The Museum Environment by Garry Thomson

An Arabic translation of an important book on the protection of museum collection objects

Introduction

Qirab released an Arabic translation of Garry Thomson’s The Museum Environment in 2021. This book on the science of museum collection protection and preservation is one of the first books to study how to protect manuscripts and other objects on display in a museum exhibition.

The Museum Environment

Quoted from Routledge.com:

The Museum Environment is in two parts; Part I: intended for conservators and museum curators and describes the principles and techniques of controlling the environment so that the potentially damaging effects of light, humidity and air pollution on museum exhibits may be minimised. Part II: the author brings together and summarises information and data, hitherto widely scattered in the literature of diverse fields, which is essential to workers in conservation research.

Since the timely publication of the first two editions of this book in hardback, interest in preventive conservation has continued to grow strongly making publication of this paperback edition all the more welcome. Those whose responsibility it is to care for the valuable and beautiful objects in the world’s collections have become increasingly aware that it is better to prevent their deterioration, by ensuring that they are housed and displayed in the best possible environmental conditions, than to wait until restoration and repair are necessary. The changes for the second edition have been mainly concentrated in the sections on electronic hygrometry, new fluorescent lamps, buffered cases, air conditioning systems, data logging, and control within historic buildings. A new appendix, giving a summary of museum specificiations for conservation, provides a useful, quick reference.

Quoted from Wikipedia:

Garry Thomson made a significant contribution to Conservation science, Preventive conservation, and Art conservation as a whole with his publication ‘The Museum Environment’ first published in 1978, and revised in 1986.[4] This book became the major source of information regarding recommendations for environmental conditions in museums around the world, and although the guidelines are no longer followed as rigidly as they once were it continues to be a significant guiding book for the discipline. Its popularity continues at least in part due to the way in which he explained complicated scientific concepts in simple terms. The Museum Environment set out parameters for the best conditions in which objects could be stored and displayed within the Museum Environment.

Chapters

  • Light
  • Humidity
  • Air pollution
  • Future trends in environmental control
  • Summary of specifications
  • References
  • Index

About the Author

Quoted from Wikipedia:

Garry Thomson began his career as a Research Chemist, at the National Gallery (London), a post he held from 1955 to 1960, when he was promoted to Scientific Adviser to the Trustees and Head of the Scientific Department at the National Gallery from 1960 a post he held until his retirement in 1985.[2] In 1968 Garry organized the first conference on museum climatology for the International Institute for Conservation (IIC) in London. He also served as President of the International Institute for Conservation (IIC), from 1983 to 1986. He undertook various missions for ICCROM, including to Algeria, India and Lebanon. With colleagues, he conceived the ICCROM course on ‘Scientific Principles of Conservation’, which was launched in Rome in 1974, and in which he also taught. In 1976 he contributed to the new ICCROM course on ‘Preventive Conservation’ and was a regular lecturer at ICCROM until 1989.[3] Following his retirement he was a trustee of the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside from 1986 to 1991. In 1999 he received the first Plowden Gold Medal, awarded by the Royal Warrant Holders’ Association to recognise the most significant contributions to the advancement of the conservation profession.

The Museum Environment composite

Purchase

The Museum Environment Arabic translation is availble on Jumia.com.eg or from Tradigital Cairo at +2 02 23801764 or sales@tradigital-cairo.com

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