Editing Victoria and Albert Museum (section)

==Departments==

===Education===
The education department<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/learn|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702212435/http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/s/sackler-centre-for-arts-education-at-the-vanda/|url-status=dead|title=V&A · Learn|archivedate=2 July 2015|website=Victoria and Albert Museum}}</ref> has wide-ranging responsibilities. It provides information for the casual visitor as well as for school groups, including integrating learning in the museum with the [[National Curriculum (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)|National Curriculum]]; it provides research facilities for students at degree level and beyond, with information and access to the collections. It also oversees the content of the museum's website in addition to publishing books and papers on the collections, research and other aspects of the museum.

Several areas of the collection have dedicated study rooms, these allow access to objects in the collection that are not currently on display, but in some cases require an appointment to be made.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/resources/print_study_reading/index.html |title=Study Rooms&nbsp;– Victoria and Albert Museum |publisher=vam.ac.uk |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528153637/http://www.vam.ac.uk/resources/print_study_reading/index.html |archive-date=28 May 2010 }}</ref>

The new [[Raymond Sackler|Sackler]] education suite, occupying the two lower floors of the Henry Cole Wing opened in September 2008. This includes lecture rooms and areas for use by schools, which will be available during school holidays for use by families, and will enable direct handling of items from the collection.

==== V&A Publishing ====
V&A Publishing, within the education department, works to raise funds for the museum by publishing around 30 books and digital items each year. The company has around 180 books in print.<ref>[http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/v-and-a-publishing/ About V&A Publishing.] V&A Retrieved 4 May 2015</ref>

==== Activities for children ====
Activity backpacks are available for children. These are free to borrow and include hands-on activities such as puzzles, construction games and stories related to themes of the museum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/activ_events/families/back_packs/index.html |title=Family activities in the Museum: Backpacks |publisher= Victoria and Albert Museum |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420044026/http://www.vam.ac.uk/activ_events/families/back_packs/index.html |archive-date=20 April 2010 }}</ref>

==== Activities for adults ====
The Learning Academy offers adult courses as well as training for professionals in the culture and heritage sector, both nationally and internationally. We also have great facilities in which to teach, study and get closer to our collections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/learn|title=Learn · V&A|website=Victoria and Albert Museum}}</ref>

=== Research and conservation ===
Research<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/research/index.html |title=Research |publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum vam.ac.uk |date=5 May 2011 |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528142209/http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/research/index.html |archive-date=28 May 2010 }}</ref> is a very important area of the museum's work, and includes: identification and interpretation of individual objects; other studies contribute to systematic research, this develops the public understanding of the art and artefacts of many of the great cultures of the world; visitor research and evaluation to discover the needs of visitors and their experiences of the museum. Since 1990, the museum has published research reports;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/research/research_reports/index.html |title=Research Reports&nbsp;– Victoria and Albert Museum |publisher=vam.ac.uk |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528124258/http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/research/research_reports/index.html |archive-date=28 May 2010 }}</ref> these focus on all areas of the collections.

Conservation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/index.html |title=Conservation&nbsp;– Victoria and Albert Museum |publisher=vam.ac.uk |date=6 May 2011 |access-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330044305/http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/index.html |archive-date=30 March 2010 }}</ref> is responsible for the long-term preservation of the collections, and covers all the collections held by the V&A and the V&A Museum of Childhood. The conservators specialise in particular areas of conservation. Areas covered by the conservator's work include "preventive" conservation this includes: performing surveys, assessments and providing advice on the handling of items, correct packaging, mounting and handling procedures during movement and display to reduce risk of damaging objects. Activities include controlling the museum environment (for example, temperature and light) and preventing pests (primarily insects) from damaging artefacts. The other major category is "interventive" conservation, this includes: cleaning and reintegration to strengthen fragile objects, reveal original surface decoration, and restore shape. Interventive treatment makes an object more stable, but also more attractive and comprehensible to the viewer. It is usually undertaken on items that are to go on public display.

=== National Art Library ===
In the early 2000s the [[National Art Library]] merged with the Prints, Paintings and Drawings department to form the Word and Image Department.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pearson |first=D. |date=1 June 2015 |title=Word & Image: Art, Books and Design from the National Art Library. Ed. by ROWAN WATSON, ELIZABETH JAMES and JULIUS BRYANT. |url=https://academic.oup.com/library/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/library/16.2.207 |journal=The Library |language=en |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=207–208 |doi=10.1093/library/16.2.207 |issn=0024-2160}}</ref> The library and its reading rooms are located on the second floor of the V&A, though some collections, particularly Archives, are held off-site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=V&A · National Art Library |url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/national-art-library |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=Victoria and Albert Museum |language=en}}</ref>