Wiley The Anatomy of a Museum: An Insider's Text

Written by a museum professional and based on a course taught for many years, The Anatomy of a Museum is an engaging and accessible volume that provides a unique insider’s guide to what museums are and how they operate. An insider’s view of the rarefied world of the museum that provides a refreshing and unique account of the reality of the workings of museum lifeThe material has been successfully tested in a course that the author has taught for 14 yearsMiller has extensive experience at all levels of museum work, from painting walls for exhibitions to museum directorshipClearly and engagingly written, the book covers all the component parts and various disciplines of museum operations, and opinions and perspectives are drawn from a deep knowledge of the fieldIncludes useful pedagogical material, including questions, discussion topics,  and a range of anecdotes From the Inside Flap The Anatomy of a Museum provides an insightful and candid look at what museums are and how they operate, from the perspective of a professional who has been a leader in the industry for more than forty years, and who has extensive experience in all the core elements of the field. Written in a style that is engaging, humorous and honest, it is the first single-volume, substantive text to reveal the collective and collaborative inner-workings of museums from a real-world perspective, as well as offering the occasional exposé of museum life. The book explains the component parts and disciplines found within these unique institutions. Amongst other topics, this broad ranging text reviews the fundamentals of governance, directing, curating, fundraising, conservation, education, management, maintenance and security. The narrative presents philosophical ideals but the text is reality-based, and all perspectives, annecdotes and opinions are drawn from experience. This is the ideal text for students of Museum Studies, having been based on a course that author has taught for 14 years; however, it is also invaluable for anyone working within the Museum industry, from entry level professionals to museum directors; in addition, it provides an engrossing read to the general reader who wants to discover the insider workings of a museum. From the Back Cover The Anatomy of a Museum provides an insightful and candid look at what museums are and how they operate, from the perspective of a professional who has been a leader in the industry for more than forty years, and who has extensive experience in all the core elements of the field. Written in a style that is engaging, humorous and honest, it is the first single-volume, substantive text to reveal the collective and collaborative inner-workings of museums from a real-world perspective, as well as offering the occasional exposé of museum life. The book explains the component parts and disciplines found within these unique institutions. Amongst other topics, this broad ranging text reviews the fundamentals of governance, directing, curating, fundraising, conservation, education, management, maintenance and security. The narrative presents philosophical ideals but the text is reality-based, and all perspectives, annecdotes and opinions are drawn from experience. This is the ideal text for students of Museum Studies, having been based on a course that author has taught for 14 years; however, it is also invaluable for anyone working within the Museum industry, from entry level professionals to museum directors; in addition, it provides an engrossing read to the general reader who wants to discover the insider workings of a museum. About the Author STEVEN MILLER is the Executive Director of Boscobel Restoration, Inc., Garrison NY and Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall University MA Program in Museum Professions. He has been in the museum field for over four decades as a curator, director, educator, consultant and writer, and has held leadership positions with six ma