Building community among museum information professionals: a case study of the Museum Computer Network

Abstract

Museum information professionals meet the needs of the producers and consumers of museum information resources, yet, little is known of how their own needs are met or what benefits they obtain from being part of a broader professional community. This study presents results from a survey of 283 individuals who were asked about their relationship with the Museum Computer Network, an international professional organization dedicated to supporting the needs of museum information professionals. The results shed light on how professional organizations can meet the needs of individuals who share a common interest in museums and information technology, particularly when those individuals are professionally diverse and geographically distributed. The results can help researchers and practitioners better understand how to build community among museum information professionals, and have implications for all organizations supporting the needs of museum professionals.

Keywords:

• museum management
• museum information professionals
• professional organizations
• communities of practice
• professional development
• Museum Computer Network

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of the MCN board members who supported this research, especially Charlotte Sexton, Diana Folsom, Nate Solas, Victoria Portway, Allegra Burnette, Douglas Hegley, Christina DePaolo, and Eric Longo. Thanks also to the individuals who completed the survey; this research would not have been possible without their help.

Notes on contributors

Paul F. Marty is an Associate Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University. His research and teaching interests include museum informatics, computer-supported cooperative work, information behavior, and usability engineering. His current research focuses on the evolution of sociotechnical systems and collaborative work practices in museums, the usability of museum websites, the evolving roles of information professionals in museums, the digital museum in the life of the user, and the digital convergence of libraries, archives, and museums.

Barbara J. Soren is an independent consultant who works with museums and science centers, performing arts organizations, and health professionals. Her consulting work, research, and teaching have focused on human development and lifelong learning. Her Ph.D. is in Arts/Museum Education. She has been teaching in the Museum Studies program in the Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, since 1999. She regularly presents as a chairperson, single presenter, and panelist at conferences, workshops, and seminars across North America, and has actively published in journals and online.

Jackie Armstrong is the Emily Fisher Landau Fellow in Education at the Museum of Modern Art, where she works cross-departmentally planning and conducting visitor research, as well as evaluating museum initiatives. Previously, she served as the Audience Researcher in the Education Department at the Art Gallery of Ontario. She completed an MA in Museum Studies at the University of Toronto, and is interested in how museums engage diverse publics and in using evaluation methods to help museums make informed decisions for improving the visitor experience.