Thursday, November 16, 2023

An Explanation of Museum Registration



*Notation - The intention of this presentation is to be a somewhat facetious characterization by someone who has great adoration for the art of museum registration. *

This dissertation about museum registration is an invitation . . . a demystification . . . a disambiguation . . . (intensification of anticipation . . . )

I have received communication in conversation that it is difficult to make a determination of what registration does unless there is an abdication of registration's participation in a museum's organization for some explanation. This representation is an attempt at illumination that registration is the centralization and standardization of the collection's information and situation.

A foundation in the equation of good collections management is the coordination of the physical care of the object's location plus its underlying documentation and itemization. While there is huge appreciation and consideration for the preparation of the actual artifact, without the correlation and association of its identification it really is just 'a thing' without true explanation or contemplation.

Registration is responsible for the initiation of objects into the computer database compartmentalization, making sure its numeration and location is tracked right from the moment it lands in the organization. Then there's the preparation for the examination at the collections committee consultation for consideration whether or not it may be accessioned into the collection with all its characterization.

Registration also works on the facilitation and orchestration of loans and their documentation, importation, transportation and their certification of valuation and indemnification. This effort can be for research loans and their investigation as well as objects being loaned in or out of the organization for presentation.

Museum work is all about collaboration, coordination and consultation. This of course means registration works well and often with the organization's departments of conservation, curation, interpretation, repatriation, education, communication, administration, presentation and exhibition installation. Registration is here to serve in the participation of the museum's celebration of its association to its community population.

So that's a quick summation, perhaps an oversimplification and generalization, but likely will do for the immediate duration as a general characterization of registration. It might not sound like much glamorization or even stimulation, but to me and others who have the occupation of museum registration, it is fascination.

Any interrogation?

Thank you for the creation of time for this self-amplification. In the near future, I hope to have the opportunity for reciprocation.

Salutation(s)!

"Museum Registration Methods" perpetuation & other books of appreciation