Muzeology within the context of Lithuanian science

Abstract

Up to now, theoretical museology has not been present in Lithuania. Consequently, there have not been any discussions or publications about the possible association of its object and method to philosophy. What exists is the study of museums, which is currently characterized as the science of museum organization and operations. However, it is only part of the modern museology. The field of research and the method of the museum studies, like those of museology practice, or museography, the object of which is the techniques of museum work, are the same. Museum studies in Lithuania originated in the 19th century and evolved closely following the development of museums. Throughout the 20th century, the study of museums was treated as a subsidiary discipline closely allied to history. In 1941, 1942, 1946–1948 and 1996, museum studies were included within the field of history at Vilnius University. In 1999, the dean of the Faculty of History of Vilnius University stated that museum studies were becoming the reflection of history didactics, as a certain branch of history with its own theoretical basis. These orientations have been mainly influenced by the trends of museum development in Lithuania, namely, the abundance of history museums and linking of their mission to historical consciousness. The tendencies to associate museum studies to other disciplines dominate in Lithuania as well. These have been predetermined by the variety of the conceptions of the sociocultural functions of museums. The relationship of museum work to heritage preservation had effect on the understanding of museum studies as part of heritology. Currently, with the changes in conceptions of the prime tasks of the museum stimulated by the formation of the open society, much focus is centred on social museology which has notable links with social and communication sciences. In 2000, following the introduction of MA degree museum studies at the Faculty of Communication in Vilnius University, museum studies have been linked with documentation sciences.
In Lithuania, as in other countries, museology searches for its place in the structure of the sciences.