The SHARE museums research sounds really interesting and makes me wonder if there would be any value in scaling it up to look at the situation right across the sector.
I can't help thinking that we need a detailed snapshot of how all museums (archives, art galleries etc.) are currently engaging with digital before we can realistically wrestle with questions like these - and apologies to Mia for not answering.
Do any of us really know what is going on beyond the odd anecdote and extremes of good and bad examples?
For instance I would like to know how take up of digital compares across differently funded museums (trust or local authority) large or small (from nationals to volunteer run).
There is a lot of talk about intransigent IT and marketing depts. holding back some in the sector but perhaps if we had some hard figures to point to maybe something could be done about it.
Perry
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Poole
Sent: 21 June 2012 21:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How do you increase digital knowledge within the museum sector?
Hi Mia et al,
As I mentioned on twitter, I think the results of the very limited research we did recently with SHARE Museums East into attitudes and values towards digital in museums are relevant here.
To summarise (and noting that our research was far from exhaustive!), we found a very digitally-literate workforce, most of whom make active use of technology in their daily lives. The people who participated in our research covered a range of roles and demographics, but were almost all habitual users of online platforms.
What we did find is that this digital literacy is inhibited once people get to work. Whether it is by prohibitive policies or lack of kit and time, some of the museums we surveyed did not seem to have internalised digital into the various aspects of their work and were thereby disempowering their staff.
For me, this goes back to the recent discussions at the Open Rights Group - I think this is only partly a skills question. It is predominantly a question of the extent to which the museum regards engagement as its core purpose, and the extent to which it perceives online as an optimal method for achieving it. From an equally limited survey of 30 museums mission statements which I did last year, there is still very little in the core identity of some museums that relates to openness, discovery, sharing or participation, and less still which prioritises online strategies for achieving them.
If you are interested in reading the findings of the 'attitudes and values' research, it is up at http://www.sharemuseumseast.org.uk/shares/resource_139.pdf.
All best,
Nick
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mia
Sent: 21 June 2012 20:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How do you increase digital knowledge within the museum sector?
On 21 Jun 2012, at 14:31, Tony Crockford <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> On 21 Jun 2012, at 19:26, Mia wrote:
>>
>> So: how do you increase digital knowledge within the museum sector?
>
> In case I might know the answer, could you explain the question?
>
> Are you asking about how museums might have digital knowledge systems,
or how people within the museum sector might increase their knowledge of digital systems?
I was thinking knowledge of the potential and limitations of digital systems and communication, but I guess digital knowledge is included in the latter. It could be the when and why to use different digital platforms as well as how to use them.
>
Cheers, Mia
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