Computers are being used in today's museums in greater numbers than ever
before. They reside on the desks of directors and curators, some of whom are
still revolting against electric typewriters. They have found positions
within museum business offices managing budgets (in these times a feat
bordering on the occult), memberships, and correspondence. For over a decade
computers have been envisioned and employed by registrars and collections
managers who saw their potential for collection information management.
 
Acknowledging that computers offer today's museum great potential, how is the
information about how to use computers being transmitted to museum
professionals?  Do museum staff spring forth full-grown from a shell as did
Venus, with such as information as how to format a diskette, create a
database,  or use Museum-L? If not, what methods are being employed to train
museum staff to allow them to reap the full benefit of the computer
revolution?
 
I am currently working on the chapter Computer Training and Museum
Professionals  for the revision of Museum Registration Methods.  I would like
information from museums who have computerized on how you trained your staff.
 If you would like to share your experiences, please either complete the
questionnaire below and send it to me, or  jot down your experiences. I am
not tabulating results, but I am looking for both traditional and innovative
methods museums are using to solve this problem.
 
Thoughts:
 
How does your museum use computers? word processing, exhibition graphics,
collection management, other (please explain). How many people on your staff?
List job titles or responsibilities if that would be more informative.
 
Who oversees the machines? job title?     Who trains the personnel? job
title?
 
Do you use a collection management program? If yes, please describe if it is
an in-house or purchased system. If in-house, who developed it? Who is
responsible for training and its maintenance ?
 
Have you ever used outside training facilities for computer education? If
yes, please explain. Who participated? Where were these held?
 
Who on your staff determines when to purchase new software, hardware, or
generally tries to keep you up to date.
 
 Any information, insights, or questions you would like to see addressed on
this issue. I welcome all.  Thanks.
 
Send to
 
Gail Kana Anderson, Registrar
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, The University of Oklahoma
410 W. Boyd St.
Norman, OK  73019-0525
(405) 325-3272, FAX (405) 325-7696,  [log in to unmask] COM