General aims/Goals/Objective

To develop an official ICOM Documentation definition for Museum Documentation— a short statement that aims to encapsulate the scope, boundaries, and applications of documentation activities in museums — and draft related literature.

GOALS

1. To draft a completed Version I (V.I) of a succinct definition to be used in ICOM Documentation communications and resource materials
2. To provide an avenue through which ICOM Documentation can ensure alignment with ICOM’s adoption of a new ‘Museum’ definition
3. To provide an avenue through which ICOM Documentation can inspire and support how museums respond and adapt to the fast-moving social changes that have occurred since the last update of Statement of Principles of Museum Documentation (2012). This definition is meant to be used as the basis from which the Statement of Principles of Museum Documentation is to be revised and updated.

Present projects/Resources

Museum Documentation Definition V.1
Scientific Article (publication expected Spring 2027)

Materials

PRESENTATIONS

What is Documentation?, presented in Mexico City at CIDOC2023
Defining Museum Documentation, roundtable discussion in Amsterdam at CIDOC2024
Defining Museum Documentation, presented in Dubai at ICOM2025 Triennial

FEEDBACK SUMMARIES

Round 1 Feedback
Round 2 Feedback
Roundtable Feedback
Translation Feedback

History

The process of drafting the definition was iterative and collaborative, inviting multiple opportunities for feedback and public commentary from a diverse, global group of museum documentalists. An introduction to the project was first presented to the ICOM Documentation membership in an open forum during the 2023 annual conference in Mexico City. Draft I (D.1) of the definition was offered for formal feedback to the ICOM Doc board and working group coordinators in November 2023. Draft II (D.II) was again offered for a second round of feedback from the board and Working Group coordinators in May 2024. Draft III (D.III) was proffered for in-depth public input at a half-day roundtable discussion during the annual conference in Amsterdam in November 2024, which resulted in Draft IV (D.IV). In the spring of 2025, D.IV was translated into Spanish, French, Arabic, and German and distributed globally among both ICOM Doc membership and beyond for additional feedback and edits for those translations. During this time, D.IV was also submitted to the ICOM Executive Board for transparency, and if needed, comments. The ICOM Executive Board reviewed the definition without providing additional comments, however feedback from the translation reviews were incorporated in Summer 2026, resulting in D.V, the fifth and final draft.

Participants and contact

Adele Barbato, Coordinator
Paula Casajus
Kaie Jeeser
Gordon McKenna
Trilce Navarrete
Dominic Oldman
Jonathan Ward