Hi Annette
Speaking personally, I see your museum is in an admirable position. For
the local people to feel free to pop in at any time shows a complete
acceptance and community ownership of the collection and this is how it
should be. Many museums fail to attract the interest and involvement of
local people and are seen as just dry places full of old objects. It can
also take years for someone to gain the trust of local community such
that they share their thoughts, memories and stories of the past.
Regarding the assistant making appointments to visit people in their
homes or even care homes. This, in my opinion, should also be applauded.
Assuming they do not receive any payment from the care homes, why do you
see it as a problem?
Your assistant can obviously see the benefits of his work in encouraging
the elderly to reminisce, again something that is sadly lacking in
society today. The value of such reminiscence, which photographs and
objects stimulate, is important, not just for the quality of life of the
informant but also for the collection of information about the past.
Is the assistant also gathering audio or written records of his visits
so that the collection can be enhanced by the testimonies of people who
soon may not be able to clearly remember, or be around to talk about
life in the past?
Perhaps you should change the job title to allow them to specialise in
local and oral history. I think it would be worth it.
Kind Regards
Maureen James
www.tellinghistory.co.uk
On 04/10/2011 15:08, Annette Wells wrote:
> Hi all
>
> one of our museum assistants has his own collection of photographs
> about the town that he has been encouraged to share with visitors to the
> museum. This arrangements pre dates me and I have inherited a situation
> which is now getting out of hand. Although we offer 2 days a week for
> people to visit and mainly reminisce, this in reality is happening
> across the 6 days we are open. Whilst we recognise that this opportunity
> is relished by the people who come in, it also means that our museum
> assistant is no longer doing the job he is employed to do! he also makes
> appointments at the museum to visit people in their homes or even to
> make care home appointments in his own time, but without the museums
> knowledge. What we are asking is - has anyone found themselves in a
> similar position, and how might we make better use of the very obvious
> interest of our member staff and the people who come to see him?
>
> regards
>
>
>
> Annette Wells
> Museums Officer (Public Access)
> Museums and Heritage Service
> Newport Museum and Art Gallery
> John Frost Square
> Newport
> S Wales
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