https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/63749 2026-04-14T10:01:28Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/110838 Title: Public access to reserve collections : challenges, dilemmas, and future potential in museums in Malta Abstract: One of the missions of museums is to balance the conservation of their artefacts with providing access to those same artefacts. In recent years, public access has also been extending to reserve collections. This trend has led to considerable debates on public accessibility to stored collections. The present study investigates public access to reserve collections in some of Malta’s museums. Eight national museum collections were selected for detailed study. The accessibility of their reserve collections was explored through in-depth interviews with seven museum professionals responsible for the collections. A qualitative approach was used. The data obtained were analysed through thematic analysis. The most significant issues and challenges hindering public access to stored collections were identified as lack of resources, the museum storage location, collection safety and security as well as issues related to collections management. A number of future potential opportunities were also identified, including increase in donations, introducing an online catalogue, increasing public awareness on reserve collections, and accessibility acting as a catalyst for better management of stored collections. It was found that most of the museums studied endorse the concept of public accessibility to reserve collections and are currently providing such access as far as their resources allow. However, most of the reserve collections are still underused. This study also demonstrates that providing public access to reserve collections requires a number of resources and adjustments. These comprise of staff, time, space, infrastructure, and equipment. Care is also required to find the appropriate balance between public access and preservation of artefacts. This study concludes that bridging the gaps between public access and storage cannot be addressed by one universal solution. Solutions need to be developed and tailored for each collection in its specific context. Description: M.A.CULTURAL HERIT.MANGT. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99462 Title: The practice of conservation in Palestine (Post-Oslo era) technical and architectural study Abstract: This research discusses architectural and technical issues of the conservation/restoration practice and its approaches in Palestine of the vernacular architecture in villages and cities located in the Highlands of Palestine. This is considering the international and regional scene in the post-Oslo era, and briefly to address the scene in the pre-Oslo era. The Oslo Agreement had a huge impact on the local political and economic situation and lifestyle, through the establishment of Palestinian NGOs that work with cultural heritage. In the post-Oslo era, construction grew as a main economic sector, with consequences and threats to the built heritage. Also, as accessibility was restricted the attainable areas to work in, are now the West Bank, East Jerusalem (Central Highlands), and partially Gaza. Under the current political circumstances, cultural heritage is a crucial part of the Palestinian identity and so it is important for their resilience and resistance. Palestinian conservation professionals from the Palestinian NGOs, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and private firms are working on the restoration of the Palestinian traditional architecture, in particular, the vernacular and important Holy sites and monuments in Palestinian cities and villages. In addition to the rehabilitation of historic centres in rural Palestine for youth, women, and community members through creating cultural and social spaces and adaptive reuse, being focused mainly on bringing life back to buildings and historical centres. This has been taking place on buildings of the Ottoman era and the British Mandate, which are in the majority, the living, and reusable parts of the Palestinian heritage and are connected to the inhabitants' social, commercial, and economic activities in Palestinian villages and cities. Historically, Palestine is part of the Sham Region (Great Syria), and also part of the Mediterranean. This is highly reflected in the traditions, cuisines, customs and the architectural style, and the building typology. Palestine has the same building characteristics of what exists in the Levant Region. The Levant Region built environment and architecture are the main cradles of influence on the development of the Palestinian built heritage. This is not only due to proximity and belonging to the same region but also due to the same colonial movements such as the Ottoman, the British, and the French Mandates. Borders and divisions were created at later stages creating differences politically and economically. This will form the background and the context of the architectural and technical study and so a great part of the dissertation will be devoted to the context within which the current "Practice of Conservation in Palestine" is developing. The conservation process as analysed and compared not only within the Palestinian cultural heritage organizations but also with the international scene and the regional experience in the Levant Region. The main conclusion is that reusing the built heritage/satisfying all needs is the main concern for the Palestinian practitioners that has ruled the restoration practice, which is related to the Palestinian context and reality. The main focus of the Palestinian practitioners is the vernacular buildings because of the need for a "use" for the buildings, the lack of land, and restoring a sense of identity and belonging to the Palestinians. Clarity (honesty) and distinguishability in the reconstruction and additions, compatibility of the reuse with the traditional character, using compatible materials, and encouraging the practitioners to undertake a formal assessment of values are the main recommendations that Palestinian practitioners are encouraged to comply with in light of the International Charters' concepts. Description: M.SC.CONSERVATION 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/95599 Title: Online digital archives in Malta : is usability testing performed? Abstract: The collections held within our archival institutions undisputedly form an important part of our cultural heritage wealth. Online digital archives promise to offer facilitated access to such collections at a touch of a button. However usability issues may hinder the experience of their users and betray their expectations. Usability testing is one of the methods used to evaluate on line portals, a data collecting process which may reveal the kind of experience the users are facing. When considering the efforts and resources needed by our archival institutions to engage and maintain an online digital archive, such information becomes essential in taking informed decisions with regards to changes which might be required to keep an attractive, useful and usable online digital archive service. This study investigates the current situation with regards to the knowledge and awareness of usability testing for various digital archives, holding archival sources and finding aids from Maltese institutions, and compares the results to international literature. Through data collection from literature and a series of interviews with stakeholders the current situation in Malta has been mapped. The interviews also lead to a deeper understanding of how our archival institutions look at usability testing of their on line portals. This led to a proposal of a draft framework recommending a methodology to be followed in usability testing of online digital archives. Description: M.A.CULTURAL HERIT.MANGT. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/95598 Title: An investigation into the deterioration of a decorated Baldacchino tomb at St. Paul's Catacombs Complex, Rabat, Malta Abstract: The present dissertation focuses on the study of a decorated Baldacchino tomb within Catacomb 17 in the St. Paul's Catacombs Complex located within Rabat, Malta. The complex is considered as an early Christian site (ea. 4th-6th century AD). The majority of the painted decoration on the Baldacchino tomb is obscured by a variety of surface phenomena of different colours and opacities. The dissertation includes documentation of the original technique and the condition of the Baldacchino, including the surface phenomena, and their implications on the conservation of the original surfaces. Microscopic observations revealed that the wall painting is composed of a lime-based plaster (applied on Globigerina Limestone) and typical pigments found in Roman wall paintings were used, including red ochre and possibly Egyptian blue. The internal environment has a high RH (100%), a stable temperature (13- 21°C) and low light levels (0.05-3.82 µmol photos m-2 s-1), which concur with other hypogean environments and provide ideal conditions for biological growth. Most of the surface phenomena covering the tomb seem to be of biological origin. The black layers covering the top half of the tomb might be of cyanobacterial origin, filamentous Cyanobacteria were observed within the green films, and purple spots seem to be composed of heterotrophic bacteria, whereas the white crusts mostly contain crystalline material along with coccoid cyanobacteria. Bioprecipitation of various forms of calcium carbonate was observed, possibly biomediated by filamentous Cyanobacteria. Penetrative behaviour in the underlying substrate was noticed in several films; this can lead to disaggregation of original materials. The LED lights close to the tomb lead to an increase in T on its surface, thus encouraging colonization by the green films. In light of the findings of this study, since a number of photosynthetic organisms were observed in various samples, it is recommended that monochromatic lighting emitting wavelengths not used for photosynthesis, is installed. Remedial interventions are not recommended at this stage, until further studies are carried out on the biological films. Description: M.SC.CONSERVATION 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z