Work experience in a Museum? Really?
Katie completed a week’s work experience at the museum and during this time planned her own mini exhibition, helped with a VIP visit and press photo shoot and attended a social media planning meeting! Here are her thoughts on her week – it looks as though she might be a convert! This week I have been doing my […]
My favourite object: the Shaplands and Petter sideboard
As she comes to the end of her internship (where did those 6 weeks go?!) Lisa has discovered an object from in the MERL collections which has special personal significance… Being proud to call myself a Devonian (I moved to Reading for university), I was determined when picking out an object from the collections to find something relating […]
#DisabilityStories – Labelling visual impairment
How do you write a label in under 50 words on a basket made by an anonymous, visually impaired basket-maker without appearing patronising and tokenistic? This question conveniently coincides with this week’s #CultureThemes topic of #DisabilityStories. The staff here at MERL are busily writing labels for our new galleries, covering overarching topics and themes, object […]
The Museum of English Rural Life on Social Media #2
In the second of her posts reviewing MERL’s social media accounts, our intern, Lisa, focuses on twitter and invites you to follow some members of staff! I’m sure some of you already follow us on Twitter, but if you are new to Twitter, MERL’s account is a great one to follow. The tweets, usually from […]
The Museum of English Rural Life on Social Media #1
With the museum closed for refurbishment, we’re relying heavily on social media to make sure we keep people up to date with what’s happening. We launched our ‘Shut, but not shutting up! campaign last year, and we’ve been busy sharing news and progress behind the scenes. In this post, Social Media & Collections intern, Lisa, reviews […]
Countryside forum update
Over the last few months, Museum staff have been carrying out consultation with many individuals to help shape the redevelopment. Our Volunteer Coordinator, Rob Davies, updates us on one aspect of consultation: the Countryside Forum. As part of the Our Country Lives Activity Plan, the project team set up a Countryside Forum earlier this year, made up of individuals and […]
Focus on collections: Bikes & Cycling
Our Social Media and Collections intern, Lisa, has been researching bike-related materials in our collection to coincide with Bike Week… This week it’s Bike Week which aims to promote cycling, encouraging people to make it part of their everyday lives. Not only it is it great fun and a healthier way to travel to work, it’s […]
Discovering the Landscape #16: Jellicoe's JFK memorial at Runnymede
Written by Claire Wooldridge, Project Senior Library Assistant: Landscape Institute As the world marks the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, Runnymede in Surrey (a water meadow alongside the Thames and the site at which King John sealed the charter as a peace treaty with rebellious barons) has understandably received a lot of media attention. Due to Runnymede’s ideological association […]
I Love Museums
If you’ve been on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram today, you may have noticed the #ILoveMuseums hashtag trending all over your timelines. Musuem staff, volunteers and visitors across the country, including our own University Museums and Collections have been tweeting their personal reasons for loving museums, but the press release below explains what’s behind the hashtag… Today is […]
Volunteers' Voice: Louise
As today is Toddler Time day, our Volunteers’ Week post is by Louise Bell who helps out at this regular event for our youngest visitors… Four years ago, I moved to Reading. I didn’t know much about the place and didn’t have any friends in the area. I had previously lived and worked in a small, […]