|
1.Like David Davies I had the privilege of attending the opening of the new NMM Sammy Ofer wing, quaffing the champagne, hunting the canapés and looking round the facility. I agree with his account of the spacious modern architecture and the skill with which architects have handled the site. However it might be worth paying some attention to what is going on inside. For what they are worth, here are a few comments.
2.In terms of ‘specialist’ interest, the new 3345 sqm wing provides, on the lower ground floor, a large exhibition space; on the first, the re-born Caird Library (more of that later); and on the ground, a room called ‘Voyagers’. This consists of
i. a space dominated in the centre by a “dynamic wave like structure which features bespoke video projections ....intensely coloured patterns of images which flow over a multi-faceted surface...featuring in sequence the offerings of the museum,”
ii, a scattering of small tv screens with talking heads discussing the sea; and
iii, a long wall featuring pictures, documents and artefacts relating to a selection of heroes such as Nelson, Cook etc (just like in a traditional museum.)
I must say that only the last appealed to me. The first. although no doubt fascinating to teenagers who had been dragged away from their Playstations, struck no chord and seemed superficial with fashionable technology triumphing over serious content.
3.As regards ‘non’specialist activity, large amounts of the floor space on the ground and first floors are very obviously devoted to commercial activities, namely a much expanded Shop, selling books (so they say) and the usual souvenirs and tourist nicknacks; and two substantial areas for R an R – notably a Cafe sitting 76 people ( with another 40 on the adjacent terrace) and a Brasserie with 64 covers (and another 40 outside.)
4. A cynic might say that this heavy emphasis on money making in the new wing is disproportionate and reflects a lack of interest in the ‘specialist’ side of the museum. However I don’t think this view is fair. It is not possible to make a judgement about what goes on in the Sammy Ofer wing without looking at its impact on the museum as a whole. The move of the previous library, shop and catering areas will clearly release space in the old building which, hopefully. will be used for expanded ‘specialist’ activity. Thus, only when the final dispositions of the museum are made will it be possible to make any judgement about the use of space in the new wing. Likewise the place at present looks bare and anonymous as well as modern. Hopefully museum staff will soon be sneaking in some ship models and pictures to give it a nautical flavour and and identity.
5. Finally a word about the new library. The first thing to be said is that this is not a library in the traditional sense like the ‘old’ Caird- ie, a space filled with books for browsing backed up by a collection of rare volumes out of sight but available via a catalogue on demand. The ‘new’ Caird Library is, in fact, remarkably free of books with the shelving reaching only waist height (leaving a huge expanse of empty wall - hence Dr Davies’ recommendation that that they be filled with pictures). I am told that the old Caird had 30,000 volumes on display: the new has only 6,000. As a consequence, the appearance of the new Caird is not that of a library, but of the information and documentation centre which it clearly is. Its importance as an access point to collections of documents, charts and paper records has been evident in the museum's plans from the beginning; the introductory speeches were carefully phrased to reinforce this impression; and the NMM’s booklet on the facility makes little reference to books but describes its main features as;
a. a purpose-built spaces for different types of user (single researchers, groups, etc)
b. greatly increased storage for ‘paper collections’, charts, plans etc
c. improved reproductive facilities in terms of scanners etc
d provision of a viewer for the study of large plans and documents
e.improved access to books and documents through improved cataloguing and speedy online retrieval plus devices to track the progress of an order.
6. On reflection it seems to me that this move away from the concept of a library as a book depository to that of a study centre and access point to a variety of material is inevitable. Researchers now rely on original documents rather than a range of secondary sources and the internet enables catalogues of books and documents to be made available and reserved in advance, so it is no longer necessary to carry a huge collection within sight.
I shall miss the gentlemen’s club aspect of the old Caird with its comfy leather seats, huge wooden book racks and Georgian windows. But I must admit that it was seldom full; many of the volumes were old and – with the exception of reference works – seldom used, the catalogues were paper or fiche based and old fashioned, and the facilities for reproduction were primitive. It compared poorly with the modern efficiency of the National Archives. The Sammy Ofer bequest, plus the availability of new technology, has enabled the NMM to seize the opportunity to move into the twenty first century, not only in terms of physical facilities, but also in improved cataloguing and speedy access to all its collections whether books, documents, prints or plans. And I must say, I welcome it. I wonder what others think?
Brian
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
