Cole Museum of Zoology receives official accreditation

Monday, 14 February 2011

One of the exhibits at the museum - a complete skeleton of a male Indian elephant

The Cole Museum of Zoology at the University of Reading has been officially 'Accredited' by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). A celebration attended by over 40 people, including museum staff, volunteers and the museum committee, was held at the museum last week.

The museum, which was founded in 1906 by Professor Francis Cole, is a collection of over 4,000 zoological specimens. It is free to visit and demonstrates the rich diversity of the animal kingdom. Highlights of the Collection include complete skeletons of a male Indian elephant, a killer whale, a five metre reticulated python, and a pair of giant spider crabs.

The MLA's Museum Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for all museums in the UK. This award proves that the Cole Museum of Zoology measures up to those standards, meeting the guidelines on how it is run, how it looks after its collections and the services it provides for its visitors.

Dr Amanda Callaghan, curator of the museum commented: "Accreditation is the culmination of years of work by staff and our volunteers to bring the museum up to professional standards and ensure that it survives the next 100 years. I am grateful to all those involved for getting the museum to this standard and for their endless enthusiasm for the collection."

Andrew Motion, Chair of MLA, said: "Being awarded Accreditation is an impressive achievement. It recognises the high standard and service that the museum provides and acknowledges the hard work of its volunteers and staff. The MLA promotes best practice in museums, libraries and archives, to inspire innovative, integrated and sustainable services for all. "

The museum is open to the public from 9.30am-5.00pm and is situated in the AMS building on the Whiteknights campus.

Find out more about MLA at http://www.mla.gov.uk.