Taking Stock of Place at Ohio’s First Public Ivy: Identifying Study Collections for All at Miami University Art Museum

Abstract

This is a case study surrounding one institution’s collections activities, including inventorying, cataloging, and making objects not typically on display accessible to constituent groups. Although perhaps viewed as one of the more perfunctory aspects of collection management work, the inventory process nonetheless can be adapted to suit museums’ educational missions by incorporating object- and place-based learning methodologies. Miami University Art Museum examined such avenues as a part of its regular collection endeavors as a means to increase opportunities for participatory experiences and to provide mutually beneficial outcomes for the museum and its users.