Lucille,

The criteria we use to distinguish general display from an exhibition of
permanent collection objects are time and space.  If there is a start
and end time as well as a designated space for the objects, then this is
considered an exhibition.  Usually a title and theme accompany the
display.  An exhibition record is then created in TMS with these objects
linked to it.  It comes in handy during the few times when we borrow
objects from local lenders to enhance the exhibition.  I then link the
loan record as well.


Christine Droll
Collections Database Administrator
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak Street
Kansas City, MO  64111-1873
Office: 816.751.1333
Fax: 816.751.0499


-----Original Message-----
From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Lucille Stiger
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 3:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Exhibition History

Hi Everyone,

I have a question about using the exhibition module. Do you add/create
exhibitions for objects that are on display as part of the permanent
collection and have no official exhibition title or do you just keep
track of these items in the location fields in the Objects Module?  In
our former database, we keep a running exhibition list, and when an
item was on display as part of the general permanent collection we
just called the exhibition "Permanent Collection."  It was nice to
print out a chronological list of the exhibitions and dates in order
to calculate light exposure time or just exhibition time. I'm
wondering how TMS users are handling general permanent exhibition
displays and the exhibition history of an object.

Any advice/insight would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Lucille Stiger
Registrar
Allen Memorial Art Museum
Oberlin College
87 North Main Street
Oberlin, OH  44074
Tel: 440.775.8668
Fax: 440.775.8799