Livi A.’s Post

AI trying to decode my museum lingo… 💀 At least I won’t be out of a job anytime soon. #MuseumLife #FundayFriday #AI

What is a museum, really? 🤔 The ICOM says it’s a “permanent institution in the service of society… fostering diversity and sustainability… accessible, inclusive, and participatory.” The Museums Association says it’s a place for “Inspiration, learning, and enjoyment… holding collections in trust for society.” A recent 5-star reviewer of the Natural History Museum said it’s “a fascinating and awe-inspiring place…the perfect spot for both a fun and education experience”. After reading so much about museums, it’s got me curious… And now I’m asking LOADS of questions about it: Is there a limit to the size of a museum? (Could I create a “museum” in a shoebox? Could a city itself be classed as a museum?) Where does a museum’s “status” start and stop? What if a digital museum is down for maintenance—does it stop being a museum for that time? And where do the boundaries lie between a museum and an archive? (Hoping someone in my network can help with this one!) And then there's the old-school vs. new-school approach to museums—do we prioritise preservation or the public experience? How does that affect the definition of a museum? I’d love to hear what you think! 🏛️ #MuseumDebate #Museums #Heritage #Curator

Achieving a FIRST for playing Minecraft? Yes, please. 🎮🏆 Okay, a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I really did use Minecraft to help with one of my assignments recently. The biggest challenge? (And no, I’m not talking about avoiding Zombies…) Figuring out how to reference a video game in academic work! 🤯 So I’m here to help, should you ever get stuck like I did - this is how you set out referencing a video game using Harvard referencing: Title of game (edition or version). Year. Platform [Game]. Publisher: Place of publication. So, for Minecraft, that looks like this: Minecraft (1.21). 2024. Computer [Game]. Microsoft: Online (Accessed: 17 August 2024). I’m just saying—video games in assignments? Don’t mind if I do. Hoping this helps even 1 person know they can reference them in your essays #StudentLife #Masters #AcademicSkills #Minecraft #Gaming

This is the only post I will be making for Black History Month It's something that has been on my mind for a while... How do we embed Black history into the 'mainstream' narrative? The tokenistic gestures of our industry to throw something together at the last minute to 'show solidarity' is a form of performative allyship which causes greater harm than good. You don't get to call yourself an ally if you are silencing the contributions, voices, and narratives of marginalised people by only putting a post up for a thumbs up on social media just because it is October. *drops mic* 🎤 #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackLivesMatter #AntiRacism

Should we have taxidermy in museums? Is it… Ethical? Aesthetic? Or just plain outdated? This is the final post in my taxidermy series, and probably the biggest question yet. It’s not as simple as whether it makes us uncomfortable. Some of the deeper questions I’ve been pondering: 🌍 Does it align with the climate and biodiversity challenges we face today? 📚 Is it serving a purpose as a crucial educational tool, a story about species, environments, and history…or just an aesthetic choice? 🧐 How do we, as museum professionals, educators, and visitors, approach this difficult, ethical conversation? And whatever your stance, how do you ensure your voice is heard? Over the last few months, I’ve learned so much from you all about the sensory and behind-the-scenes realities of taxidermy. Now I want to know—what’s your take? Should taxidermy stay in the past (but out of our museums)? Or does it still hold an important place in our future? #MuseumEthics #Taxidermy #Museums #Curator Image is of a dodo in Leicester Museum and Art Gallery

Sometimes you have to pause and hit reset. ⏸️ “Busy brain” doesn’t even come close to how I’ve felt the last few weeks with Uni assignments, panel prep, and project evaluation. My walk around Latrigg lately was a big reminder—slowing down, stepping away from the work, and reconnecting with nature makes all the difference. 🌳 It’s where I feel healthier, more connected, and more me. (And yes, I may have picked up a few rocks on the way. More on that in future posts 🪨) Finding a good work-life balance can be difficult (especially when I get SUPER excited about new ideas, opportunities and connections), but our well-being should always come first. When was the last time you stopped to recharge? Did you feel the benefits? #WorkLifeBalance #TakeABreak #Geology

Okay, it’s panel prep confession time… Getting all my thoughts down in a way that actually makes sense is always so much harder than I expect! 🤯 When you're prepping for a panel, it’s not just about knowing the topic (which, luckily, I do!). It's about figuring out how to share those ideas: Clearly Concisely Collaboratively It’s about helping everyone in the room (or in this case, on Zoom!). And of course, there’s the ever-present worry: will I remember to say the important bits? 😅 (If I don’t…hang around for the virtual networking session afterward!) And as a reminder, the reason behind the PANIC of this post is that I'll be talking about how the museum sector can work smarter, not harder with collections data at the upcoming Collections Trust Conference 2024 happening TOMORROW (Wednesday 3rd October). Book your ticket now and come join us! #PublicSpeaking #EventPrep #Museums #Collections

What’s the one object you wish people would STOP donating to museums? I’m sure we all have that one item we wish would just stop showing up in collections. For me, there are a few contenders: (It’s about to get personal) 1. ❌ Victorian glass bottles Lovely in their own right, but seriously, how many do we need? 2. ❌ Rocks with no location data A rock is just a rock if we don’t know where it’s from! 3. ❌ And… Taxidermy Personal preference here, but sometimes it feels like I’m on a never-ending quest to avoid touching them! Obviously, as museum curators and staff, appreciate every donation. (But sometimes less really is more!). What about you? Let’s share our collection woes and maybe find some common ground… (Or I’ll find out I’ve just made the Victorian glass-blowing, rock-gathering, taxidermy specialist VERY upset.) #MuseumCollections #Donations #Museums #Curator

Keep fighting the hidden museum battle, friends! That’s right - we’re talking about museum pests. Literally. Bugs are the bane of museums. It’s been a long, unspoken war between institutions and insects. Because they damage and destroy our lovely collections! However, we have several tools in our arsenal to help. …This, however, did not stop me from being a bit shocked to see some taxidermy specimens end up in the freezer. Nope, it wasn’t a bizarre museum quirk—it’s a crucial part of our fight against bugs! Freezing taxidermy can prevent infestations, especially when moving collections to new spaces or reintegrating collections that have been returned from loans. Some of you who may not have had this battle thrust upon you yet might be curious about how else we manage pests in museums. Here are a few ways I’ve seen: ❄️ Climate controls (humidity and temperature). 🪲 Insect traps. 🧹 Little brushes at the bottom of doors. We might lose a few battles, but the war is far from over. I’ll drop some links in the comments if you want to learn more! Next time you’re in a museum, see if you can spot these behind-the-scenes heroes in action. #Museums #Taxidermy #MuseumSecrets

Dear my neurodivergent fam, Let’s be real—working behind the scenes with taxidermy can be a sensory rollercoaster. We're super attuned to subtle changes in temperature, smells, lights, and textures, which can make handling these collections a sensory overload. Here are my top tips to survive and thrive when working with taxidermy in museums: 🦨 Smell: If you know, you know. In the summer, the scent can be particularly overwhelming—temperature controls keep objects safe, but the smell of preserved death is no joke. Solution? Wear a scarf or mask spritzed with your favourite perfume or essential oil. It really helps! 💡Lighting: No, we’re not talking about the perfectly dimmed gallery lights. It’s those harsh lights that are crucial for examining objects but can feel like they’re stabbing through your eyeballs when you’re in them all day. This is where tinted glasses save the day. They don’t need to be fancy—just a pair to tone down the sensory overload. I use an old pair of glasses but also recommend the cheap blue-light filtering glasses you can find online. 🧤 Texture: For some people, taxidermy is the only opportunity to touch these kinds of animals, and that is very important for them. But if you’re like me and it gives you the creeps to even move them, you need something better than the blue nitrile gloves. Instead, get yourself a few pairs of museum-grade white cotton gloves. They’re soft and breathable and help reduce feeling as much texture (plus, you can spot infestations easily). Just get a couple of pairs to reduce cross-contamination. Important extra note: Some taxidermy pieces are preserved with toxic chemicals, so unless you know exactly how it was prepared, avoid touching it directly. Safety first, everyone. I hope these tips help make the experience a little less overwhelming and a lot more manageable. We’ve got this! #Neurodivergent #MuseumTips #Taxidermy #BehindTheScenes