Ambrose, T. & C. Paine. 2006. Museum basics. Second edition. – London/New York, Routledge

Abstract

At the dawn of the 19^th century, museology started off as the professional discipline that analysed and described the structure and functioning of museums. Peter Vergo, in the introduction of his book ‘The New Museology’ (Vergo, 1989) recognises the difference between this ‘old museology’, pondering over how heritage institutions should fulfil their tasks, contrasting the ‘new museology’. The more recent new museology line of thinking offered a different central question: What is a museum? What is its function in contemporary society and how can it be utilised to fit society’s current needs? Since the early 70’s this paradigm shift fuelled a process of change in the heritage field. Museums, originally being the somewhat static, introverted institutions dealing with objects from the past, moved on to explore a new role as dynamic and flexible organisations that focus on a dialogue with audiences in the present. Read more...