Comparative Study On China's Museum And Library From The Perspective Of Informatics

Containing abundant cultural information resources, museum and library constitute an important part of social information system. There are a lot of similarities between the two. China's museum and library causes have seen notable development; however, as cultural institutes, there is tremendous disparity between the two both in terms of the rate of progress of modernization and in terms of academic level. This thesis discusses the relationship between museum and library from the perspective of informatics and communication and tries to explore the mode of cooperative development in terms of information and knowledge management and communication between the two, in the hope of make some contribution to the future practice. The content is as the following:In history, museum and library has gone through the process from a totally close-in stage of private collection of imperial collection to the stage state-owned and limited open and then to the stage of open to the public. They are expanded into institutes incorporating the functions of preservation, scientific research, education, information, exchange, communication, recreation, international exchange and marketing together from the collection and preservation of history and literatures. Such transfer is in accordance with the need of social developments and has promoted the process of common share of literatures and natural and historical information resources.Collection information and literature information are the major constituents of library and museum communication information. Index information system and publicity information are secondary information during this communication process. Collections and collect books are the reflection of a country's cultural status, they the source of museum and library information and are the basis and foundation of all the activities of museum and library. Despite their rich connotations, they are only a part of the information of human society and the nature. Index information is a recreation of literature information and collection information by library and museum. In the context of digitization, digital information is added to the information of museum and library.Since museum collections are three-dimensional, the content of collection information is multi-leveled, trivial and sensitive and is featured in notable historical reality, and uniqueness. Literature information is two-dimensional systematic rational knowledge in linguistic form, and can appear in different versions. Both collection and literature possess certain historical and cultural values, archive values, information values and economic values, and the two are complementary in contents.Collection and literature are the carrier and source of museum and library information. Library just preserves recording information source, while museum owns material object source, recording information source and intellectual information source. Museum is distinguished by its materiality from other information and education institutes. Ancient literature is where museum and library is in common in terms of information source, the protection and utilization of ancient literature is the common topic for both museum and library. Museum and library have their respective characteristics in terms of the scope and principle of information source collection. Finding out the difference will be conducive to guiding their work.The content and process of information processing in museum is more complicated than that in library. Library information work is featured by super-addition. Standardization of information classification is a fundamental problem to the information work of museum and library. In respect of digitization construction, digital museum basically borrows the concept, technique and practice of digital library. Although there are certain differences in detail, they share many problems.Information shall be shared, providing information service for the society and carry out information communication is the social responsibility to museum and library. Museum and library are the source of information communication; they are in the dominant position in the communication process and lead the cultural trend of the public. Its communication belongs to the category of mass communication, which is non-compulsive. Information transfer mode of the two institutes has come to realize the co-existence of multiple communication modes. In addition, internet communication mode provides conditions for the share of information sources by the whole society. Museum and library become the best place for education and cultural recreation institute besides school.Characteristics of information determine that there are a lot to compare concerning the content and process of the information communication. Museum undertakes the responsibility of exploring the information of collections and establishing information index system, and plays the double roles of collection illustration and information navigation. Library mainly plays a role of guidance in the process of literature information communication. Museum explores and communicates collection information, while library plays the role of agency in the recreation of knowledge.Actually, what museum collection information conveys is"self-expression of objects", while the information library readers get from literature is the second expression of the object information. The audiences directly acquire sensitive knowledge form museums, while readers acquire rational knowledge from literatures. There are a lot of differences in the receptors (i.e. audience and readers) of museum and library information communication. One remarkable difference is that library readers have a sense of purpose and are active in acquiring literature information, while the audiences mostly regard museums as a place for traveling and recreation. Therefore, there is a stricter requirement on the information communication environment of museums.One of the most remarkable characteristics that distinguish museum from library is the application of non-verbal symbols. The mode of information communication in museum adopts the combination of static and dynamic means, while information communication in library is mainly static and starts to work on the diversification of communication modes. Museum mainly uses display layout, holding exhibition and publishing magazines and library mainly utilizes open-self reading and providing borrowing as their major means of information communication. Internet information communication is a significant development direction for the two institutes; however, the museum is lagged behind in this regard. As an indispensable part to the two institutes, collection of feedback information and measurement of communication effect are of great significance to the improvement of their work.Museum and library share commonness in various aspects such as information controlling, safety, increase of social and economic benefit and diversification evolvement of functions, which provide an extensive foundation for cooperative construction. Co-holding exhibition and establishing digital association are effective modes for common development, which demand the support and cooperation from the third media of society and public institutes such as the governments.