Using a Wiki to Revolutionize Your Museum

Janice KleinExecut ive D i rector , Museum Assoc ia t ion o f Ar izona

Dan LeeAss is tant L ibrary Manager, Chandler Pub l i c L ibrary

Jody CragoMuseum Admin is trator , Chandler Museum

Tiffani EgnorCurator o f Educat ion , Chandler Museum

Nate MeyersCurator o f Co l lect ions , Chandler Museum

USING A WIKI TO REVOLUTIONIZ

E YOUR MUSEUM

Suburb of Phoenix

CHANDLER IN CONTEXT

25 Miles

Population: 263,000 Larger than Tacoma; Spokane; Eugene; Oxnard;

Glendale, CA; Salt Lake City

Boom town of the 1990sChandler Museum is one of two museums

Three full time staff members Volunteer organization → Professional staff in 2008 Three sites

CHANDLER IN CONTEXT

THE BIRTH OF A WIKI

Chandler Arizonan Newspaper

Collaboration

What else can it do?

WhatWhoWhenWhereWhy

WIKI WALK

Searchable

Navigation

Buttons

Join the Digital Community

Newspaper Accessibility not preservation project server space limited resources reliance on volunteers

INTENDED RESULTS

Organic Growth project based interest based unlimited number of projects

UNINTENDED RESULTS

Relaxation of Institutional Control Processes

UNINTENDED RESULTS

More Product, Less Process (MPLP)

UNINTENDED RESULTS

Ease of Use

UNINTENDED RESULTS

Increased Collection Donations

UNINTENDED RESULTS

Elevated Visibility community buy-in

UNINTENDED RESULTS

Financial Support

UNINTENDED RESULTS

It Will Never Be Complete

UNINTENDED RESULTS

Ease of UseRelaxation of Institutional Control Processes Organic Growth

project based interest based unlimited number of projects

More Product, Less Process (MPLP) Increased Collection DonationsFinancial SupportElevated Visibility

community buy-in It Will Never Be Complete

UNINTENDED RESULTS

Considering it one of our LocationsProvides 24/7 AccessWeb of Information

leads to surprising connections results in new research and interpretation

REVOLUTIONIZING MUSEUM OPERATIONS

Flexibility in Volunteer Scheduling

REVOLUTIONIZING MUSEUM OPERATIONS

Additional Resources for ExhibitsFulfill Research RequestsPublic Engagement

REVOLUTIONIZING MUSEUM OPERATIONS

Educational Materials for Teachers

REVOLUTIONIZING MUSEUM OPERATIONS

Considering it one of our Locations24/7 AccessWeb of Information

leads to surprising connections results in new research and interpretation

Public EngagementFlexibility in Volunteer SchedulingAdditional Resources for ExhibitsEducational Materials for TeachersFulfill Research Requests

REVOLUTIONIZING MUSEUM OPERATIONS

ControlExtensive processPerfection and/or completion – “good enough”AuthorityDigitization for preservationHow we interact with the public – online vs. in-personStaff time: screens over walls

WHAT THE MUSEUM GIVES UP FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS

YES!Change the way you achieve your missionRelevance in a digital worldMakes the Museum accessible any time from anywhere Increased access = increased preservation OR sharing

is caringProvides multiple points of entryAccommodates multiple learning stylesProject is far from perfect – we know where the warts

are, but for users it provides a window into a world that was previously inaccessible

IS IT WORTH IT?

SMALL MUSEUM SUCCESS STORY

QUESTIONS