Have you thought of going through the MAP III process?  MAP III is
designed to help museums evaluate their impact on their communities and
to determine a communty's perception of a museum.  The MAP surveyors
offer suggestions on how to improve/change what a museum is doing and
how it may be more effective.  Information can be attained through AAM.

Good luck.


Tricia Edwards, Education Manager
Delaware Museum of Natural History
[log in to unmask]
(302)658-9111 x 324
(302)658-2610 fax


-----Original Message-----
From: Marissa C Weaver [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, January 02, 1999 6:26 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Need Evaluation Assistance


Happy New Year to ALL!!

I was wondering if anyone could give some feedback or suggestions on my
current dilemma.  I have a potential large donor who asked how our
museum
plans to evaluate our impact and/or effectiveness within our community.
This
donor is one who is particularly keen on outcome based programs,
although his
concern is for our mission overall -- not a particular exhibit or
program.

The mission of our institution, of course, is education.  Specifically
on
African American History and how history has shaped our current racial
climate.  Our goal is to provide visitors with an opportunity to rethink
their
assumptions about race and racism -- in hopes of building bridges and
improving understanding between all races and ethnicities.

Short of pre and post-visit questionaires,  how are other institutions
evaluating effectiveness (i.e. results) in educating visitors?  I'd
appreciate
any ideas and examples of how others are meeting funding requirements
for
outcome-based objectives and evaluation components.

Thanks for your help.

Marissa C. Weaver
Executive Director
America's Black Holocaust Museum
Milwaukee, WI