Firstly, as a relative newcomer to the group, can you let me
know where I can find published material / information about previous MCG
meetings?
I, too, am very interested in working with a
group focussing on museums and the web. At present I maintain an
information website for Fife Museums Forum
The website was set up about three years ago and provides
information about local authority and independent museums in Fife. Museums
without internet facilities have more detailed information included - current
exhibitions etc. As more museums set up their own websites, we only include
basic information - opening times, access etc. and link to their websites
from our pages.
I think we provide a useful information board for what's on in
museums in Fife, but I am also aware that we are only dipping our toes in the
enormous ocean of potential that is the internet. I am very interested in
exploring the possibility of making more and more of our collections accessible
via the internet and would like to discuss all aspects of this with other museum
people. I find that I have colleagues who think that supplying contact address
and numbers, opening times, etc. is enough. I would like to find museum people
who are keen to push forward and really use the internet as
another tool for increasing access to museums.
I am planning to do a couple of courses on web design and
database construction which are run by local colleges as business training, and
I am also keen to explore interactive teaching to bring myself up to date
with today's available technology.
I feel that if I could demonstrate the potential of the
internet to my colleagues more vividly, I would stand a better chance of
persuading them to maximise our use of it. As a newcomer and beginner, I would
be very happy to be part of a group interested in promoting the use of the
internet in museums.
I can see a need for practical advice, research into
effectiveness, and coordination of integration with schools curricula
amongst other things. In many respects, area-based coordination is extremely
important.
There is already a great deal of expertise within museums.
Perhaps an initial step would be to draw up a list of people willing to act as
advisors to museums just starting out. Please excuse me if this type of thing is
already in existence. As I explained at the beginning, I am a newcomer to the
group and feel a bit like I'm clutching on to the end of a long conga dance
line!
I look forward to hearing from you
Erika Topolewska