Learning how museums function

A museum can be defined as a non-profit permanent institution in the service of the society and its development, open to the open the public which acquire, conserve, researches, communicate and exhibit tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purpose of education, study and enjoyment.

This definition clearly states that the functions of the museum include, acquisition of objects/collection of objects, conservation of objects, carrying out research on objects, exhibition of objects to the public and documentation of objects.

There are different types of collection, which include ceremonial collections, agricultural implement collections, shelter and comfort collections, aesthetic collections, warfare and security collections, transport and communication collections and natural history collection.

These items could, therefore, be acquired through field collection, purchasing, gifts and donations, loan, transfer, exchange, seizure, return or restitution and accidental findings.

In conservation of objects, which is another function of museum, this can be described as the process that leads to the prolongation of life of cultural properties for its utilisation now and in future.

Exhibition of object is one of the foremost functions of the museum to the public. It involves the producing of the collection in an educative and entertaining way to the public.

In the area of documentation, objects are documented in order to keep their proper record in a systematic manner for easy retrieval. This is another important function of the museum, while education/communication of object is to educate the public on the vital functions of museum in the 21st century.

• Adeyera is Chief Technical Officer (Conservation), National Museum of Unity, Ibadan.

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