現代博物館發展趨勢與同仁因應之道

Current Trends in Modern Museums and the Coping of Museum Staffs

謝義勇

《科技博物》 2卷6期 (1998/11) Pp. 8-13

並列摘要

Ⅰ. Current trends in modern museums
1. Increasing numbers
There are now more than 30,000 full-sized museums around the world, a number growing by about five percent each year. In the US there were 2500 museums in 1938, a figure which increased to 6200 by 1983.
2. Greater specialization
Recently museums have become more and more specialized in their subject matters. For example, museums focusing on history, archeology, art, folklore and folk customs are becoming more common among social-oriented museums.
3. More diversified buildings
Architectural styles vary widely from museum to museum, and new museums boast eye-catching designs incorporating new kinds of construction materials.
4. New facilities
Modern museums are better equipped than ever before in terms of lighting, sound systems, climate control and security.
5. Innovative exhibitions
Although some museums continue to follow traditional guidelines in their exhibits, greater use of interactive exhibits, virtual reality and other new techniques seem inevitable in many areas.
6. Greater emphasis on research
Museums have great collections that form rich fields for research in a variety of areas, and many of the world’s leading museums publish magazines in which their researcher can make their findings known to the public.
7. Larger scale of coverage
Social-oriented museums are increasing rapidly and featuring more and more subjects in their exhibitions. This trend is most pronounced in private and industry museums.
8. Better service to the public
Museums offer an ever-wider range of services to draw more visitors, including educational programs, public-use facilities, more attractive environments, brochures or pieces of literature, souvenir and materials sales, food and beverage service and other amenities.
9. Computerized management systems Modern, automated systems and computerized records and image processing are finding greater use in administrative jobs, collection registration, exhibition publicity and data management, bringing sweeping changes and improvements in operations.
10. Changes in the roles of museums
Modern museums have adopted the idea of life-long learning by taking up functions as places to study and learn. They are incorporating more ideas not only from educational theories, sociology but also economics.
Ⅱ. The role of museum staffs in a changing society
1. Acquire and use the latest available information; study constantly and continue to growth.
2. Actively take part in museum- related activities.
3. Plan and carry out useful, worthwhile research projects.
4. Understand the needs of visitors in order to provide satisfied services.
5. Utilize available scientific instruments and equipment to enhance working efficiency.
Ⅲ. Conclusion
Although the museum is not a magic institution, it can be an extremely useful teaching tool for the adult public. Museum employees must always be aware of and learn from the latest trends to ensure that their growth and the museum can also continue to develop. The results of empirical research are the foundation for growth in the future. I hope that everyone will work to make the National Science and Technology Museum the best place to learn outside of school.