|
|
|
Access for All:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Full Day Workshops |
|
9pm-4pm |
Digital Access to Cultural Heritage Resources: Implementing the Dublin Core in Museums Angela Spinazze, ATSPIN Consulting Jay Hoffman, Managing Director, Gallery Systems. Sponsored by the Consortium for the Computer Interchange of Museum Information This workshop draws from the experiences of the CIMI DC Metadata Testbed to take the mystery out of implementing the Dublin Core metadata standard in museums. The instructors will provide a thorough introduction to the principles of Dublin Core for use with art, cultural heritage and natural history museum information. Topics include: What is metadata, why is it important and why is it different from traditional cataloguing? When to use DC and what to expect during implementation. Tools to automate the process of record creation, and more. Participants will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of DC, the challenges and opportunities for the use of DC in museums, and gain practical experience in creating real DC records. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of collection information from their own institutions. |
9am-4pm |
Strategic Information Management for Museums in the 21st Century Jennifer Trant & David Bearman, Partners, Archives & Museum Informatics Leveraging information resources within a museum requires a holistic view of the vision of the organization, its role and its message, with a sense of technological opportunities. Beginning with the museum mission and its societal context, we will cover the interconnected issues of positioning the museum, organizing cultural knowledge, and structuring museum data to explore strategies for constructing integrated information systems. Strategies include: supporting on-going programs and delivery methods, understanding information flow, and building self-sustaining information services. We hope that you’ll end the day with a clear understanding of the inter-relationships and interdependencies in museum information resources. The workshop is for senior managers (MIS and others) and museum directors concerned with long-term strategic information management issues and charged with overall program direction. Attendees should not be afraid of grappling with issues of information standards and systems architecture but are not expected to be technical personnel. |
9am-4pm |
Try this at home: Strategies for Implementing Standards Elisa Lanzi and Susanne Warren, Partners, Lanzi/Warren Associates Confused about the different types of standards? Will they really make a difference for your collection? Will using them make more work for you? How do you use them and where do you find them? This workshop will give participants the tools and strategies needed to implement information standards within their institutions. Topics include metadata, controlled vocabularies and guidelines for description. The workshop is designed for people who manage information in museums, galleries, image collections and other cultural heritage organizations. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises, participate in problem solving group activities, experiment with applying various standards, and view demonstrations of the best practices. |
9am-4:30pm |
QuickTime Virtual Reality in Cultural Heritage Presentation James Devine , Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, Scotland Andrew MacDonald, Dept. Computing Science, University of Glasgow, Scotland The use of QTVR for computer-based display of cultural resources providesmuseums, galleries, and related organisations with an opportunity to presenttheir resources in an innovative and interactive way to remote users, and tosupplement in-house exhibits with on-line resources. This introductory levelworkshop will provide participants with an overview of the issues involved,and will examine the potential of QTVR in heritage management contexts, usingexamples from Glasgow University's Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, andothers. Participants will receive hands-on instruction in photographingpanoramas in QTVR and in stitching a basic QTVR panorama file. |
| Morning Workshops | |
9am-Noon |
Managing Those Donors! Museum Patron Membership and Development Management Sharona Justman, Director, Rubenstein/Justman Management Consultants Gary Rubenstein, Director, Rubenstein/Justman Management Consultants Explore key museum management and communication principles designed to expand the patron service potential of development and membership departments, and to increase revenue streams into the museum using management awareness and technology tools. Learn how to prepare your department to evaluate and select the appropriate software systems while working with your staff to re-evaluate internal procedures toward improved contribution to a healthy revenue stream and improved patron service. Case examples will be used to explore software selection, project funding, data conversion and user training. Examples of successful technology integration between membership systems and other areas of the Museum will include Telephony and the associated marketing and patron service benefits. Designed for development, membership and executive directors. |
9am-Noon |
Rapid Prototyping of Multimedia Applications in a Museum Setting Slavko Milekic, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. Of Cognitive Science & Digital Interface Design, University of the Arts, Philadelphia Learn how to use a novice friendly multimedia authoring tool (SuperCard) to rapidly develop full-featured projects, in-house prototypes, digital portfolios or Web applications. Through examples and exercises you’ll learn basic elements of multimedia authoring, interface design principles and project development. Learn how to convert a Web application and make it accessible for critical appraisal by your colleagues, or deliver your materials to a worldwide audience. By the end of this workshop you’ll have the knowledge and skills necessary to create a functional working prototype of any project you would like to develop in the future. No previous programming experience is necessary |
| Afternoon Workshops | |
| 1:30am-4:30pm | Designing
Educational Programs for Museums using Technology Sarah Wilton Shor, Principal Consultant, Obelisk, LLC Many museums are experimenting with the use of multimedia (the Internet, CD-Roms, etc.) to present their collections and educational programs. However, producing multimedia projects with true value that meets educational goals involves more than creating electronic versions of current programs. This workshop will present a framework for how effective museum education programs can be created using technology. Topics include: determining audience, goals, pedagogy, technology selection, and interactive activity design. Working in small groups, participants will be given a list of resources (collection, audience, facilities) from a fictional museum, and will develop a design for a multimedia educational program. |
| 1:30pm-4:30pm | Building
a Methodology to Evaluate your Web Site John Chadwick, Ed.D., Research Associate, Institute for Learning Innovation This workshop will focus on a case study of issues and problems that surfaced during a major research project at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, as well as other online research conducted for museums and academic institutions. Workshop participants will engage in several group activities, including: how to develop techniques that explain the need, value and limitations of online research; and how to formulate research question-and-answer strategies. Topics include: trends in museum Web site evaluation, ethical treatment of human subjects in a digital world, and strategies for presenting information to managers. |
| Conference Programs | |
| Thursday, October 28, 1999 | |
| 9am-10:30am | Keynote: Designing for the Dedicated Visitor and the Visit without Walls Jamie McKenzie, Editor, "From Now On - The Educational Technology Journal" Expanding our notions of visits and exploration to include digital and online experiences offers the prospect of winning over a vastly expanded group of museum goers. Cultural organizations that extend definitions of "visit" and "visitor" to embrace what might happen outside of museum walls stand the greatest chance of gaining the loyalty of a new group. Focusing his comments on elements such as interactivity, choice, and freedom from time and space constraints, McKenzie offers a framework from which to approach the invention process. |
| 11am-12:30pm | The
Reluctant Learner: Making New Technologies Attractive with Fresh
Approaches to Design and to Professional Development Jamie McKenzie, Editor, From Now On–The Education Technology Journal Keynote speaker Jamie McKenzie states, "We’ve been trying to reach teachers for nearly 20 years without much success beyond a basic group of 20-25 percent who are pioneers and zealots. This session explores the adult learning strategies more apt to work with the late adopters and reluctants." |
| 11am-12:30pm | Telecommunications
Usage Policies in Museums Sandy Moore, Network Administrator, Toledo Museum of Art Christine Bostick, MIS Director, Oregon Historical Society Danielle Rathier, Chief, Information Technology and Systems, National Gallery of Canada Diane Ryan, Chicago Historical Society Telecommunications have become a vital part of an organization’s day-to-day operations. Steps must be taken to insure employees are properly using the technology for business purposes and adhering to department regulations. This roundtable discussion will examine the need for policies, content and implementation. Attendees are invited to bring copies of their policies for inclusion on the MCN MIS SIG web page. |
| 11am-12:30pm | The
Last Expression: Art From Auschwitz David Mickenberg, Director, Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University Bill Parod, Academic Technologies, Nothwestern University Using examples of entirely different subject matter: "Art from Auschwitz" and "Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition," presenters will share insights in the process of creating innovative and immersive media experiences with varying budgets. They will also explore the collaboration between museum curators and technology experts, possible pitfalls and rich rewards. |
| 2pm-3:30pm | Data
Security—How Tight is your Data? Sharona Justman, Operations Management, Rubenstein/Justman Management Consultants Gary Rubenstein, Information Technology, Rubenstein/Justman Management Consultants Christine Bostick, MIS Director, Oregon Historical Society J. Mark Ferguson, Information Technology, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Data security has become increasingly important to museums as the investment in software, hardware and data expands. Consideration of security for both large and small systems, internet access and intranet deployment encourages museums to start the planning process early to be prepared for both unplanned technical problems, natural disasters, and external and internal malicious sabotage. This panel will present methodologies for planning and being prepared for data security risks that may affect the use of the museum’s computer system. |
| 2pm-3:30pm | Life
After Bridgeman?: The Bridgeman vs. Corel Case and the Future of
Museum Images Amalyah Keshet, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Barry Szczesny, Esq., Assistant Director, Government and Public Affairs, American Association of Museums Tyler Ochoa, Whittier Law School Diane Zprich, Museum Information Management Consultant The decision in the Bridgeman vs. Corel case may or may not be the end of museum image licensing. Top intellectual property experts will discuss the case, the implications for museums, possibilities for fighting the decision in other jurisdictions, possibilities for coping with the decision and compensating for any loss of copyright with other assets museums can provide with their images, as well as suggestions for the best management of a museum’s intellectual property. |
| 2pm-3:30pm | Data
Standards and Anthropological Collections Management Kevin De Vorsey, Systems Analyst, Department of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History Debbie Schaefer-Jacobs, Collections Documentation Specialist, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution Marlene Martin, Managing Editor, Human Relations Area Files, Inc., Electronic Publications William Poe, Collections Information Manager, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution Terms for cultures, object types and geographic names must be consistent between institutions in order for researchers and the general public to be able to take advantage of this improved access. It will be necessary to examine existing standards produced by earlier projects and determine their usefulness in addressing theses stated needs. This panel will discuss several existing standards including Yale Universities Human Relations Area Files and the Smithsonian Institution’s Data Dictionary, among others., as well as provide the insights of both developers and "end user" institutions. |
| 4pm-5:30pm | Kids,
Museums, and Technology: New Media to Enhance Field Experiences Tina Littlejohn, Trails Project Director, Kansas City, MO Schools Shirley Baxter, National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Connie Gray, Trails Project Materials Liaison Ronda Fritz, Teacher, North Powder School District Keri Smith, Superintendent of Schools, North Powder School District The Trails Project is an Internet-based project, connecting classrooms along the Oregon and Santa Fe Trail. The project offers support, training, curriculum ideas and teaching strategies designed to help teachers integrate technology and technology resources into their classrooms. Members of the Trails Project team will discuss and demonstrate the various aspects of the project and how it has met its objectives. |
| 4pm-5:30pm | Web
Access Methodologies to Museum Resources Peter Siegel, AMNH Andrew McDonald Jim Devine Nina Grigoryeva |
| 4pm-5:30pm | Finding
Museum Resources on the Web: A Report on the CIMI Dublin Core Metadata
Test Project Angela Spinazze, ATSPIN consulting, USA Steven Kimbrough, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania CIMI has spent the last 18 months working on an application of the Dublin Core metadata standard specifically for use in museums to help address the problems just described. The CIMI DC Testbed is a multi-national, multi-institutional effort involving 18 participants in eight countries. Testbed participants include museums, systems developers, national information organizations and cross disciplinary museum studies projects. |
| Friday, October 29, 1999 | |
| 9am-10:30am | Extending
an Exhibition's Impact: Two Dynamic Approaches Kevin Walker, Senior Software Designer, Exhibitions Department, American Museum of Natural History Joseph Stein, Exhibition Software Designer, AMNH James Stoop, Animator, AMNH |
| 9am-10:30am | Innovations
in Access Susanne Warren, Partner, Lanzi/Warren Associates Steven Kimbrough, The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania Judy Gradwohl, Director, Smithsonian Without Walls Donald H. Sanders, President, Learning Sites, Inc. One of the most exciting promises that computer technology offers to museums is that of making the vast and complex resources stored in filing cabinets, storage rooms, catalogs and notebooks available to facilitate research and exploration. The flip side of this promise is the challenge of organizing, providing access to, and displaying this information in an intelligible manner. |
| 11:00am-12:30pm | Buyer
Beware: How to Get the Collection Management System You Need Jim Fox, Manager - Technology Assessment, Canadian Heritage Information Network Greg Spurgeon, Documentation Manager, National Gallery of Canada This session will give an overview of the collection management software selection process and provide an update to the current round of software evaluatations being undertaken by CHIN. You will be introduced to CHIN's recently launched Collections Management System Software Selection course, a new and unique online training program designed to help museums choose, manage, and maintain a collection management system. You'll also get a light-hearted tour of lessons learned during the Gallery's recent real-life acquisition and implementation of a new collection management system, sharing the pleasures and pitfalls, the do's and the don't's of issuing an RFP, evaluating submissions and software, contracting with a vendor, converting your data, launching the system, and empowering staff throughout your institution to use it. |
| 11am-12:30pm | Flightdeck:
Taking Off with the Private Sector Victoria Dickenson, Director, McCord Museum of Canadian History André Mercier, New Media Officer, National Museum of Aviation Rénald Fortier, Executive Producer, Discovery Channel Canada Steven Hunt, Executive Producer, Discovery Channel Canada In early 1998, the National Aviation Museum found a novel and an inexpensive way to broaden its web presence by partnering with the Discovery Channel Canada. The result is Flightdeck, a content-rich site using the latest in multimedia technology that allows visitors to explore the Museum’s collection from the comfort of their homes. A full demonstration of Flightdeck and the Museum’s new Web site will show how the sites complement each other and fulfill mutual goals for both institutions. |
| 11am-12:30pm | Preserving
Electronic Data in the Museum Fynnette Eaton, Director, Technical Services, Smithsonian Institution Archives Miriam M. Nibest, Legislative Counsel, American Library Association This session will discuss the issues that must be considered by anyone interested in preserving for more than five to 10 years the information being created electronically within their institutions. The electronic information to be discussed includes collection information systems, e-mail and Web sites. The speakers will touch on the importance of determining which information needs to be kept for longer periods and what intermediate steps can be taken. |
| 2pm-2:30pm | PACSCL,
Collaborative Solutions to Collections Access Eric Pumroy, Head, Special Collections, Bryn Mawr College Library Allen Townsend, Librarian, Philadelphia Museum of Art Ruth Hughes, Chief Cataloger and Systems Librarian, Library Company of Philadelphia Jeffrey Cohen, Director of Digital Media and Visual Resources Center, Bryn Mawr College Cultural institutions are looking increasingly to collaborative efforts as a means of sharing resources, expertise and funding on large-scale projects. But while collaborative projects present great opportunities, they also require institutions to surrender a degree of administrative and intellectual control. Learn from the experiences of special collections libraries in Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Area Consortium of Special Collections Libraries, and how they raised more than 5 million dollars for cooperative projects, including exhibitions, cataloging, and shared technology, and discuss a PACSCL-supported project to acquire a web-based resource on images of Philadelphia, drawing upon the collections of a number of institutions. |
| 2pm-3:30pm | Knowledge
Management Sharona Justman, Operations Management, Rubenstein/Justman Consultants Leonard Steinbach, Vice President, Information Technology, Guggenheim Museum Gary Rubenstein, IT, Rubenstein/Justman Consultants Christine Bostick, MIS Director, Oregon Historical Society Planning for the introduction of change–new systems, technology and methods–within the museum requires special skills from project managers. This panel discussion will explore museum approaches in techniques to bring the best information forward to steward sharing knowledge and information to improve the museum. |
| 2pm-3:30pm | Professional
Development Cynthia Scott |
| Saturday, October 30, 1999 | |
| 10:15am-11:45am | Digital
Art: From Cradle to Grave Richard Rinehart, IS Manager and Education Technology Specialist, Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive, University of California, Berkeley Shawn Brixey, Digital Media Arts Faculty, University of California, Berkeley Carolyn P. Speranza, Research Fellow, Carnegie Mellon University Digital Art has been around for a number of years. Only recently has the volume and historical importance of such works reached the critical mass to force museums to address them holistically. Digital Art presents unique problems both as cultural objects and as digital resources. This panel discussion will explore digital art and its implications for the cultural heritage community by addressing four stages in the "life" of a digital art work: creation, presentation, description and preservation. |
| 10:15am-11:45am |
How to Gain More Visibility: CHIN’s New Version of the Guide
to Canadian Museums and Galleries Kati Geber, Project Leader, Systems and Access, CHIN Karen Neimanis, CHIN Bonnie Szirtes, CHIN This session will focus on access and navigation issues that have led to the development of a new, more comprehensive guide to Canadian Museums and Galleries. It will present theoretical and practical solutions to questions and requests from contributors or by users, regardless of whether they are straight-ahead users or those who want to wander through the resource. |
| 10:15am-11:45am |
Designing Web Pages for the Hearing and Visually Impaired Jim Angus, Manager of Information Technology and Web Development, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Cindy King, Executive Director, Gallaudet University Markku Hakkinen, Chief Technology Officer, The Productivity Works Leonard Kasday, Adjunct Professor, Electrical Engineering, Temple University Ted Young, Young Opportunities, Inc. A panel, including a museum web designer, an educator experienced in designing material for those with disabilities, and representatives of the disabled communities, will explore the elements of good web design for special needs. Speakers will be encouraged to address how web-based learning may differ for those with audio and visual disabilities. Program as of 9/1/99 *Speakers and sessions subject to change. |
| Saturday
Workshop October 30, 1999 |
|
| 9am-Noon | Implementing
Technology in Museums: How to Jump on a Fast-Moving Train Susan Patterson, Manager of Information Services, St. Louis Art Museum Learn solutions to everyday challenges faced by museum professionals when implementing technology. Should I buy an off-the-shelf collections management system or develop my own? Which hardware platform should I select? Should I network my desktops? What policies and procedures should I have in place? Must my institution invest in a techno-guru? How much will all this cost? These questions and more will be explored, with practical schedules, budgets and case studies to take back to your museum. The last hour will be devoted to questions addressed to a panel of museum professionals. |
|
Conference Scholarship Fund MCN has established a limited fund to assist colleagues who wish to attend the 1999 MCN Conference in Philadelphia, PA. The awards cover conference registration only. MCN individual members or representatives of MCN institutional members are eligible. To apply, send the following to the address below: A brief letter detailing why you wish to attend the conference and how the conference and/or a specific workshop will assist you in meeting your institution’s museum computing goals; and A short letter from your institution’s senior administration supporting your attendance and explaining why full financial assistance from the institution is not possible. Or, for students, a brief letter explaining why you wish to attend the conference and how the conference will assist you in meeting your career goals. All applications must be received by September 15, 1999. Awardees will be notified by September 30, 1999. Please direct your applications to:Bill Tompkins National Collections Program Smithsonian Institution 900 Jefferson Drive, SW, Room 3101 Washington, DC 20560-0404 Fax: 202.633.9214 • Tel: 202.357.3125 • e-mail: tompkinw@si.edu |
|
