British Museum to become computerised

Press, 17 September 1980, Page 30

British Museum to become computerised

PA London The British Museum has a huge collection of prints and drawings but exactly how many is not known. It could be two million or it could be three million — nobedy has ever counted. But modern science is coming to the aid of Britain’s cultural heritage. After years spent unsuccessfully attempting to catalogue all the items in the museum’s many departments, a computer has been called on to do the job. The museum recently came under harsh criticism from the Civil and Public Service Association. They said the museum was mismanaged, that many works were unrecorded and could therefore be reaily stolen, and listed numerous other "faults” in its work and organisation. The museum has reacted angrily to what it feels are unfair accusations by the union. It readily admits that things are far from perfect at the museum but blames lack of space and finance for most of its problems. Mr John Gere, keeper of prints and drawings, said that the museum had never counted the collection because it had not been worth the time and expense involved. He said, however, that there was absolutely no I

question that drawings by artist such as Raphael or Rubens had been unrecorded. It was meetly topographical and portrait prints that were unregistered but it was impossible for ■ them to disappear unnoticed. About. 10 years ago, the museum’s trustees realised that the different departments contained material that had not been properly registered and a programme was started. It was thought it would take about four years, but it is still far from completed. It is hoped the computer will rectify this. ■ Because of lack of space in the main British Museum building in Bloomsbury, many works by such distinguished artists as J. M. Turner are kept in storage. The prints and drawings department is a jumble of storage cases, filing cabinets, and desks with a much-need-ed map on the wall to show staff where to find the different storage cases. But a long-term solution to this problem is also in sight. A new building is being constructed for theBritish Library which now 1 occupies most of the mu-; iseum building. Once it. is i completed, the museum it-; 'self will have room to, spread and allow the public, Ito see or have ready access' to many of its . treasures Inow-hidden away. ? I