Sharjah, 27th of June 2011 - The Sharjah Museums Department has announced the conclusion of the Museums Documentation Programme, a two-day training course held at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization in response to a request from the Military Museum & History Center.

The course, which included participants from Military Museum & History Center branches from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, discussed the methods of documentation, and the importance thereof in maintaining a museum's collections. Other topics included numbering systems and the handling of artifacts, manuscripts and historical documents according to international standards, and the rules for loans in and loans out.

The course included a number of training sessions, one of which looked at the importance of documenting collections and putting in place appropriate policies as collections are central to the function of museums. The training team described, in detail, the procedures - based on these policies and international standards - that the Sharjah Museums Department has developed over the last five years.

What to accession (fully register into a museum's collection) and what may be less important (non-accessioned collections) that can be used, for example, for handling in education programmes and numbering systems that can be used were discussed through an exercise.

This was followed by an outline of the basic information required to register an object into a collection, an exercise to apply this procedure, and a closer look at how to describe an object and its condition.

Day one concluded with a demonstration of AdLib, the collection management software used by SMD. The second day kicked off with a description of the numbering system used for photographs and images used by the SMD. The day's main exercise saw the participants practicing the physical marking and labeling of objects using the correct materials and methods to ensure that objects are not damaged.

Discussions included movement forms that help museums keep track of the location of collections at any time, whether for new displays, for conservation treatments, or on loan to another venue at home or abroad, as well as loans procedures, which were illustrated with examples of local and international loans to places such as the American University in Cairo, the Kentucky International Museum of the Horse, and Tate Britain in London.  The final discussion looked at the disposal of collections; a rare process for museums, but one that needs the correct documentation nonetheless.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Manal Ataya, Director General of the Sharjah Museums Department, underlined the value of artifacts and of museums, which is are considered as icons of cities and their heritage, and which serves as an important means of continuous learning.

"The electronic systems used to document museum collections, documents and manuscripts were only recently adopted. Under the directives of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Museums Department is devoting its efforts to developing and adopting the latest technologies in line with the most advanced international models for the preservation of our heritage" said Ataya.

The success of this course depended on the belief of those involved in the importance of documentation as a tool to care for and manage cultural heritage collections old and modern, providing a real-time inventory, search and production of the necessary reports for artifacts.

The intensive 2 day course was of a great benefit in terms of the topics raised, which are related to the work of the trainees who represented all disciplines of documentation in the UAE Military Museum and its associated institutions. Organizing this training programme forms part of the Military Museum & History Center's strategy of providing career development courses to its employees.

-Ends-

About Sharjah Museums Department:
The Sharjah Museums Department (SMD) was established in 2006 by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as an independent government entity that aims to provide highest standard of museums to Sharjah's residents and visitors, by offering a range of facilities, organizing specialized exhibitions, and launching educational programmes, in addition to publishing research and reaching all social groups. SMD manages more than 17 sites in the emirate, covering most types of art, Islamic culture, archaeology, heritage, sciences, aquaculture and the history of the emirate of Sharjah and the region.

SMD aims to provide the highest standards of museum services through its museums, galleries, educational and research programmes, social communication programs for Sharjah's residents and visitors from the region. The vision of the department is to improve understanding, appreciation and respect for Sharjah's identity and the value of its cultural and natural heritage locally and internationally. 

For more information please visit the website: www.sharjahmuseums.ae

For more information, please contact:
Samar Abu Hantash
SAHARA Communications
PO Box: 73310 Dubai - UAE
Tel: +971 4 3298996
Fax: +971 4 3298995
Mob; 00971 50 1540 727
Email: samar@saharagcc.com
Web Site: www.saharagcc.com

Shamsa Musabah
Public Relations Coordinator
Sharjah Museums Department
Tel: 971 + 6 5197631
Email: sbaniktb@sharjahmuseums.ae
Website: www.sharjahmuseums.ae

© Press Release 2011