– moving to a more virtual museum

THE Guyana National Museum through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Monday launched its “Modernisation and Digitisation Project.”

The project will provide a database of the museum’s artifacts and displays with a website for information and expanded history.

Acting Administrator of the Museum, Ms. Nadia Madho in giving an overview of the project said that it was awarded to contractor Digital Technology and commenced in November 2013.

She said it was an ideal project for the museum as it is expected to provide a better learning experience for visitors using advanced technology.
Madho informed that there are three 21” touch screen and one 84” customised interactive touch screen with wiring and server. Three screens are located on the upper floor of the museum, with another in the giant sloth display on the lower floor.
By accessing these, persons will be provided with the history and data of each historical artifact. A reference library has also been added where persons can also access information on exhibits, the school loan programme, the social and natural collections and the cartographic and other specimens.
Information on other exhibits such as birds, fishes, fruits and rocks will also be made available.
She said also that the museum’s library is being rehabilitated and will be accessible soon.
Digital Technology has also provided training to the staff of the museum and other sister agencies so persons using the new technology will be better able to handle the new equipment installed there.

MORE DATA
More data is constantly being added, as the server is managed by the museum so information on the digital displays cannot be edited, deleted or tampered with.
Madho said that the project was completed on August 5, 2014, thanks to the hardworking team from Digital Technology.
She urged that persons share their comments, views and ideas for the museum’s improvement.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony underscored that the museum is in a continuous process to improve as it is always adding and doing new things.
He pointed out that the museum houses artifacts which can be traced back to several decades, and with the new era of computer and internet technology, “we would like to bring the museum to the 21st century.”
He said that there is a vision to have persons visiting the exhibits and with a simple earphone, can listen to in-depth information for a clearer distinction of what they are seeing.

INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS
Dr. Anthony noted that there are plans in the pipeline to make the exhibits more interactive. The process has already begun and this is only the first step in that direction for the future that is envisaged by the Ministry.
He explained that an exhibit should not be a boring object for viewing, but rather persons should be able to just touch a button and learn about the fascinating history of that artifact.
He reiterated that this is all in the pipeline for acquiring a 21st century museum, a more virtual museum.
The Minister further stated that over the years, there have been many more exhibits added to the gallery.
He boasted that the giant sloth is one of the museum’s biggest accomplishments yet. Persons can find a lot more information on other prehistoric animals and learn of their existence and evolution, etc.
Dr. Anthony also spoke about the room of maps which carries the old maps and the new map of Guyana, showing how the contours of the Guyana border with Brazil and Venezuela have changed overtime, since the surveys in 1844.
He stressed that the aim is to make the gallery a more educational space, where more people can come to learn new things about Guyana’s flora, fauna, climate, and minerals, etc.
He said that the museum’s travelling exhibits have been of great help as schools can now have the exhibits at their location for a better learning experience.
He urged teachers to conduct lessons in the museums as long as it is cleared with the administration.
The amazing history and the introduction of the new technology will provide a better learning experience, he noted.
He acknowledged the presence of the persons in attendance, the students, museum officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
The Guyana National Museum was established in 1853 and was first officially opened to the public on February 13, 1868 by The Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society by the then British Guiana Government.
It is currently under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport which is the governing body. The main responsibility of the Department is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history of the Republic of Guyana.
The mandate of the Guyana National Museum is to preserve and display objects of natural history, science and technology. “Our mission is to provide learning experiences for every visiting member of the public through the preservation and display of Guyana’s natural history and other specimens.” These are executed via a number of core functions and protection of our national collection.
The core functions of the National Museum of Guyana include serving as the national repository for things of scientific, cultural, technological and human interest, serving as places where research and dissemination of knowledge may be undertaken, identifying, protecting, conserving and transmitting the cultural and natural heritage of Guyana and promoting cultural resources in the context of social and economic development, according to the website mcys.gov.gy

(By Savitri Laikram)