Behind the scenes

I have been dipping the very end of my little toe in the (currently for me at least) cloudy waters of Twitter over the last few days for a few reasons. One is pure curiosity, I am nosey – what is it, and why do people do it? Another reason is my brother Tweets, rather than using Facebook, so this is a way to catch up with him. Finally though more and more cultural institutions Tweet and I want to know if we should think about doing it to. Why do they do it? What do they Tweet about? Does it lead to more users, more visitors, more hits on the website? I am not really any wiser yet I must admit, but that might be something to do with having been diverted by Stephen Fry and Derran Brown….

The National Museums and National Library are on Twitter and seem to talk about events and activities – would this be welcome from us too? Or would it be good to have a combination of the blog and FB as well, so events, activities and general thoughts, ideas, things we love, things that inspire us and things we want to do? What do you think? Do any of you Tweet and can I ask, without seeming too indelicate, how is it for you?!

We have just advertised two jobs for the John Gray Centre, our new all singing, all dancing museum, library, archive and local history centre in Haddington, due to open in autumn 2011. This is a shameless posting to get the info about the jobs out there in as many places as possible! They are the Heritage Resource Development Officer and the John Gray Centre Development Officer. The closing date for both is 8th August, with a salary of £24,271-£27,392. For more information and to apply go to www.myjobscotland.org and search by job title or for East Lothian.

The Heritage Resource Development Officer will research, plan, write and create a range of integrated digital materials to encourage public access to the museum, archive and local history collections, to support learning, understanding and pleasure and to facilitate exploration of the collections and resource discovery; to produce the materials to agreed published standards; and to work with colleagues to ensure that the information provided in the materials meets the needs of users.

The John Gray Centre Development Officer will encourage use of the John Gray Centre resources through a proactive programme of outreach and community development activity. To develop and co-ordinate the programme of activity in line with the priorities and objectives detailed in the John Gray Centre Project business plan. To network with local groups, organisations and Council staff to maximise the impact and benefits of the John Gray Centre Project for a wide range of users.

The other point in my mentioning this in the blog is to share with you all the strange combination of excitment and panic that advertising these jobs gives me! Just over a year to go… gulp.

 I can’t believe four weeks is already over! It has gone so fast, but looking back it seems like I have done a great deal. Working at the East Lothian Museums Service has given me a much better idea of what the day to day work is like at a museum (and how busy it can be!). I have had the chance to do a variety of work, from packing archaeological material to attending professional development ‘fieldtrips’. Everyone at the museums has been fantastic and has really gone out of their way to make sure I get the most out of this placement. The most important things I have learned aren’t the sort of things you would learn from a textbook, but something that only being in a working environment could teach you. First, be prepared for anything and when it all goes wrong just breathe. There will always be unexpected things that happen so flexibility is important. Second, being able to multi-task is vital. I was surprised at how much was going on at any one time and of all the details that had to be taken care of. Third, tea is key. Being from the United States I was never a big tea drinker, but now I think I am hooked. Not only is occasionally taking a minute for tea a good break from a busy day, but it is also a good way to get to know people. I have learned a lot about museums over tea. Finally, working at a museum lets you use many of your skills, not just one or two.  It is constantly challenging and I have had the chance to edit, design, research, write, etc. It is exciting to go into a field where I know that no talent is wasted. These things may seem general, and they aren’t even close to everything I have learned, but they are still valuable lessons I know I will use wherever I eventually end up working.

In addition to the museum experience, however, this placement has given me an opportunity to get to know East Lothian better. I had not been out to East Lothian for any real amount of time before I began my placement. The more I saw through working with the museum, however, the more I wanted to see and I began bringing my friends out on the weekends to explore. Learning about objects, like the Mak’Merry pottery pictured here gave me a deeper appreciation for the area, its history and its significance, making me want to see more. I have now even gotten to know people in East Lothian outside the museum. I plan on continuing my day trips when I can, because East Lothian covers such a variety of places I haven’t gotten to see everything yet! I think that one of the special aspects of museums is that, whether working at one or visiting, you are exposed to new people, places and ideas that you may not have otherwise encountered. Museums, especially ones focusing on local history, can show visitors the real depth of a place, and make them fall in love with it. I must say that I am honestly sad that my placement is over.

Sarah has already posted about the object she chose for the BBC AHOW site, and I have chosen something altogether different (although no less attractive in its own way). I decided to put up an East Lothian Banknote, from 1821. Hopefully a version of this blog will be on the Museums Galleries Scotland blog too.

Why, you ask? (or at least I hope you do) The note is interesting, has a great story attached to it, and it is quite aesthetically pleasing too! Did you know that the first Scottish Banknote was issued in 1696? In those days these things were much larger than they are today, although no less ornate. This one is 12cm by 18cm – imagine a few of those crammed into your purse along with all that plastic, all those receipts, all that loose change (or is that just me)?! What interests me about this object is that whilst for us paper money is so commonplace as to be mundane it actually hasn’t been around that long in historical terms. Paper money started largely in response to the lack of precious metals to make coins out of, and forgery was a problem just as it is now. Banks used watermarking, embossing, detailed engraving, colour printing and the signature of Chief Cashiers to deter imitations.

The fact that banks operated on such a local level (although they weren’t terribly successful from what I can find out) is also very interesting, as is the information that the chief cashier, one William Borthwick, caused the bank to fail in 1822 when he absconded with the banks deposits. This caused a great scandal at the time and the tale resonates in the present day with the current global banking crisis. As more and more people begin to ‘think local’ it is interesting to re-examine stories like this one. For more about this object why not visit www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld or www.scran.ac.uk?

What would you like to see us (museums in general) put on to this site? Do you have things in your own collection or just kicking about the house that people might be interested in? The key thing for me is that whatever you choose needs a story. Just like a good film or book the narrative has to be engaging beyond the cover, which is the lure to get you to look in the first place! And remember what you might think won’t interest anyone outside your family will almost certainly resonate with someome, somewhere, sometime.

I could use a personal example here. I found a little pocket sized Bible the other day (I am ashamed to say in my sock drawer) that my Grandmother gave me, along with a coin purse and a pair of needlework scissors. They all belonged to her mother, who I am named for. My Great-Grandmother Kate carried the little Bible down the aisle with her when she married (and I can’t remember the year, oops) and carried it with her throughout her life. Ordinary? Yes. Boring? No. This little story (which I could elaborate on but not here) has religion, belief, tradition, habit, convention and a wedding. What more do we need!

 I am new to East Lothian Museums service; I have been working here for a week on a four week work placement for my Museum Studies course at Durham University. Primarily I am working with the collections officer, working on the database, however I have had the chance to work with many member of staff on different projects. I may spell things a bit differently as I am from the United States, specifically Kansas City, Missouri. For my blog I thought I would look at the East Lothian Museums service and their connection with the East Lothian communities. I’ve chosen this photograph to represent the history of the community in Haddington through small businesses!

 The East Lothian Museums service has been a great place to do my work placement. Being a smaller, council run museums service there are unique challenges that were not discussed in my classes. They also have strong connections to the community. Their collections and museums reflect the history and life of the East Lothian area they serve. My second day on my placement I was lucky enough to have the chance to go with the education officer and collections officer to St. Andrews for a meeting on ‘Revisiting Collections’. This program (there is one of those pesky words: ‘programme’ in the UK, ‘program’ in the US) is about engaging with communities through objects often using focus groups to gather reactions and insight from groups in those communities. The East Lothian Museums Service has been working on developing a display using these focus group interactions. In class we often discuss how museums are meant to be a resource for the community and to help preserve and share culture heritage, so it was exciting to see this being put into practice in a more active way. I think that getting groups and communities more involved with collections helps people realize what a great resource they have in their community. It also seems to make museums less intimidating and more approachable (much like these blogs). I know that part of my interest in museums stems from elementary school where I was allowed to explore local museums and even participate in events and ‘behind the scenes’ programs.

As a student, ‘Revisiting Collections’ along with digitizing databases and writing blogs are all excellent, practical examples for me of how museums can reach out to their communities and make the most of the services they offer. Often in classes we discuss more abstract ideas like ‘what is a museum’, or learn about museum policies, but it is really valuable for me to have a chance to see and be a part of how museums really work to achieve their ideals.

I thought it was time for an update on our social networking side of things. I’ve been trying to improve two of our profiles over the past few months – our profile on Facebook and,  more close to home, on East Lothian Buzz.

As of this moment, we have 54 fans on Facebook. We do have a few regular contributors (Kate, mainly) who ‘like’ or comment on things. Facebook tells you when you were most popular – so what makes our friends comment or view? Pictures of random things!! Our most commented upon and viewed post is one on 5th January 2010 of this photograph of Museum HQ Office carpark under snow!

Our second most? You’ll need to look on our profile now to check out the other picture that has been creating quite a flutter.

East Lothian Buzz is a social networking site supported by the Council – local things for local people and all that. It’s a really good way of finding out about what’s going on nearby, there are always loads of events being posted. You can also reach East Coast FM through the site. It’s more friendly than the bigger sites as some one always replies when you post a question, or will often just get in touch without prompting.

Well, that’s where we’re at just at the moment. Please share with us if you’ve seen other museums on Facebook that you particularly like – always looking to borrow other people’s good ideas!

So, advocacy and museums. Something we hear about from the moment we step over the hallowed thresholds of Museums Studies courses. Museums people tend to be in their jobs because they love what they do and will willingly go on (often at some length) about it if given the merest suggestion of interest. What we aren’t always wonderful at it telling the right people the right things in the right way at the right moment. Not necessarily the easiest job in the world, so I was pleased to see that the Museums Association is running a campaign to promote advocacy skills in museums at the moment called ‘love museums’. Good title and nice logo too. Unfortunately there is only one training event in Scotland and I can’t go (happy to send someone else… don’t all shout at once) however, this is a timely piece of work, especially for us here in East Lothian where cultural matters are high up the agenda – how do we make our point whilst we have such a great opportunity to do so, and crucially how do we get to stay up the agenda once the current high levels of interest wane (answers on a postcard…) We have lots of ideas and have been trying some of them out, but always need fresh thoughts if anyone out there has any thoughts…

Ok, so some of my resolutions are nothing to so with the subject matter of this blog and relate to important matters such as cake, wine and ‘spontaneous’ purchases (less of) and keeping in touch with friends (more of). Other resolutions are of a more professional tone, and I am keeping one of them RIGHT NOW by blogging. I resolve to blog more, and to persuade (nag, blackmail or otherwise pressurise) other colleagues to do the same. I am not going to make any rash promises about once a week (cats chance in hell), or even once a fortnight (still deeply unlikely), but I will do it.

So onto the meat of the offering, some predictions for the future…stare with me into my virtual crystal ball and see what 2010 is going to hold for East Lothian Museums. One thing is certain, we will be very busy and there is unlikely to be a dull moment. We are lucky – culture and heritage are live issues in East Lothian and there are lots of people taking an active positive interest in what we do and can do (from commenting on this blog, to volunteering with us). No sitting around in dusty stores for us!

We are working hard on the museum interpretation plans for the John Gray Centre in Haddington. In fact at time of writing the contract for the building work is about to be awarded! Tender documents are close to being finalised for the redevelopment of the interior of Dunbar Town House. The tender has been issued for the interpretation contract for Musselburgh Museum, and we are very much looking forward to seeing what ideas come back. Aside from big developments like these the Service will continue to work to provide a stimulating, fun, informative and accessible experience for as many visitors as possible at all of our venues – I don’t want Prestongrange Museum or John Muir’s Birthplace forgotten. Bookmark our websites and visit soon to see events and exhibitions programmes. Become a friend of ours on Facebook or visit us on Flickr, check us out on YouTube. We are everywhere (sort of like Big Brother, be far far less scary and intimidating)!

So, until next time…

 And it’s not even a trick title! Arun Manilal Gandhi is the fifth grandson of Mohandas Gandhi. As part of Black History Month 2009, Arun Gandhi is visiting the Brunton on 12th October and delivering a talk on his views on non-violence. It’s bound to be fascinating. Details on how to get your free tickets can be found here.

At Prestongrange, we have a few events for Black History Month too. Sheila has a talk and tour on the Wedderburn Brothers on 8th Oct at 7pm, free tickets are available from the museum. 

On the 18th of October we have ‘Welcome: East Lothian Multi-Cultural Day’ from 12-3pm. It’s going to be amazing – just a few of the highlights are: a French Puppet show, Seeds of Thought Poetry Group, Live Music, Burns Recitals, Indian Dancers, and local artist workshops! We’ll also have stalls on Fairtrade, Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council, Family History and much more. Full details of all events can be found in the Black History Month programme for East Lothian.

 Apart from all that, we’re also coming to the end of another summer season. Dunbar Town House has remained busy with the exhibition Harvest of the Sea generating a wealth of paper fish! It is planned that the Town House will be closed next season for the refurbishment so make your last visits to the ‘old’ town house now!

A Museum for Musselburgh is coming along – you may have noticed the shop front on the High Street with all the lovely old photographs in the window. It will become a museum next year, run by Musselburgh Museum Committee.

Apart from all that, the other big news is that we’re now on Facebook! Become a fan and share your comments please!

Or share your comments with us on here, we’re awfully pleased to hear from you, whatever you’ve got to say. It’s something to keep us occupied over those long winter months… 

Hi I’m Jenny a volunteer here and my time here is now over *cries*. So now its time for reflection (feel free to skip to the end). Here I’ve learnt a lot of things – the most important being that bacon sandwiches are yummy – and seen a lot of strange sights i.e. a stuffed badger with a broken tail. But what have I actually done here, except drink all the diluting?

For starters I created a database documenting the objects loaned out to the public, which was about as hard as climbing Mount Olympus with a toothpick due to my appalling IT skills!

Then I tried to organise as many loan boxes as possible and I had an uncanny knack for choosing the ones that required the most work on them brilliant!!!

And finally in this compilation of some of the things I have done I sorted out the stock for the shop at Prestongrange which was fun (there was this little Badger which was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen – and judging by what I have seen in my life that doesn’t mean much ). The hard part was documenting the quantity of each item as I only realised I had to do that after I had sorted the stock into the appropriate boxes and put them away which was frustrating to say the least.

So in conclusion to this glimpse at my life here I learnt a lot and have gained more experience which is what was my goal and so in the words of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy “so long and thanks for all the fish”.