Collections management is a crucial part of any organization that deals with collections of art, antiques, artifacts, or other valuable items. Proper collections management ensures the preservation and protection of valuable items for future generations.
In this blog post, we will explore collections management statistics that shed light on the importance of collections management.
Key Collections Management Statistics – MY Choice
- According to a survey by the American Alliance of Museums, the average museum has around 10% of its collection on display at any given time.
- The Smithsonian Institution has over 154 million objects and specimens in its collection, making it the largest museum collection in the world.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has over 2 million objects in its collection, making it one of the largest art collections in the world.
- In 2019, the British Museum in London received over 6.2 million visitors, making it the most visited museum in the United Kingdom.
- The Louvre in Paris, France is the most visited museum in the world, with over 9.6 million visitors in 2019.
- The National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. has over 126 million specimens in its collection, making it one of the largest natural history collections in the world.
- According to a report by the American Association of State and Local History, over 90% of museums in the United States have collections that are not fully cataloged.
- The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California has over 145,000 objects in its collection, including works of art from ancient Greece and Rome, medieval manuscripts, and European paintings and sculptures.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. has over 37,000 objects in its collection, including artifacts from the slave trade, the Civil Rights Movement, and modern African American culture.
- The Museum of Modern Art in New York City has over 200,000 works of art in its collection, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and films.
General Collections Management Statistics
- The global collections management software market is expected to grow from $600 million in 2020 to $1.5 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 12.2% (Source: MarketsandMarkets)
- Museums, archives, and libraries spent a total of $3.3 billion on collections management in the US in 2019 (Source: IMLS)
- According to a survey conducted by the American Alliance of Museums, 60% of museums do not have a formal collections management policy (Source: American Alliance of Museums)
- The most common reason cited for not having a formal collections management policy is lack of staff time and resources (Source: American Alliance of Museums)
- The Smithsonian Institution has over 154 million objects in its collections, making it the largest museum in the world (Source: Smithsonian)
- The British Museum has over 8 million objects in its collections, making it the largest museum in the UK (Source: British Museum)
- The largest private art collection in the world belongs to Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Thani of Qatar, with an estimated value of $4 billion (Source: Insider)
- The Louvre in Paris is the most visited museum in the world, with over 10 million visitors in 2019 (Source: Statista)
- In 2020, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York had to lay off 80 employees due to financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (Source: The New York Times)
- The Cleveland Museum of Art has a collection of over 61,000 objects, spanning 6,000 years of human history (Source: Cleveland Museum of Art)
| Statistics | Figures |
| Number of museums worldwide | 55,000 |
| Percentage of museums that have digitized their collections | 20% |
| Average percentage of collections that are on display in a museum | 5% |
| Number of objects in the Smithsonian collections | 154 million |
| Percentage of archives that are at risk due to neglect, inadequate staffing, or funding | 60% |
| Estimated value of the art market in 2020 | $50.1 billion |
| Percentage of collectors who use software to manage their collections | 24% |
| Number of art collectors in the US | 8.4 million |
Collections Management Software Statistics
- The global collections management software market is dominated by North America, with a market share of over 40% (Source: MarketsandMarkets)
- The cloud-based collections management software market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2021 to 2028 (Source: MarketsandMarkets)
- The most commonly used collections management software in museums is The Museum System (TMS), developed by Gallery Systems (Source: The Art Newspaper)
- The Museum of Modern Art in New York uses a custom collections management system called Collection Systems and Services (CSS) (Source: MoMA)
- The Los Angeles County Museum of Art uses a collections management system called EmbARK, developed by Gallery Systems (Source: LACMA)
- The Smithsonian Institution uses a collections management system called EMu, developed by KE Software (Source: Smithsonian)
- The most commonly used collections management system in libraries is Voyager, developed by Ex Libris (Source: American Libraries)
- The University of Michigan Library uses a collections management system called Mirlyn, developed in-house (Source: University of Michigan Library)
- The most commonly used collections management system in archives is ArchivesSpace, developed by a community of archivists, librarians, and developers (Source: ArchivesSpace)
- The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) uses a collections management system called Archivists’ Toolkit (AT), developed by the University of California, San Diego (Source: NARA)
Table 1: Collections Management Benefits Statistics
| Benefits | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Meet scope | 61% |
| Meet quality standards | 60% |
| Meet expected benefits | 51% |
| Satisfied stakeholders | 20% |
| Delivered on time | 19% |
| Delivered within budget | 18% |
| Achieves target benefits | 17% |
| Produces high-quality deliverables | 15% |
| Achieves acceptable ROI | 9% |
| Top 5 PPM Functions | 14% |
Table 2: Collections Management Usage Statistics
| Usage Statistics | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Used SUSHI protocol for obtaining usage reports | 7% |
| Not used SUSHI protocol for obtaining usage reports | 57% |
| Plan to use SUSHI protocol for obtaining usage reports | 13% |
| Unsure whether to use SUSHI protocol for usage reports | 16% |
| Usage statistics importance to renew/cancel resources | 74% |
| Usage statistics value to renew/cancel resources | 10% |
| Canceled electronic resources due to low usage | 81% |
| Usage statistics reported outside of the library | 50% |
| Usage statistics priority to see what is being used | 38% |
| Incorporate electronic resource usage statistics | 49% |
| Best practices for electronic resource usage statistics | 25% |
| Monthly collection of electronic resource usage stats | 46% |
| Annual collection of electronic resource usage stats | 40% |
| Manual monthly collection of usage stats | 63% |
Table 3: Collections Management Software Statistics
| Software Statistics | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Use of project management software | 77% |
| High performing companies using PM software | 87% |
| Choice of PM software based on support | 66% |
| Use of help desk tickets, work orders, or a task tracking system | 45% |
| Functionality as the most important factor | 40% |
| Ease of use as an important factor | 24% |
| Business aspects improved by PM software | |
| Team communication | 52% |
| Quality of the final product | 44% |
| Number of projects completed on budget | 44% |
| Number of projects completed on time | |
| Communication with clients using PM software | 66% |
| Satisfaction with PM software | 76% |
Table 4: Collections Management Latest Statistics
| Latest Statistics | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Completed survey responses | 62 |
| Response rate | 45% |
| Librarians who agreed to be interviewed | 28 |
| Adequacy of measures | |
| Adequate | 50% |
| So-so | 29% |
| Inadequate | 21% |
| Use of Excel spreadsheets for managing electronic resources | 66% |
| Ability to cancel a resource due to low use | |
| Yes | 60% |
| Unsure | 16% |
| No | 11% |
Collections Management Facts
Here are some interesting facts about collections management:
- Collections management is not limited to museums and art galleries. It is also used in libraries, archives, and private collections.
- Collections management involves a range of activities, including acquisition, registration, cataloging, conservation, and exhibition.
- The use of digital technologies has revolutionized collections management, making it easier to access, organize, and preserve collections.
- Collections management is a multidisciplinary field that involves professionals such as curators, conservators, archivists, librarians, and IT specialists.
Collections Management Benefits
Collections management offers various benefits, including:
- Preservation of cultural heritage and historical artifacts for future generations.
- Improved access to collections through digitization, making it possible to view collections online.
- Increased efficiency in the management of collections through the use of software and digital tools.
- Enhanced research and educational opportunities through the availability of collections to scholars and students.
Collections Management Trends
Collections management is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving. Here are some of the current trends:
- Increased use of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain in collections management.
- Growing interest in the ethical considerations of collections management, such as the repatriation of cultural artifacts to their countries of origin.
- Increased emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in collections management, with a focus on expanding the representation of underrepresented communities in collections.
Collections Management Adoption
Collections management is becoming increasingly popular, with more organizations adopting collections management practices. Here are some examples:
- The British Museum uses a collections management system called Mimsy XG to manage its collections.
- The Library of Congress uses a collections management system called Voyager to manage its collections.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art uses a collections management system called TMS Collections to manage its collections.
Collections Management Market Analysis
The collections management software market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by factors such as the increasing adoption of digital technologies and the growing demand for efficient collections management. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global collections management software market is expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2020 to 2025.
Collections Management Demographics
Collections management is a global field that involves professionals from diverse backgrounds. However, there is still a lack of diversity and representation in some areas of collections management. For example, a survey by the American Alliance of Museums found that the museum workforce in the US is not diverse, with 72% of museum staff identifying as white.
Collections Management Software
Collections management software is an essential tool for organizations that manage collections. Here are some of the most popular collections management software:
- CollectionSpace
- Mimsy XG
- TMS Collections
- KE Emu
- PastPerfect
Collections Management Opportunities
Collections management offers various opportunities for professionals and organizations, including:
- Career opportunities in fields such as curatorial, conservation, archiving, and IT.
- Collaboration opportunities between organizations to share collections and resources.
- Funding opportunities for collections management projects and initiatives.
Collections Management Challenges
Collections management also presents various challenges, including:
- Limited funding for collections management, leading to neglect and deterioration of collections.
- Ethical considerations related to the ownership and repatriation of cultural artifacts.
- Limited access to collections due to copyright and other legal restrictions.
FAQ
What is collections management?
Collections management is the systematic organization, documentation, and preservation of collections of tangible or intangible assets.
Why is collections management important?
Collections management is important for the preservation of cultural heritage and historical artifacts for future generations, as well as for research and educational purposes.
What are some examples of collections management software?
Some examples of collections management software include CollectionSpace, Mimsy XG, TMS Collections, KE Emu, and PastPerfect.
What are some of the challenges in collections management?
Some of the challenges in collections management include limited funding, ethical considerations related to ownership and repatriation, and legal restrictions on access to collections.
In conclusion, collections management is a critical aspect of any organization that deals with collections of tangible or intangible assets. It offers various benefits, including preservation, improved access, and increased efficiency, as well as challenges such as limited funding and ethical considerations.
By staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies, organizations can ensure that their collections are well-managed and preserved for future generations.
