What’s a Museum?

Today we have a guest author: the government.

There is always a healthy debate about what “museum” means. But if we’re looking for an IMLS grant, their definition is clear.

Over to you, Code of Federal Regulations § 3187.3!

A. Museum means a public, tribal, or private nonprofit institution which is organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational, cultural heritage, or aesthetic purposes and which, using a professional staff:

1. Owns or uses tangible objects, either animate or inanimate;
2. Cares for these objects; and
3. Exhibits them to the general public on a regular basis.

B. The term … includes museums that have tangible and digital collections. Museums include, but are not limited to, the following types of institutions … :

1. Aquariums;
2. Arboretums;
3. Botanical gardens;
4. Art museums;
5. Children's museums;
6. General museums;
7. Historic houses and sites;
8. History museums;
9. Nature centers;
10. Natural history and anthropology museums;
11. Planetariums;
12. Science and technology centers;
13. Specialized museums; and
14. Zoological parks.

Here’s the thing:
We can and should debate — but if we want federal funding, the word “museum” gets specific fast.

Warmly,
Jonathan

P.S. “objects, either animate or inanimate”?