1. Opening up collections Aren’t your collections a public resource? www.ucl.ac.uk/storedcollections/ Pilgrim Trust

3. How many users? 20% of respondents, 400+ users p.a. = 36 ‘more users’ museums 400 The 80% ‘Fewer Users’ museums

5. Promoting access to collections 1999 - 98% of respondents offered access to stored material, less than 22% promoted it in museum literature

9. Q.16 Can the public access the stored collections? If so, how? 

12. Users said … Sometimes I’ve had great success and fun, other times it’s been like pulling teeth Only positive is staff – consistently helpful and positive The readiness to allow the viewing and photographing of collections, made my task remarkably easy. Make the first statement: “We want to make our stored collections more accessible … Please come in” Employ a collections interpreter who can assist people Do it! The collections are a brilliant resource for secondary schools I have had a positive experience in accessing museum archives because the majority of museum staff have been keen to help and have taken an interest in my research.

13. But it wasn’t all rosy … We have suffered at the hands of unscrupulous researchers who systematically ‘nick’ documents and images … would only consider even giving me the number to call to arrange a visit … once I had produced my Student ID to prove I was a post-graduate student. Phone calls never returned, no specific email given, general email elicited no response. We caught one visitor with a specialist group stuffing objects into his pockets - very embarassing

14. What about the numbers? Visited by many Inspiration to some Thanks to the National Trust, Tyntesfield, who developed this concept Preserved for everyone to a significant few Pivotal exper-ience Special interests: programmes, events, special days, societies The general public: visits to the collections in general, e.g. store tours, open stores One-to-one engagement: researchers, artists, for social benefits, volunteers

15. Visited by many

16. Visited by many

17. Visited by many Access days to sections of store once a month Usually 4 advertised store tours per year Strong links with schools, local colleges/uni’s, community groups, other museums and Archive Service users … we preserve working practices… People come to see this … … nothing in the reserve is of consequence. EVERYTHING worthwhile is on display. Several enthusiast groups who are well acquainted with the collection Mainly local and specialist groups … 

18. Inspiration to some - research

19. Inspiration to some Rugby enthusiasts, family history, sports historians Musical instrument makers & designers Dissertation students, volunteers, Cold War researchers, archaeological researchers/academics People interested in pierhead painters … Gypsy Travellers to see our Gypsy Wagons and Gypsy Floral Tribute A level textile students City & Guilds patchwork & quilting students Women with a specialist interest in our collections Visiting professors from Russia

20. Inspiration to some Artists, local arts groups, colleges, schools etc Arts Council funding

21. Creative inspiration

22. Inspiration for some - learning

23. Inspiration - history, memory

24. Pivotal experience “ Volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds and organisations including local mental health charities and disability organisations” Volunteer … long periods out of work due to depression … regularly since 2004 … important collections management with archaeology … Placement via … Association for the Blind … now full time employment in admin., having developed new skills …

26. Management factors Strategic priority Performance indicators/ targets Promotion / marketing Record visitors? What makes for ‘ more’ use? Collection factors Collection type Collection size (no. of objects, storage area) Designated/national collecn. Resource or collections centre Has a subject curator User factors Level, trend in interest and demand Purpose Find out about collections Gain access How access provided Place factors Region Type of place (city, rural, small town) Transport Resource factors Finance Had a grant Staffing levels Space Accommodation for collecns. study Staff perspectives What factors most important What is addressed satisfactorily What are the obstacles Are collecns. sufficiently well used Museum factors Type of museum Size of museum Registered, accredited On-site store Has collections itself 

28. The storage loft is accessible by loft ladder … Main store is 2 miles away and difficult for public to access. It is not staffed. Current fashion … to promote “use it or lose it” without supplying the means and support … problematised by conservation attitudes based on deep packaging and reducing exposure and handling.

36. Collections for People Suzanne Keene, Alice Stevenson, Francesca Monti www.ucl.ac.uk/storedcollections/ And thank you to … Pilgrim Trust