museum in acquisition, budgeting, prioritizing resources and overall planning and management. The curator or other museum professionals are responsible for the collection, education, public relations, community engagement program and preparation of scope of museums.
SIGNIFICANCE OF MUSEUM:
Museum is a public service organization. The significance of a museum is better understood in its functions. The various functions of a museum vary from one museum to the other according to the nature of collection.
COLLECTION
Collecting objects of heritage is the most important function of a museum. Every museum collects based on its collection policy and collection management. Objects can be collected through different means such as purchase, gift, loan, bequest, exploration, archeological excavation, exchange. Collection in a museum depends on the mission, vision, and objective of the museum. A museum must not collect anything that is stolen, smuggled or very much fragile.
STORAGE
Museum collection should be stored in a well-planned and secured area. It is the most important function of all museums, not every collection is displayed in the Gallery, some remains in the store.
So, the museum must have a good storage of its collection. Collections are stored separately such as organic/inorganic, objects, paintings, textiles. Stores should be clean, controlled from humidity, light effect, pest and other bio-chemical and natural hazards or disasters.
PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION
Objects should be regularly cared for because they can deteriorate due to change of environment and subsequent physio-chemical factors. No objects can last forever but there is a need to do all that is possible to prolong the life-span of collections. Objects in display or storage should be properly cared for by preventive or curative conservation. These are to protect collections from attacks of organisms like fungus, insects, rodents and damage from humidity, temperature and light sources.
DOCUMENTATION
Documentation is the process of preparing records of collected objects by formal entry in the entry register, accessioning, cataloguing and indexing with photo-image. It is record keeping. It is very important to document objects with authentic information after necessary research and consultation.
It facilitates in knowing the provenance, identification, composition and necessary treatment of objects.
RESEARCH
Every museum needs to research objects in their possession. Museums are required to preserve and publish such information for the use of museums and professionals. Research improves access to collections and enhances better understanding. Research is based on history, technological advancement, ethnography, geology, architecture, agriculture, arts etc. these researches can be published in journal articles, newspapers, museum guild and posters.
EXHIBITION
This is the display of objects either in permanent or temporary exhibitions, by museums. Museums sometimes send their objects on mobile exhibitions to reach people who can’t come to the museum. Unlike the supermarket, museum exhibitions are accompanied with well researched information.
SECURITY
Museum collects and stores antiquities which require strong and good security. Museums need to secure their objects from theft, vandalism, disasters, fire etc. Some security gadgets to be used are CCTV cameras, alarms, fences, burglary proof etc.
EDUCATION
Museum is known as a place where knowledge is disseminated on the subject it is established for. People visit the museum to see wonders and get knowledge. It disseminates knowledge on art, history, science and technology through the material and non -material evidences
OUTREACHES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Museums communicate their collections to the public through outreaches. The chain of communication between museum and visitors must be smooth. Museums serve the community by reaching out to them. Museum visits the field, meeting artists, taking initiatives in preserving the intangible heritage like folklores, folk tales, folk dances and folk songs. Museums also organize lectures, seminars, workshops, and international museum day to reach out to the host community.
Museums can also invite experts to share his/her opinion in the field of heritage and culture on a specific subject area. This can also help museum professionals to enhance their work potential and the research and development of the museum.
CHALLENGES
Museums face a lot of challenges in the course of carrying out its functions.
(a) Poor funding
(b) Climate change
(c) Trafficking and exportation of Nigeria act
(d) Theft and looting of objects
(e) Civilization
(f) Insecurity
(g) Lack of maintenance and protection of artifacts
(h) Outdated technology
RECOMMENDATIONS
Museum is a not-for-profit organization, so the government should fund the museum properly to help preserve our heritage.
The decree 1977 that establishes museums in Nigeria should be reviewed with strict punishment for those that engage in looting and trafficking of artifacts.
Museums should engage in public-private partnerships. This will make the host communities know the importance of museums. Modern technology should be used in museums. Museums should function according to their mission and vision.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, a museum is an organization that collects and stores objects of both cultural and natural heritage, cares and provides necessary conservation support required by objects in both display and storage.
References
Documentation in museum settings by Binkal Manji Jennifer.
Museology by Indian culture.
