Museum Information Service- Its Management and Marketing

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About the Book The book comprises of three major aspects that are essential for museums. These are Museum Information Service, Management and Marketing of Information Service. This is a complete survey based book, written on Indian perspective. Analyses on various survey results have been included that highlights the present scenario of information dissemination in Indian museums and dissatisfactions of people.

The study points out why visitors' number is so less in Indian museums that is causing hindrance in surviving the museums successfully. Various modes of information dissemination are suggested and hope that these can help museums to satisfy visitors, common people and users. A plan is given for developing the Information Service in Indian museums. Suggestions are also given in order to overcome problems like financial crisis, administrative problems, shortage of human resource, poor infrastructure and age-old image in society.

An attempt has been made on managing information systematically to provide access to users and retrieve information instantly, taking utmost security. Various aspects of marketing of information service are also given in the book that can guide museums in attracting people, enhancing image and earn revenue.

About the Author Dr. Dhriti Ray has had a good academic career all throughout. She did her M. Sc. in Museology in 1998 with First Class First Rank in the Calcutta University. She was awarded Ph. D. Degree by this University in 2006 for her Thesis on "Museum Information Service - Its Management and Marketing for the survival of museums in India Today". She has contributed some research papers on this theme and also edited a Book, 'Vision Success' - a guide on academic and professional courses, jobs etc.' in 2005. She was an UGC-NET-Fellow in the Department of Museology, Calcutta University. She has also obtained P.G. Diploma in Public Relations from the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata. Currently she is an External Project Investigator In-Charge of the Asiatic Society, Kolkata and doing her Post Doctoral research work in the field of Cultural History of the Nagas and the Manipuris, since April, 2007.

Foreword The present day researches on the discipline of Museology have gained considerable importance. Museums in India are no more considered as merely the storehouse of curiosities or Azab Ghar (House of Wonders).

With the rapid progress of modern science and technology, Information Service in Museum has attained much progress and development. Present book entitled, 'Museum Information Service-Its Management and Marketing' by Dr. Dhriti Ray has laid emphasis on the proper use of information service for the visitors of all categories in museum so that visitors are more attracted to visit and enjoy museum. Proposals have been offered by the author for the utilization of information service, proper information marketing, and maintenance of public relations through information service within and outside museum, so that museums of this country can stand in the present day competition with zoological gardens, amusement parks, edu entertainment institutes and various information channels including television and internet. All the suggestions put forward by the author will help Indian museums to survive as a true public service organization in the days to come.

The author has covered quite a good number of museums in the country including few museums of North-East India.

The book deals with several aspects of Museum Science like museum information service, developmental process of information service in museum, problems regarding development of the above service in Indian museums and probable solutions as well as management and marketing of information service.

There is no denying to the fact that the book will be a useful addition in the subject for scholars, researchers and museum professionals of the country.

Preface Information Service has the power to place an institution in the top of its popularity because information is the doubtless demand of this century. It is very hard to realize that having infinite information resources regarding our History, Art, Science, Technology and rich Cultural Heritage, Indian museums are not being able to gain popularity in our society till today. Many Indian museums are already closed and many are in verge of closing due to very poor number of visitor and even no visitors for long time. One of the reasons behind this situation is the silent attitude of Indian museums that has restricted museums to reach among common people. The time has come to realize every museum authorities that no organization can live in an 'Island of Isolation'; everyone has to speak about itself to survive successfully along with other similar organizations.

In this present scenario of Indian museums, an attempt has been made to establish the necessity of Information Service in museums of India today. The research has been done in more than hundred museums and monuments throughout India to study the reasons behind the dissatisfaction of people as well as their information demand from museums and problems from museums' side in supplying and managing information. Assessing the entire circumstances, it is instituted that an Information Service supported by strong management and marketing strategies can help an Indian museum in better functioning and surviving successfully as a public service institution. The service has the ability to reach target people that in turn can increase the number of users, visitors and tourists in a museum. It is expected that the service can earn good image and popularity of museum in society, overcoming all the barriers.

In this book I have tried to present the result of my research work that I was carried from 2001 to 2005 as a Fellow of the University Grant Commission in the Department of Museology, University of Calcutta for Ph.D. Degree on the topic-'Museum Information Service - Its Management and Marketing for the survival of museums in India today'. The thesis was approved for Ph.D. Degree of the University of Calcutta in January 2006. There is no material changed between the original and the published version of the Thesis. Only addition in this book is the addition of the 'Right to Information Act', 2005 of the Government of India as an Appendix IV. This is the most relevant and essential addition to the subject matter of the book. I could not able to add this Act at the time of the submission of my Thesis because this is enacted in October, 2005.

Introduction Museum is an institution in the service of society and its development. It is the ethical guardian as well as owner of country's heritage. Museum is not only established for acquisition, storage, preservation and display of objects of past but also for education, research, entertainment and dissemination of information, which are hidden in its objects, for public's benefit and to preserve them in people's mind for generation after generation.

Over hundred museums of India that are randomly surveyed at the time of doing research on this topic, it is found that 85% (approximate) of them only display and store objects of the past. There is no provision to know more about the information related to objects due to poor resource management and lack of an organized information service. This disheartens many visitors to visit museums, since they first come to see the treasure and then want to enrich themselves about the material evidences. It is also found that maximum museum visitors do not want to know about these valuable assets of the country due to lack of any attraction and interest that are developed in them by the monotonous way of presentation of museum exhibits. Lack of general awareness regarding peoples' 'Freedom' to know information and 'Right to Information' in this case indirectly encourage the reluctant attitude of information management from the museums' side.

Museums are not only for elite people, educated persons and researchers, who can explore museum objects by themselves for their requirements. Museum belongs to everybody and exists to serve general people. It is therefore, the duty of all museums to present information related to their objects, to everyone in form of entertainment so that people can get interest and know about their country's heritage. Moreover, it is essential to inform target visitors positively at appropriate moment, so that at right time they can be aware of museum's activities and be prepared mentally to visit museums.

There are nearly 800 registered museums and nearly hundred categories of museums are present in India today. But till many people have no clear idea about museum's functioning, though the concept of the present model of museum came here about 200-years back by the British. Many museums have written mission plan, formulated during the establishment of that museum, but no strong effort has taken to fulfill it later on. As a result museum awareness among general people is till not adequately developed in India. Majority of people believes that museum is a storehouse of ancient objects and dead specimens and popularly well known as 'Ajab Ghar', which means 'House of Wonder'.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages