Collection: Museum of Communication

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  A revised classification scheme has been created for use from now on. This is more generic and wide-ranging than the previous scheme and is designed to link largely objectively to a new database structure. There are 12 classes as follows for accessioned objects which together form the Core Collection:

  • Audio
  • Archives
  • Components
  • Data Comms
  • Electrostatics
  • ICT
  • Radio
  • Sensors
  • Technical Support
  • Telephony
  • Television
  • Video

  Individual books, periodicals, manuals, films and recordings which provide data and information in the field of communications will continue to be collected. However, these data objects will not be accessioned unless, in individual cases, they were originally supplied in support of a communications object in the form of a user manual, a set of operating software or similar. In those cases they will be linked to and accessioned with the accessioned objects to which they refer. However, the vast majority of data objects will be held in the Supporting Data Collection which will not be accessioned.

  Selected objects will be set aside for object handling purposes. They will be collectively designated as the Handling Collection and will not be accessioned.

  While selected component objects will be held in the Components Class of accessioned objects, the large majority of individual components will be held in the non-accessioned Spares Collection.

  Objects which are incomplete or in poor condition but are worthy of retention because they could be restored, or could be used to restore a similar object, will be held non-accessioned in the Incomplete Objects Collection.

  In a limited number of cases, objects of a non electrical nature will be acquired. This is permitted so that the earlier stages of development of products, which have more recently been manufactured as electrical or electronic communication products, can be illustrated, In a similar vein, the limited collecting of objects which set the historical context of communications objects is also permitted. All such supporting’ objects are to be classified as Historical Support objects and will not be accessioned because they are not core collection objects.

  In summary;

  The Core Collection	Accessioned
  The Supporting Data Collection	Non Accessioned
  The Handling Collection	Non-Accessioned
  The Spares Collection	Non-Accessioned
  The Incomplete Objects Collection	Non-Accessioned
  The Historical Support Collection	Non-Accessioned

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2014

  Licence: CC BY-NC