Starting out and planning

PLAN 1 MANUAL OF MUSEUM PLANNING / B. LORD & G.D. LORD (ed) (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester, 1991)

The book covers such vital questions as: the diversity of communities; the importance of knowing the market; understanding the needs of the museum visitor; fund raising; site selection methods; and the role of the director, staff, trustees and local authority.

PLAN 2+ MANAGING NEW MUSEUMS - A GUIDE TO GOOD PRACTICE / T. AMBROSE (Scottish Museums Council, 1987)

Examines the many different responsibilities which go with starting up and running a successful museum. (Has specific reference to Scotland, but very good for south of the border as well).

PLAN 3 THE LOCAL MUSEUM: NOTES FOR AMATEUR CURATORS / C. PAINE (AMSSEE, 1986)

A well-illustrated booklet of practical advice on the setting up and running of local museums, aimed principally at volunteers but useful for others as well.

PLAN 4 FORWARD PLANNING: A BASIC GUIDE FOR MUSEUMS, GALLERIES & HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS / T. AMBROSE & S. RUNYARD (ed.) (Routledge, 1991)

Provides a complete basic guide, from the principles on which planning is founded, through to the wider potentials that good planning permits. Very easy to read with contributory essays from a variety of well-known experts.

PLAN 5 SETTING UP & RUNNING A NEW MUSEUM (Association of A/B Independent Museums, 1988)

AIM Guideline No.12: identifying the many sources of help available when starting a new museum. + missing * on loan

PLAN 6 NEW VISIONS FOR INDEPENDENT MUSEUMS IN THE UK / V. MIDDLETON (Association of Independent Museums, 1990)

Highlights the key issues facing independent museums in the 1990’s and provides a structure for assessing the future for individual institutions. Excellent for non-independents as well.

PLAN 7+ MUSEUM BASICS / T AMBROSE & CRISPIN PAINE (Scottish Museums Council)

Provides a workable training guide to “best practice” in every aspect of museum work. Particular emphasis on marketing your museum, on caring for visitors and users and on managing staff and finances as well as the collection itself including its security and conservation.

PLAN 8 A YEAR IN A DAY / AMANDA KNIGHT (Sponsored by TSB c.1994)

A practical guide to setting up and running a short life campaign

PLAN 9 PRODUCING A FORWARD PLAN (MGC Guidelines for good practice, 1996)

Guidelines for Good Practice aim to assist museum curators and managers in developing their museum services to a high standard. Each set of Guidelines is produced with the assistance of appropriate specialists with extensive museum experience. The Guidelines are advisory and are designed to support curators or managers when they are seeking to develop their services beyond the basic minimum standard required by the Registration Scheme for museums and galleries.

PLAN 10 MANAGING TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IN MUSEUMS: A GUIDE (The Stationary Office, Scottish Museums Council, 1997)

A ‘self help’ guide designed to explore strategies for training and staff development.

PLAN 11 NEW VISIONS FOR MUSEUMS IN THE 21st CENTURY/ VICTOR T.C. MIDDLETON (AIM, September 1998) PLAN 12 WORKING IN NETWORK

(European Museum Advisors Conference, 11-15 May 1999) Looking at issues of co-operation: between museums themselves, between museums and other institutions, setting up museum systems, implementing networks, dealing with innovation in management forms and technologies.

PLAN 13 THE TRANSFER OF ARCHAEOLOGY ARCHIVES IN SURREY (A guidance note produced by the Archaeological Curators Group for the SMCC, June 1999)

Best practice for accepting archaeological archives.

PLAN 14 SIMPLE SUBJECT HEADINGS: BASED ON THE SOCIAL HISTORY AND INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION (MDA September 1996)

Written for small museums with local history collections ‘enables collections of artefacts to be indexed under some broad, but useful keywords.’

PLAN 15* MUSEUMS FIT FOR THE FUTURE: REGISTRATION SCHEME FOR MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (Registration Guidelines, Museums and Galleries Commission)

PLAN 16 RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARITY TRUSTEES / (Charity Commission of England and Wales, March 1996)

An outline of the responsibilities of Trustees in terms of delegating responsibility, liability, meetings, appointments and resignations and investing powers.

PLAN 17 STANDARDS IN ACTION: A GUIDE TO USING SPECTRUM / MAGGIE PEDLEY (Museum Design Association, 1998)

A formal guide to keeping records in museums with practical examples of procedures and addressing the most frequently asked questions.

PLAN 18 GETTING STARTED: FIRST STEPS TO RUNNING A NEW MUSEUM / TONY HIRST (Association of Independent Museums, June 1999)