![\"Joplin](\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2803\/4501588158_ae9472b7f1.jpg\" "\\"Joplin")
<\/a>Memorial Hall - At least for now, remaining Memorial Hall.<\/p><\/div>\n
According to the Joplin Globe<\/em>, the vote was 3,882 to 928, a four to one margin.\u00a0\u00a0 While we here at Historic Joplin believe that the museum complex could do with a new home, we agree with the result of the vote.\u00a0 There are several reasons why.<\/p>\n First, it was a poor decision to spearhead a sales tax proposal during the recent recession.\u00a0 Although many economists believe the country is recovering from the recent economic downturn, folks on Main Street are still feeling the pain of difficult times.\u00a0 A new museum complex is the least of someone’s worries who is struggling to pay for healthcare, food, and other necessities.\u00a0 Simply put, it’s hard to justify passing a new tax on people who are struggling to survive on a daily basis.<\/p>\n Second, the PR campaign was mediocre at best.\u00a0 The Globe<\/em>, which seemed to support the museum proposal, attempted to publicize both sides of the debate.\u00a0 The museum, however, failed to articulate to the public why it matters.\u00a0 Talking about the museum’s multi-million dollar collection of lead and zinc samples does not translate with folks.\u00a0 It does not inspire passionate debate.\u00a0 In the end, the museum failed to carry its message to the people, let alone sell it.<\/p>\n Third, the museum awkwardly proposed taking over Memorial Hall.\u00a0 Why? It appears that \u201cmuseum representatives\u201d decided upon Memorial Hall and drew up plans without even consulting the public.\u00a0 Some of the endorsements on its website are questionable, even dubious at best, such as the \u201cNational Cookie Cutter Historical Museum,\u201d and the \u201cJoplin Historical Society.\u201d It is our understanding that the National Cookie Cutter Museum is part of the Joplin Museum Complex as is, or was, the Joplin Historical Society.\u00a0 Essentially, two organizations that are part of the museum were supporting the museum proposal \u2014 isn’t that a conflict of interest?<\/p>\n Fourth, we here at Historic Joplin have conducted research in many of the finest archives and libraries in the world such as the Bodleian Library at Oxford; National Archives I and II in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 and College Park, Maryland; the Library of Congress; the special collections of the University of Oklahoma, the University of Missouri, and the University of Arkansas; numerous state archives and county courthouses; as well as small town libraries and museums.\u00a0 We can say that we have always had a pleasant experience save for interactions with the Joplin Museum Complex.<\/p>\n The Joplin Museum Complex does not allow members of the public access to its collections which is extremely unfortunate.\u00a0 Excuses are made that the museum is simply unable to accommodate visitor requests for access to the museum’s collection.\u00a0 This is unacceptable.\u00a0 Dorothea B.\u00a0 Hoover is rolling in her grave.\u00a0 Years ago, the University of Arkansas Museum was shuttered and the multi-million dollar collection placed in storage.\u00a0 Although housed in a very small space, the university museum collection is readily accessible to the public and is cared for by professional museum staff.<\/p>\n We cannot say the same of the Joplin Museum Complex (JMC).\u00a0 The photo in the recent Globe article on the museum shows that the Joplin Museum Complex collection has not been taken care of by the museum staff.\u00a0 Even if the conditions are not ideal, there is no excuse for sloppy storage methods, although the JMC staff members are not professionally trained curators or archivists.\u00a0 Out of the many libraries, museums, and archives we have visited over the years, this is the first time we encountered such an unhelpful staff.\u00a0 It is unacceptable that members of the public are denied access to museum collections when it is funded by taxpayer money.<\/p>\n So here are our suggestions for improvement:<\/p>\n First, the next time the Joplin Museum Complex embarks on a fundraising campaign, it must articulate its message.\u00a0 Tell the public why its collections matter.\u00a0 Sell it like Sam Walton sold cheap underwear back in the 1970s.<\/p>\n Second, the Joplin Museum Complex should get rid of collections that have nothing to do with the history of Joplin such as the Cookie Cutter collection in order to create adequate storage space.\u00a0 In the museum world, this is called \u201cdeaccessioning.\u201d Every museum will deaccession something in its lifetime, particularly items that do not fit with the museum’s mission.\u00a0 Is the Cookie Cutter collection relevant to the history of Joplin? Probably not.\u00a0 So get rid of it.\u00a0 Focus on the real treasures in the collection.\u00a0 This should alleviate some of the storage problems.<\/p>\n Third, please change exhibits as time and money allows.\u00a0 The Joplin Museum Complex has not changed since I was in the third grade.\u00a0 Consider not allowing an animal to run around the museum as they can damage and ruin museum artifacts.\u00a0 No museum staff worth its salt lets live animals have free reign inside of a museum.<\/p>\n
![\"Joplin](\"http:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4018\/4499944895_3db922630a.jpg\" "\\"Joplin")
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