Walhimer, founder of Museum Planning LLC and host of the blog Museum Planner, has assembled a fine how-to guide for creating and organizing all varieties of museums. The author guides readers through the process, covering the initial vision, formation of a board of directors, the museum feasibility study, the buildings design and layout, and successful exhibition planning. The work includes sections on fundraising, marketing, and programming but keeps its focus on the essentials: the museums mission, its responsibility to visitors, and the ethics of proper stewardship of collections. Walhimer frequently illustrates the point he is making with one or two tangible examples of successfully applied techniques, as well as offering cautionary tales. The books five sections are particularly logical and well organized. The âMuseum Toolboxâ section provides a comprehensive collection of seminal resources, sample documents, and useful templates. Each chapter includes a list of references, mostly of resources available online. An accompanying website with updated information and a blog is also available to readers wanting more. Rather than a reference work per se, this book is more suitable for circulating collections, and it will appeal for museum-studies students and anyone considering a career in the field. Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduates; general readers; professionals/practitioners.
â" Choice Reviews
The great value of Museums 101 is that it outlines the basics of exhibition development, collections care, evaluation, and more, in a way that acknowledges that museum work requires specialized expertise. Donât try to re-invent the museum, it tells the collector deciding to build a museum from scratch, or the businessman suddenly appointed to the board. There are things you need to know. Museums have figured out a lot. Read this book to get up to speed.
â" Curator: The Museum Journal
As its title implies, this is an introduction to the world of museums, with 24 chapters divided into four sections: Museum Background, Creating an Integrated Museum, Exhibitions, and Behind the Scenes. Also included is a âMuseum Toolkitâ which provides sample documents of use to museum personnel. The author outlines his hoped-for readership: âmuseum founders, new museum staff and volunteers, those wishing to work in museums, new board members, students, and those wishing to contract services with a museum.â From finances and marketing, to creating an online presence and project management, this volume presents the key elements of museum operation. An additional feature of this volume is access to a companion website with additional resources on the subject. Libraries serving any of the readers listed by the author, or readers simply interested in how museums âwork,â will want to have this volume. Its clear language and excellent organization will make it accessible to all levels of their patrons.
â" American Reference Books Annual
Museums 101 is a straight forward âhow-toâ book for people new to the field of museums and for those interested in entering professions in the museum field. A perfect book to hand to a new volunteer, new staff or board member and say âhere are the basics.
â" Van A. Romans, president, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and member of the Board of Trustees, American Alliance of Museums
Museums 101 is a straight forward âhow-toâ book for people new to the field of museums and for those interested in entering professions in the museum field. A perfect book to hand to a new volunteer, new staff or board member and say âhere are the basics.
â" Van A. Romans, president, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and member of the Board of Trustees, American Alliance of Museums
Museums 101 is very interesting and useful for those managing museums or interested in organizing one.
â" Sergey Solovyev, Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, The State Hermitage Museum, Russia
Museums 101 is an amazing and comprehensive resource, full of great insights of how museums work.
â" Alison Spence, Exhibitions and Loans Registrar, National Museum of Australia
