From Elite Control to Public Cultural Sphere:The Construction and Functional Transformation of the British Museum in the First Half of 19~(th) Century

British Empire made the British Museum develop into new era in the first half of 19th century,the comprehensive museum,its collection scale,use situation and service concept got a huge development and improvement.The collection scale was significantly enlarged,books,manuscripts,natural and artificial products enriched fast.In addition to the donation,the parliament attached more importance and did more generous to the museum,it was willing to spend public funds on national collection enlargement.The museum changed the strictly visiting rules,abolished admission card,extended the limitation,improved the complicated rules for visiting time,expanded area of the reading room.With the scale enlargement,management improvement,national attention and the elites efforts,the museum's public service principle and concept constantly changed from invisible into visible reality.