Mr. Hunter, you are then not really looking for a definition of museums per
say, but your audience or who you serve.

IMHO, I feel you can define yourself by a) your visitors, b) your staff,
membership and board, c) your collection
d) your mission statement, and e) your region, place/location and
interpretation.

Since many of us have not been to your community, it is hard to determine
your audience.  However, your
"community" would be a good starting point.  Define your community and who
visits your museum and why?
Ask your public what they think your museum is/does through
questions/surveys.

I am sure students, group tours, and out-of-town visitors are also part of
your audience/guest/
visitor/clients.  You must also include your volunteers, membership, board
and staff in seeking a solution
to who you serve.  What do they see your museum as?   What is your major
function? That would likely
be the first approach in seeking a clear definition, then see how it compares
when you start asking the
general public and visitors what they think your museum is and what you do.
Do they match up?

Yes, of course, your museum and what type you are is based on your
"collection" (what you collect,
research, and exhibit).  Art?  Local history?  And so forth, which would help
distinguish if your visitors
are heritage or cultural tourists.

More importantly, how is your museum defined through your "mission
statement?"  Are you following that
statement?  Is your audience and who you served defined in that statement?
The mission statement can
be changed (not carved in stone).

Definition and purpose of a museum is often based on the environment and
region you are in.  What is
your community?  Is it urban and metro?  Or is it located in a small, rural
community?  That would help define
who and what your museum is about, and who you serve.  What funds are
available and how accessible is
your museum?  For example, a museum mission or purpose is useless, if someone
does not know about
your museum, purpose or cannot get to you.  If your purpose and collection is
more regional and national,
but your mission is not clear, you pull in only local visitors and the
regional emphasis is lost.

Last, who you serve will also depend on how you interpret your collection.
Are you a living history museum or
more hands-on and touch museum or a see but don't touch (artifacts in cases)
type?

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