I like the idea of regional MCN SIGs, like the one in California. I believe that many, many years ago there may have been one in the Washington, DC area, but was abandoned after only a very brief time. I tried to find out what happened and I think the DC SIG closed down because of lack of funding and lack of people who had time to organize various get-togethers, however informal.
I'm wondering if the California SIG (or other regional SIGs) can speak to their success?
We have a huge number of small historical sites in the DC metropolitan area that have little or no resources for IT, let alone IT consultants. I think face-to-face, informal gatherings between the smaller museum, archives, libraries, historical societies, etc. and the "big guys" (Library of Congress, Smithsonian, USHMM, & others) could be of great value to both. I am also wondering what others might think of this idea? Thanks,
Lisa L. Holt
Museum Information Specialist
Outreach Technology Division
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC 20024
| "Weinstein, William"
<wweinst...@philamuseum.org>
05/24/2005 01:02 PM
|
|
I am hoping to start a discussion. Over the last several weeks I have had
interactions with colleagues attending various conferences. In all cases
the discussions where about where IT professionals can go to share
information and learn about the issues of technology management or as some
have put it, how to keep the computers running and the data safe. MCN and
other conferences are great (see MCN prelim program) at looking at the
application of technology and the management of information. I have learned
much over the years about data standards, intellectual property and how to
repurpose my collections management data. But where do I go for information
on network infrastructure decisions, help in developing a technology plan,
help in designing and managing the installation of a new technology
infrastructure in a new building, business software selection (yes we also
use retail store and accounting software, a much different collections
management issue)? Where do developers go to share code and discuss how
that new interactive was created? Where do we go to talk about remote
control of desktops, end user training, software deployment, etc.
You get the point. The discussion I want to start is about this. Is MCN
the place for museum technology professionals to meet and share information
on these issues? Are these issues best left to other places or other
specialized professional forums? I would hope MCN is the place for these
discussions. Since IT is core to realizing an institution's goals
discussing the management of technology along with those goals would seem
more valuable that in a generic technology conference. I do see at many
conference presentations though, the IT staff referenced in less than a
collaborative role in many technology projects. It seems that in many
places the staff responsible for keeping things working does not get
involved in the process of developing these projects. I would also like to
discuss whether this is something we should/can work to change. If MCN is
not the place for these discussions where are my fellow IT professionals
going to get this information? Is there a role for MCN to coordinate access
to these other resources?
So these are my questions. Please respond and expand as you all see fit.
Bill
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