Purpose

This study aims to provide an overview of the usage of stored collections in museums located worldwide. To achieve this purpose, some results gathered across five continents through a survey conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 are set out.

Design/methodology/approach

Museums hold collections so that people can benefit from them. Items need to be preserved as well. To achieve this purpose, a considerable portion of museum collections is kept in storage. Consequently, museums that can show a significant part of their whole collections are few and far between. This scenario implies collections, the “very heart” of museums, are not accessible to the general public. In addition, the lack of space and the poor documentation exacerbate the scenario in terms of accessibility. This study aims to provide an overview of the usage of stored collections in museums located worldwide. In order to achieve this purpose, some results gathered across five continents through a survey conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 are set out. The research figures show that only 5% of museum stored collections are accessible to the general public. To enhance the accessibility of stored collections, museums have been adopting some strategies. Amongst them, some museums have opened up visible storage, lent or exchanged their items. Despite their contribution to overcoming the burning issue related to the accessibility of stored collections, these strategies imply a physical presence of visitors so as to enjoy collections. Digitization of collections is one alternative strategy adopted by a plethora of museums to increase the accessibility of collections. This solution boasts many advantages inasmuch as it overcomes many of the typical disadvantages of the other strategies, such as geographical constraints. Moreover, people can enjoy collections, and museums can ensure the adequate preservation of them. Thus, the digitization of items is the epitome of accessibility since, potentially, all collections can be made accessible, and museums can take care of them simultaneously. The study highlights the benefits of digital access and compares it with physical access. In addition, the research sheds light on how documentation supports collection management and increases accessibility.

Findings

The research figures show that only 5% of museum stored collections are accessible to the general public. To enhance the accessibility of stored collections, museums have been adopting some strategies. Amongst them, some museums have opened up visible storage, lent or exchanged their items. Despite their contribution to overcoming the burning issue related to the accessibility of stored collections, these strategies imply a physical presence of visitors so to enjoy collections.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study are based on quantitative analysis. Therefore, this study might be integrated with interviews' with visitors. It would be interesting to shed light on people's opinions concerning what museums are doing in the digital realm, such as the digital content in terms of the number of items, quality of images and ease of searching.

Practical implications

This study might provide practical implications for museums and people. One important contribution is the awareness of how the appropriateness of collections management plays a crucial role in preserving collections and making them accessible to the public. Another possible implication is that museums can enlarge their visibility through digital content, both because they have not digitized and due to the dimension of their digital content. This goal might be achieved by sharing the staff with specific expertise with other institutions or recruiting volunteers and involving local communities in common tasks (so that professionals could dedicate themselves to more skilled undertakings). An alternative might be to network with local universities so as to benefit from practitioners in the digital field. Last but not least, these findings could raise the awareness that museums are facing the problem of making stored collections accessible, thereby increasing the trust in museums from the general public.

Social implications

Digitization of collections is one alternative strategy adopted by a plethora of museums so to increase the accessibility of collections. This solution boasts many advantages inasmuch as it overcomes many of the typical disadvantages of the other strategies, such as geographical constraints. Moreover, people can enjoy collections and museums can ensure the adequate preservation of them. Thus, the digitization of items is the epitome of accessibility since, potentially, all collections can be made accessible, and museums can take care of them simultaneously.

Originality/value

The study highlights the benefits of digital access and compares it with physical access. In addition, the research sheds light on how documentation supports collection management and increases accessibility.

中文翻译：

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馆藏可见性的数字化

目的

本研究旨在概述全球博物馆中存储的藏品的使用情况。为实现这一目标，我们列出了通过 2020 年 12 月至 2021 年 1 月期间进行的一项调查在五大洲收集的一些结果。

设计/方法/途径

博物馆收藏藏品，以便人们可以从中受益。物品也需要保存。为了实现这一目的，相当一部分博物馆藏品被存放起来。因此，能够展示其全部藏品的重要部分的博物馆少之又少。这种情况意味着藏品是博物馆的“核心”，公众无法访问。此外，缺乏空间和糟糕的文档加剧了可访问性方面的情况。本研究旨在概述全球博物馆中存储的藏品的使用情况。为了实现这一目标，我们列出了通过 2020 年 12 月至 2021 年 1 月期间进行的一项调查在五大洲收集的一些结果。研究数据显示，只有 5% 的博物馆藏品可供公众使用。为了提高存储藏品的可访问性，博物馆一直在采用一些策略。其中，部分博物馆开辟了看得见的储藏室，借出或交换了藏品。尽管它们有助于解决与存储藏品的可访问性相关的紧迫问题，但这些策略意味着访问者必须亲自到场才能欣赏藏品。藏品数字化是众多博物馆为增加藏品的可访问性而采用的一种替代策略。该解决方案具有许多优点，因为它克服了其他策略的许多典型缺点，例如地理限制。此外，人们可以享受收藏，博物馆可以确保对它们进行充分的保存。因此，物品的数字化是可访问性的缩影，因为潜在地，所有藏品都可以访问，博物馆可以同时处理它们。该研究强调了数字访问的好处，并将其与物理访问进行了比较。此外，该研究阐明了文档如何支持馆藏管理并增加可访问性。

发现

研究数据显示，只有 5% 的博物馆藏品可供公众使用。为了提高存储藏品的可访问性，博物馆一直在采用一些策略。其中，部分博物馆开辟了看得见的储藏室，借出或交换了藏品。尽管它们有助于克服与​​存储馆藏的可访问性相关的紧迫问题，但这些策略意味着访问者必须亲自到场才能欣赏馆藏。

研究局限性/影响

本研究的结果基于定量分析。因此，这项研究可能会与访问者的访谈相结合。阐明人们对博物馆在数字领域所做工作的看法会很有趣，例如在项目数量、图像质量和搜索便利性方面的数字内容。

实际影响

这项研究可能会为博物馆和人们提供实际意义。一项重要的贡献是意识到馆藏管理的适当性如何在保护馆藏和使公众能够访问馆藏方面发挥关键作用。另一个可能的含义是，博物馆可以通过数字内容扩大他们的知名度，这既是因为他们没有数字化，也是因为他们的数字内容的维度。这一目标可以通过与其他机构共享具有特定专业知识的员工或招募志愿者并让当地社区参与共同任务来实现（这样专业人员就可以致力于更有技能的事业）。另一种方法可能是与当地大学建立联系，以便从数字领域的从业者那里受益。最后但并非最不重要的，

社会影响

藏品数字化是众多博物馆采用的一种替代策略，以增加藏品的可访问性。该解决方案具有许多优点，因为它克服了其他策略的许多典型缺点，例如地理限制。此外，人们可以享受收藏品，博物馆可以确保它们得到充分保存。因此，物品的数字化是可访问性的缩影，因为潜在地，所有藏品都可以访问，博物馆可以同时处理它们。

原创性/价值

该研究强调了数字访问的好处，并将其与物理访问进行了比较。此外，该研究阐明了文档如何支持馆藏管理并增加可访问性。