First, the role of shelving in collection management
As the collection is the material basis of various business activities of the museum, the preservation of the collection is not only directly related to the life of the collection, but also directly related to the use of the collection in various exhibitions. After a cultural relic is collected into the museum, once it is selected for identification, it must be registered and become the cultural property of the country. From then on, it is no longer a cultural relic in the ordinary sense, but a collection of museums, and its protection and management are brought into the normal track of standardized warehouse management. Therefore, after each cultural relic enters the museum, it is necessary to arrange a relatively fixed storage location, and this work is shelving.
Shelving is actually the arrangement and positioning of cultural relics entering Tibet. A seemingly simple sorting job actually contains rich connotations. Scientific shelving is not only the basis of standardized management of museum collection warehouses, but also an effective guarantee for long-term safe storage of collections. Therefore, scientific shelving, as a means of warehouse management, aims to achieve standardized management, proper preservation, convenient retrieval and inventory of collections.
Second, several conditions needed for scientific shelving
The shelving of museum collections is different from that of other industries. It is not simply for storage and turnover, but to follow certain principles, which are based on certain conditions. Without these necessary conditions, it is difficult to shelve science.
First of all, the collection shelf should have a fixed warehouse and a special cabinet shelf. A fixed warehouse and a dedicated cabinet rack are the necessary basis for the collection to be put on shelves, and are the security guarantee for the scientific management and long-term preservation of the collection. According to the provisions of the Measures for the Administration of Museum Collections, museums should not only have fixed warehouses, but also "special warehouses", and at the same time meet certain safety conditions and have an environment suitable for long-term preservation of collections. On the other hand, warehouses should also be equipped with special collection racks. Cabinet rack is an indispensable equipment of museum warehouse, and it is the material guarantee for the collection to be put on shelves. It is impossible for any museum's collection warehouse to lay out the collected cultural relics in a plane, and there must be special cabinets suitable for long-term storage of various collections in order to realize the scientific shelving of the collections.
Secondly, scientific classification is the premise of collection shelving. The scientific nature of shelving is based on classified management according to texture. Without scientific classification, there is no reasonable storage in Tibet. Without reasonable storage, there will be no scientific shelving, which will not provide the best environment for the long-term storage of the collection, and the safety of the collection will not be guaranteed. Of course, it is impossible to manage the collection scientifically and orderly, and it is also impossible to achieve and realize the purpose of "proper storage and convenient use". The Manual for the Preservation of Museum Collections also clearly points out: "Only scientific shelving according to categories can ensure the collection to be properly kept, make it easy to use, and achieve the purpose of orderly management and retrieval." Therefore, scientific classification is the premise of warehouse book shelving.
Thirdly, scientific and reasonable planning is the guarantee for the smooth implementation of collection shelving. Whether the museum moves to a new warehouse or re-implements shelving on the basis of the original warehouse, it needs to make reasonable planning in the early stage. Planning includes general layout and specific arrangements: the general layout should be consistent with the warehouse building. In this process, we should not only consider the actual situation of various collections in the museum, but also consider a series of issues such as the size of the building area, the height of the space, the equipment and location of security and fire fighting facilities, and the floor layout of the warehouse. Specific arrangements should take into account the types of collections stored in each warehouse, the placement position of cabinets or shelves, the number and arrangement order of cabinets and shelves. In fact, there are many details that we need to seriously consider before putting them on hold. The more we think, the more detailed and comprehensive we consider, the less we regret. Once the shelving work is completed, it will not only waste time and manpower, but also affect the safety of cultural relics movement.
Three, several common shelving methods and their advantages and disadvantages
1. Shelving method with sequence as the main line
This shelving method is usually called the large number shelving method. The so-called big row number is arranged according to the order in which a collection enters Tibet, with the first one in front and the last one in the back. This shelving method is divided into two situations: one is that all collections are numbered uniformly; The other is to sort the collections with the same texture on the premise of scientific classification. The biggest advantage of the large number shelving method is that it is easy to check and check, and it is also the simplest shelving method in the collection. It doesn't need to consider the entry of subsequent collections, as long as there is a vacancy at the back, which is simple and easy. This kind of shelving is the most primitive method, and it is also a common shelving method for some cultural relics collection units (such as city and county cultural management offices) with few initial collections or limited conditions.
Anyone who knows the management of museum collections knows that it is unscientific to arrange the number of collections without considering the texture. It can only be used as a temporary, short-term shelf for temporary collection in some way. For a museum with a certain scale or a cultural relic collection unit with various textures, the disadvantages of this large-scale shelving method are obvious, and it is not based on the times, categories, textures, functions and shapes. The mixed storage of various textures can only be harmful to the long-term preservation of collections, and it can't match the requirements of modern management of museum warehouses today. The shelving method with large rows can store a small number of collections on the premise of classification and texture classification. For example, the number of iron collections per unit where the author works is only 100, and the method of the same texture, the same storage conditions, low activity and many rows is basically applicable.
2. The shelving method with the times as the main line.
As the name implies, this arrangement is based on the order of the times, supplemented by function and modeling. When shelved, there was primitive society first, then slave society and feudal society. Primitive social periods are arranged according to archaeological cultural periods, starting from Peiligang culture 8000 years ago, followed by Yangshao culture, Longshan culture, Erlitou culture (Xia Dynasty), Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty, Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States, Qin, Western Han Dynasty, Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms. At the same time, according to the shape of the utensils, such as the collection of pottery; There are also shelving methods based on the times, supplemented by regions and kiln mouths, such as porcelain collection; There is also a shelving method with the times as the main line, supplemented by countries and figures, which is mainly used for pre-Qin currency collection.
The biggest advantage of this shelving method is that the context of the times is clear, and the combination of homogeneity and contemporary objects is clear, which is convenient for the horizontal research and management of the collection. However, according to the actual situation that the collection is increasing year by year, this arrangement method needs to reserve a certain space in advance in each period, even behind each shape, for the use of new collections in the future. How much space do you need in advance? This is an unknown that is difficult to estimate. Therefore, once the reserved space is used up, the watchman will face the arduous task of moving backwards from the place lacking space. This is an unavoidable problem and its shortcoming of the book shelving method with the times as the main line.
3. Form-oriented shelving method
As a general history or comprehensive museum, its collections are mostly three-dimensional objects. Under the premise of strict texture classification, shelving according to the shape of containers is also one of the methods often used in most museums.
In fact, it is not accurate to say that it is a shelving method with shape as the main line, because there is a functional auxiliary line in it before considering shape. For example, the first consideration for the placement of bronze collections is the function, such as eating, drinking and washing utensils, musical instruments, weapons, chariots and horses, tools, daily necessities and so on. In the food container, the cooker is in front, and the tripod, the pot and the pot are arranged in turn; Behind the food container are reeds, reeds, beans and so on. Ding's shelving began in the early Shang Dynasty, and then went to the middle and late period, the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Each era should not only be in the order of morning and evening, but also consider that the same type of artifacts in the same country or cemetery are concentrated together (for example, in the Spring and Autumn Period, there were many small countries in the Central Plains. In recent years, the continuous discovery and excavation of bronzes in Zheng, Chu, Huang and other countries have made it possible to consider the national tendency according to the shape of the vessels. This shelving method is based on the preliminary analysis of the collection, which not only facilitates us to observe and understand the occurrence, development and change track of a certain shape in different periods, but also provides convenience for further research.
Of course, like the time-oriented shelving method, this shelving method also has the problem of reserving space. But it is slightly better than the time-oriented shelving method. Once the space reserved behind is not enough, a small number of shapes can be put forward and put aside separately to make room for the front shapes. Judging from the warehouse managed by the author, the reserved space nearly 10 years ago was still sufficient, which also means that the collection replenishment speed of a museum during 10 years is extremely limited.
4. Shelving method with surname strokes as the main line
The collections in museums vary widely, and different types of choices are placed in different ways. The shelving method with the author's name and strokes as the main line is mostly used for calligraphy and painting collection. Most of these collections are made of paper and fiber, and the preservation conditions and methods are similar. Judging from the collection of ancient paintings and calligraphy in China Museum, except for several large museums such as Guo Bo, Forbidden City, Shang Bo and Liao Bo, most of the paintings and calligraphy collections in general museums are works from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and later. According to the author's surname and strokes, the works of an author are relatively concentrated together, which also facilitates the understanding and research of the author and works, and is a convenient and fast shelving method.
In addition, some museum collections are shelved on the basis of classification, supplemented by principles such as level, age, region (kiln mouth or author) and shape. Different professional museums have their own customized shelving methods for their collections. Such as: geological museum, Natural History Museum, Thematic Museum, Memorial Hall, etc.
For small museums and cultural relics collection units with only one warehouse or a small warehouse, it is best to divide the big room into small spaces, add several devices in the small environment, adjust a collection storage environment suitable for relatively high temperature and humidity, and store some collections, so as to achieve the purpose of sorting out and shelving the collections. For warehouses that cannot be partitioned, several sealed collection cabinets with transparent windows should be added, and temperature and humidity meters should be placed in the windows. According to the situation in the sealed cabinet, properly use dehumidifiers or humidifiers to adjust the small environment and store those exquisite collections, so as to achieve the purpose of relatively scientific management, sorting, shelving and entering the cabinet.
Four, several problems that should be paid attention to in the collection shelving work.
1, necessary preparations should be made before shelving.
Each warehouse should be arranged reasonably with appropriate spacing; The cabinet frame is firm in structure and stable in placement; Rack numbers are orderly and clear. At the same time, taking into account the texture of the collection stored in the cabinet frame, smooth and fragile collections (jade, glassware, etc. ) Before shelving, it should be covered with linen and felt pads for anti-skid treatment; Before folding fragile collectibles (flags, costumes, paper products, etc.), accessories such as drums, mesh plates or brackets should be prepared in advance. ) it's all bent The preliminary preparation is trivial and complicated, but it is a reliable guarantee for the smooth implementation in the later period.
2, bent in the process of implementation must be carried out in strict accordance with the operating specifications.
Over the years, museums have issued strict rules and regulations, such as the Operating Rules for Collection Classification and Shelving in the Management Regulations of the Palace Museum and the Operating Rules for Collection Safety in Henan Museum. In particular, the Henan Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics, as the administrative organ of cultural relics management, issued a special document in September 2006, promulgating the "Post Specification for Cultural Relics Collectors in Henan Province", which made all easily folded and fragile collections as flat as possible and prohibited from being piled up. Special treatment should be given to special shapes, such as oversized and overweight counters or special storage, ultra-small fragile boxes and storage boxes.
3. The follow-up work has a long way to go.
After the shelving work is completed, the orientation of each collection should be sorted out as soon as possible, or the collection classification card (ledger) should be re-injected, or the orientation map should be drawn to make the serial number index book. Museums or cultural relics collection units that implement computer collection management shall, in accordance with the requirements of their software design procedures, input the orientation information of the collection into the computer for retrieval. It can be seen that no matter what form it takes, as long as it can quickly find the location of the collection according to the map. But this is only the first step of shelving the work, and the collection location arrangement at this stage has been completed. It should also be emphasized that with the active collection of museum collections, new cultural relics will be continuously collected into museums through various ways or channels, and the shelving of collections will continue from beginning to end. On the other hand, the purpose of preserving cultural relics is to use, and the work of extracting and returning cultural relics is endless. Scientific and standardized warehouse management requires that every storekeeper must take every collection and withdrawal seriously, and the withdrawal should not only comply with the system provisions, but also indicate the time and destination on the original account books, drawings, cards and computers that indicate the direction. When the collection is returned to the library, it should be put back to its original place as soon as possible, and it should not be misplaced for a long time. Adhere to every scientific and standardized operation, in order to provide a reliable guarantee for the next convenient and quick inventory and use.
In recent years, with the rapid development of China's social economy, the people's demand for spiritual civilization is getting higher and higher, and the state has gradually increased its investment in museum construction. News of the foundation stone laying or completion of new large museums, renovation of small and medium-sized museums and reconstruction of collection warehouses has been coming from various media, which makes everyone in the museum happy. When a museum is completed or the warehouse is rebuilt, and the collection is moved back to Tibet, I hope everyone can scientifically arrange shelves and standardize management according to the actual situation of the museum, create an environment suitable for the long-term safe storage of the collection, maximize the life of the collection, and make the warehouse work have a brand-new start.