What is museum storage?
The term ‘Museum Storage’ is used for any storage solution that is specifically made for the storage of historic artifacts or samples. Depending upon the nature of those samples, these can vary from artwork racking, industrial racking, static and mobile shelving, cabinets and drawer units such as our plan chests.
Protecting items for future generations.
It is important that focused museum storage units provide not only storage space for a museum’s objects, archival items and specimens, but also provide the maximum protection to the collections of the museum.
Museum storage units should protect and preserve the museum’s collection in the most effective and efficient way (in terms of the control of light, moisture and temperature), they should be well planned and organised to reduce the risk to the objects.
Features of a good museum storage solution.
- Provides good organisation
- Provides security against fire
- Provides security from unauthorised individuals
- Provides appropriate environmental conditions for each item
Museum storage units provide a buffer between the object and its immediate environment, and should protect the items they hold in the best conditions possible. In addition, any chosen museum storage system should support the cataloguing and organisation of a collection in the best possible way.
In Conclusion
A museum’s collection requires safe and secure storage space, and conditions to suit the objects being kept. The museum storage solution, and the conditions within the storage area itself should reflect the needs of the items being stored. Between them they should aim to provide the perfect conditions in which to preserve the items.
In terms of space, with ever growing and changing collections any solution installed needs to be both flexible and expandable as the needs of the museum change.