Timeliness

TIMELINESS

ELAINE HEUMANN GURIANNovember 2003

INTRODUCTIONThis power point is an introduction to the issue of Timeliness in museums.Written for a museum seminar in 2003 at the University of Victoria Continuing Studies.

Resulted in a publication *“Timeliness: A Discussion for Museums”, Davis, Joy, Gurian, Elaine Heumann, Koster, Emlyn, Curator, volume 46, number 4, October 2003, pp.353-361.

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USED IN OTHER FIELDSAs a unit of measure in delivery of service

SpeedPunctuality

As responsiveness to current topicsAssessment of current needSpeed of surfacing data and researchPublic action and response to data

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LEXICONTIMELINESSRELEVANCECURRENTSALIENTCONTEMPORARYRESPONSIVENESSFLEXIBILITYUSEFULNESS

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TIMELINESSfitnessappropriateness accommodation, accordance, adaptation, adequacy, admissibility, agreeableness, applicability, appositeness, aptitude, aptness, assimilation, auspiciousness, compatibility, competence, concurrency, congeniality, congruousness, consistency, consonance, convenience, correspondence, decency, decorum, eligibility, expediency, harmony, keeping, order, patness, pertinence, preparedness, propriety, qualification, readiness, relevancy, rightness, seasonableness, seemliness, suitability, timeliness suitability

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RELEVANCEApplication, appositeness, germaneness, purpose, significance, importance, bearing, concern, consequence, drift, effect, emphasis, force, gist, gravity, import, influence, interest, materiality, moment, momentousness, notability, paramountcy, pertinence, point, precedence, preponderance, priority, purport, sense, seriousness, signification, standing, stress, substance, tenor, usefulness, value, weight,

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CURRENTcontemporary accepted, accustomed, afoot, circulating, common knowledge, customary, existent, extant, faddy, fashionable, going around, hip, in, in circulation, in use, in vogue, instant, modern, now, ongoing, popular, present-day, prevailing, prevalent, rampant, rife, topical, trendy, up-to-date, widespreadaffected, avant-garde, current, far out, futuristic, groovy, in, mannered, mod, ostentatious, pop, way out, with it

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RESPONSIVEaccommodating, collaborative, collective, collegial, concerted, concurring, coordinated, in league, interdependent, joint, obliging, participating, reciprocal, shared, sociable, supportive, symbiotic, synergetic, team, united, useful

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SALIENTsubstantial  obviousconspicuousmain/core partnoticeable

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USEFULserviceableapplicationhelpaimstatus/classappropriate

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TIMELINESSAS IN: --

Calendar – Cycle and Unexpected EventsPerformance MeasureSocial ServiceTopic/Content/InformationContextCustomer ServiceKnowledge Management (More about)Metaphor

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AS A REFERENCE TO CALENDAR

Predictable and can be planned for.

i.e.:Holiday special eventsBirthdays of donors, institutions, etc.Memorializing anniversaries

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AS RAPID RESPONSE TO UNPREDICTABLE AND UNEXPECTED EVENTS

CATASTROPHESEMERGENCIESACCIDENTS WEATHERVIP VISITS, DEATHS, ETC.

LOCAL, NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL

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AS PERFORMANCE MEASURE

Used in performance plans, in published accountability, etc.

EfficiencyEffectivenessSpeed of delivery

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AS COMMUNITY & SOCIAL

SERVICEOffer aid to patrons in light of events.Offer counseling to staff in light of eventsOffer space for use in celebration, mourning, etc.Offer program space for other uses (i.e. blood drives, voter registration, etc.)

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AS CHOICE OF CONTENTCurrent and emergency informationCurrent information as frames for existent exhibitionsSystems of rapidly changing exhibitions or parts of exhibitions

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AS FORUM FOR CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS

Make places for meeting availablePrograms that foster balanced debateSeen as neutral site

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AS CONTEXTAllow and encourage place for inspiration and reflectionCreate spaces for meditationUse created environments Background for performance, programs, debates

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AS COLLECTIONS ACQUISITIONS

To acquire material recently producedTo document recent eventsTo readjust a collections focus in the light of contemporary concerns

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AS CUSTOMER SERVICEHoursAdmission chargesFor all or for select audiences

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AS KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Branching programsAccess to relevant materials & collectionsLayering and “More About”Co-creation and social networking to share authority and information.Media and audience see museum as institution of expertise and call upon it for pronouncements

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AS METAPHORMirror/window for personal experienceContent transformed into analogy

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Museums can:Have established an internal ethos to want to respond.Have pre-arranged systems in place that allow for responsivenessThink that timeliness and reflection can exist side by side.Have relationship with others who can provide information or systems.

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Systems that turn exhibitions around in short period of timeHave ongoing scan of current events as part of some job descriptionsHave a review process for topics that is based on timely responseBe considered a resource by community

IN ORDER TO CREATE RAPIDLY CHANGING CONTENT, Museums

need:

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CONSIDERATIONSDebate between reflection, synthesis, review and speed and flexibility.Debate between perspective and immediacyDebate between timely and faddishnessEstablishment of institution as authority and / or forum

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AUTHORITYWho speaks for the museum?Whose voice is in the exhibition?What is the museum stand on debate and controversy?Is the museum organized for shared and multiple perspectives?Is this a “viewpoint” museum?