什麼是博物館？博物館是什麼？

What is a museum? What can a Museum become?

本文針對博物館的本質與功能加以論述。首先以79位受訪成人對於「博物館是什麼？什麼是博物館？」以及「最喜歡的博物館」的想法，初探普羅大眾心目中的博物館印象。其次反思近年來我國博物館數量激增的現象，以及網路票選優質博物館的結果。筆者以國際博物館協會（International Council of Museums, ICOM）對於博物館的定義，剖析博物館的本質定位：以美國博物館協會（American Association of Museums, AAM）的博物館認證方案（Accreditation Program）以及美國「博物館和圖書館服務機構（The Institute of Museum and Library Services IMLS）」之於博物館的聯邦資金補助資格規定，思考優質博物館的特質與要件。此外，作者特別針對「博物館商業化及商業博物館化」之意含加以論述。最後更進一步指出分辨「以博物館為名，有博物館之實者」、「以博物館為名，無博物館之實者」以及「不以博物館為名，而有博物館之實者」三者的重要性，期望國內博物館界能夠深刻省思、追求卓越。

This paper discusses the nature and functions of a museum. First, the results of 79 adults' answers to the question ''what is a museum?'' and ''my favorite museum'' show us the general image of a museum in people's minds. Secondly, through introducing the ICOM museum definition, the Accreditation Program of AAM and the criteria set up by IMLS, the author reflects on the large number of museum publications in Taiwan and the results of an online poll on the quality of museums. Finally, the author illuminates ''museum commercialization'' and ''commerce museumization'' and emphasizes the importance of clarifying three kinds of institutions in the museum field； under the name of a museum and with the nature of a museum, under the name of a museum but without the nature of a museum, not under the name of a museum but with the nature of a museum. What is a museum? This is a basic and also a key question for museum professional development in Taiwan. With right attitudes and concepts, we can clearly reflect the nature of a museum and the potential of a museum. The 79 adults' answers in the pilot study give us a general idea of what people think and feel about museums. The efforts made by international museum professional associations to enhance museum professional development help us reflect on the status quo in Taiwan and create a vision for the potential functions of a museum.