Introduction

Stevenage Museum is people-centred in its approach to its role and work but underpinning that approach is an adherence to the basic definition and principles common to all museums.

The Museums Association's definition of a museum says this:

A Museum enables people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. It is an institution that collects, safeguards and makes accessible artefacts and specimens, which it holds in trust for society.

As agreed at the Museums Association AGM 1998

The collection is the essential difference between a museum and other 'heritage' or historical institutions. The Museum's collection is therefore the core from which all its other activities are derived.

This document is a tool for staff of the Museum to help them to maintain and improve the quality of the Museum's collections. Its aim is to allow for the measured and gradual extension of the collections which should enable the Museum as a whole to function more efficiently.

Stevenage Museum, like most Museums has collections of varying quality, both in terms of relevance to Stevenage and display/research potential. Continual improvement in the quality of the collections can only lead to the Museum service improving its ability to be more relevant to the lives and interests of the people of Stevenage, whom it seeks to serve.