The Anatomy of a Museum

Written by a museum professional and based on a course taught for many years, The Anatomy of a Museum is an engaging and accessible volume that provides a unique insider’s guide to what museums are and how they operate. An insider’s view of the rarefied world of the museum that provides a refreshing and unique account of the reality of the workings of museum life The material has been successfully tested in a course that the author has taught for 14 years Miller has extensive experience at all levels of museum work, from painting walls for exhibitions to museum directorship Clearly and engagingly written, the book covers all the component parts and various disciplines of museum operations, and opinions and perspectives are drawn from a deep knowledge of the field Includes useful pedagogical material, including questions, discussion topics,  and a range of anecdotes

Foreword vii Introduction 1 1 What is a Museum? 5 2 Museum Governance 15 3 Museum Directing 29 4 Curating=Connoisseurship=Collecting 45 5 Managing in Museums 65 6 Audience: A Matter of Definition 109 7 Fundraising 117 8 Collection Management 131 9 Museum Education 139 10 Numbers 145 11 Conservation: The Preservation Imperative 155 12 Exhibitions: Show and Tell 167 13 Maintenance and Security 183 14 Museums and the Media 201 15 Architecture 207 16 Volunteers 221 17 Behavior 227 18 Museum Ethics 241 19 What’s Next for Museums? 255 Appendix I: A Course Final 263 Index 267