Outside The Box at Reading Museum Reading Museum’s loan service is one of the largest and best known in the country. The collection consists of 20,000 objects in more than 1,500 loan boxes. The loan service is not a new phenomenon; it has existed since 1911 evolving and expanding as audiences have developed. Neither is it tokenistic, the boxes contain accessioned objects, not copies or reproductions. Reading Museum was awarded £957,000 by HLF to extend the loan service. Outside the Box was a four-‐year project (completed in 2009), which has revitalised and extended the service and developed it into a unique partnership with over twenty museums and heritage organisations across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Most of the partner organisations are not in a position to administer their own loans service and so this project has enabled partners to provide maximum access to their collections by choosing objects to go in the loan boxes and thereby providing access to things formally in store or not available to schools. The service goes to schools, colleges, care homes, libraries, and local community groups across the Thames Valley. Memory boxes are used by doctors at Prospect Park Hospital for patients with memory loss and dementia. Over 115 primary and secondary schools use boxes for 10,000 classes a year. Reading Museum believe that in many ways the loan service is the antithesis of the public view of museums because it enables the public to get close to collections that are too often kept in store through necessity. It makes mini museums all over Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. People that encounter these high quality museum objects in unexpected locations are then encouraged to visit the museums themselves. If you think that this sounds new then think again. Reading Museum has their business head well and truly screwed on. Schools can sign up for two different value packages at either £390 or £540 per annum offering a pick and mix between a specified number of loan boxes and site visits . Viva Reading, the corporate member scheme secures perks and privileges to companies by delivering entertainment and events. However, it also offers up a philanthropic take by using their money to revitalising and refurbishing the loan box scheme for other groups benefit. In a time when many of our buildings are in need of funding to repair damaged roofs or leaky windows this approach is a refreshing way forward to providing public engagement with collections. Further Information Emma Lee, Learning Development Officer, tel 0118 9373400, email education@readingmuseum.org.uk http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/ http://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/handson/index.htm The Outside the Box partners are: Berkshire Archaeology Berkshire Aviation Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Berkshire Record Office Bracknell Forest Leisure Services Buckinghamshire County Museum
Eton College Museums Maidenhead Heritage Centre Museum of English Rural Life Reading Football Club Royal Berkshire Yeomanry Cavalry Museum Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers Museum Slough Museum Stanley Spencer Gallery Thames Valley Police Museum Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology West Berkshire Museum Windsor & Maidenhead Royal Borough Collection Windsor Castle Wycombe Museum