1. Drawing on Elaine Heumann Gurian's 50 years of experience in the museum field, this book identifies many small, subtle ways museums can become more welcoming to more - and to all. 2. The book will be an excellent companion volume to the author's 2005 title, Civilizing the Museum, and, as such, will be essential reading for anyone who enjoyed that earlier title. It will be especially interesting to academics and students engaged in the study of museums, as well as practitioners working around the world. 3. There are very few books that give a sense of what it is like to work in museums and to address the complex issues of ethical obligations and social responsibilities, while at the same time managing staff and stakeholders. There are no competing titles by anyone with Elaine's range and depth of experience.

1. Drawing on Elaine Heumann Gurian's 50 years of experience in the museum field, this book identifies many small, subtle ways museums can become more welcoming to more - and to all. 2. The book will be an excellent companion volume to the author's 2005 title, Civilizing the Museum, and, as such, will be essential reading for anyone who enjoyed that earlier title. It will be especially interesting to academics and students engaged in the study of museums, as well as practitioners working around the world. 3. There are very few books that give a sense of what it is like to work in museums and to address the complex issues of ethical obligations and social responsibilities, while at the same time managing staff and stakeholders. There are no competing titles by anyone with Elaine's range and depth of experience.

Written over a thirty-five year career, the essays in "Civilizing the Museum" introduce students to the powerful, sometimes contested, and often unrealized notion that museums should welcome all because they house the collective memory of all.
Drawing on her experience working in and with museums in the US and throughout the world, Author Elaine Heumann Gurian explores the possibilities for making museums more central and relevant to society.
The twenty-two essays are organized around five main themes:
* museum definitions
* civic responsibility and social service
* architectural spaces
* exhibitions
* spirituality and rationality.
And these themes address the elements that would make museums more inclusive such as:
* exhibition technique
* space configurations
* the personality of the director
* the role of social service
* power sharing
* types of museums
* the need for emotion humor and spirituality.
Without abandoning the traditional museum processes, Gurian shows how museums can honor tradition whilst embracing the new.
Enriched by her experience in groundbreaking museums, Gurian has provided a book that provokes thought, dialogue and action for students and professionals in the field to realize the inclusive potential of museums.

Written over a thirty-five year career, the essays in "Civilizing the Museum" introduce students to the powerful, sometimes contested, and often unrealized notion that museums should welcome all because they house the collective memory of all.
Drawing on her experience working in and with museums in the US and throughout the world, Author Elaine Heumann Gurian explores the possibilities for making museums more central and relevant to society.
The twenty-two essays are organized around five main themes:
* museum definitions
* civic responsibility and social service
* architectural spaces
* exhibitions
* spirituality and rationality.
And these themes address the elements that would make museums more inclusive such as:
* exhibition technique
* space configurations
* the personality of the director
* the role of social service
* power sharing
* types of museums
* the need for emotion humor and spirituality.
Without abandoning the traditional museum processes, Gurian shows how museums can honor tradition whilst embracing the new.
Enriched by her experience in groundbreaking museums, Gurian has provided a book that provokes thought, dialogue and action for students and professionals in the field to realize the inclusive potential of museums.