Museums

“Fill the Gap”: The Smithsonian Museum of American Art Gets Fun *and* Practical with Web 2.0

As institutions continue to try to make their web presences relevant and engage visitors in participation via Web 2.0 tools, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art (blog) makes a brilliant entry into the fray. “Fill the Gap” challenges “citizen curators” to select replacement works of art for the gaps in Luce Foundation Center display cases created when works in the collection are loaned to other institutions.

From the blog: “If an object is leaving for more than twelve months, the Luce Center staff is responsible for selecting a replacement. It’s a lengthier process than you might imagine. We work with the registrar, conservation, and curatorial departments to ensure that the artwork will fit in the gap (the cataloged dimensions for paintings do not include the frames!), has no outstanding conservation issues, is appropriate for the theme of the case, and has not been selected for any upcoming loans or exhibitions.

This has been a busy year so far. More than forty paintings are slated to leave the Luce Foundation Center for other exhibitions, and it is only March! For this reason, we decided to open up this process and ask our online communities for help. Using Flickr, we can share a photo of a case that needs a replacement artwork, provide information about all of the other works in the case, and challenge people to search our collections in order to find an appropriate substitution.”

As institutions continue to try to make their web presences relevant and engage visitors in participation via Web 2.0 tools, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art (blog) makes a brilliant entry into the fray. “Fill the Gap” challenges “citizen curators” to select replacement works of art for the gaps in Luce Foundation Center display cases created when works in the collection are loaned to other institutions.

From the blog: “If an object is leaving for more than twelve months, the Luce Center staff is responsible for selecting a replacement. It’s a lengthier process than you might imagine. We work with the registrar, conservation, and curatorial departments to ensure that the artwork will fit in the gap (the cataloged dimensions for paintings do not include the frames!), has no outstanding conservation issues, is appropriate for the theme of the case, and has not been selected for any upcoming loans or exhibitions.

This has been a busy year so far. More than forty paintings are slated to leave the Luce Foundation Center for other exhibitions, and it is only March! For this reason, we decided to open up this process and ask our online communities for help. Using Flickr, we can share a photo of a case that needs a replacement artwork, provide information about all of the other works in the case, and challenge people to search our collections in order to find an appropriate substitution.”

Smart! A repeating contest that…

*offers a prize that costs the institution nothing, but makes the winner feel a part of the institution (creates relationships) and has value as an honor;

*crowdsources the work of the institution in an exciting (challenging, a puzzle) way and saves workers’ time;

*encourages a closer look at the institution’s collection and may inspire feedback on searchability and collection organization; and

*goes deeper than the one-way “name our dolphin/space station” or “post a photo interpreting our theme to our Flickr stream” invitations cropping up all over the web.

A good model.

May 7, 2009 by Internet Museums 0

Hands-On Kids’ Museums Make Learning Fun

There was a story on NPR about hands-on children’s museums and how they use technology. The whole piece was interesting but there was a mention how some children’s museums are teaming with libraries.

A public library kiosk in Dinosphere lets kids from anywhere in Indiana check out library books and send them back through the state’s interlibrary loan system.

December 29, 2008 by Museums 1

Writers, Artists House Museums Struggling

For scores of historic house museums, simply keeping the lights on has become a challenge. The Mount, Wharton’s home in Lenox, MA, portrayed as part of a mural in the article below, is trying to stave off foreclosure with a major fundraising campaign. The Mark Twain House in Hartford can’t even afford to buy energy-saving light bulbs that would slash its electric bill. Some of the financial strain is due to previous overspending; the Twain House Executive Director admits that a $19 million visitor center that opened in 2003 was too ambitious and costly.

Experts say this summer may make or break some sites, many of which already have cut their hours and staff and are struggling for donations in today’s troubled economy. Chicago Sun Times.

August 1, 2008 by Museums 0

Thinking about the future of museums: fourteen key issues

Over at Trends in the Living Networks Ross Dawson participated in a Future Directions Forum at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, which after 20 years in its current location is looking to the future. He says The session raised many interesting questions and thoughts. His points below represent his perspectives as well as reflections on issues raised by people at forum. While the issues below were raised in the context of museums in areas like science, technology, and design, I think you’ll be able to connect some of them to libraries as well.

May 22, 2008 by Museums 0

State recovering cost overruns from Lincoln library and museum

The state of Illinois is getting back $3 million and saving millions more as part of the settlement ending a long-running dispute with contractors over construction of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

The state’s settlement with three contractors over cost overruns and delays at the popular tourist attraction returns $3 million in payments and deflects $7 million in claims the contractors contended they were owed.

April 3, 2008 by Librarians Libraries Museums 0

IMLS Announces Results of Study on the Internet’s Impact on Museums and Libraries

Gary Price sent over A Link to The Resource Shelf on The results of InterConnections: A National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online Information. “Museums and libraries are alive and well in the digital world!” Radice said. “The InterConnections report shows how people currently search for information and makes the case that the libraries and museums must provide service both online and in person.”

March 7, 2008 by Internet Libraries Museums 0

Virtual Worlds: Libraries, Education and Museums Conference

From Lori Bell of Info Island in Second Life:

Virtual Worlds: Libraries, Education and Museums Conference
Join us in Second Life on March 8 for a conference on virtual worlds and libraries, education and museums! The purpose of this conference is to provide a gathering place for librarians, information professionals, educators, museologists, and others to learn about and discuss the educational, informational, and cultural opportunities of virtual worlds. There will be a variety of presentations to attend including keynote programs by Kitty Pope, Executive Director of the Alliance Library System, Barbara Galik, Director of the Cullom-Davis Library at Bradley University, Doug McDavid from IBM, and Christy Confetti Higgins from Sun. For more information on and to register for the conference, visit the conference website at http://www.alliancelibraries.info/virtualworlds/
The conference is organized by Alliance Library System, TAP Information Services, IBM, and Sun. For more information on attending or presenting, contact Lori Bell at Alliance Library System at [email protected] or Tom Peters at
[email protected]

Request for proposals is at http://www.alliancelibraries.info/virtualworlds/callforproposals.doc
Proposals are being accepted until Feb. 11, 2008. Registration free for speakers.

February 4, 2008 by Libraries Museums 0

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