Press Release

May 29, 1996

The Museum Computer Network (MCN) is holding its 1996 Annual Conference on
October 30 - November 2 at the Westin Hotel, Ottawa, Canada. The theme of this
year's conference is "Reaching Museum Audiences Using New Technology",
focusing on the use of the Internet, interchange standards, imaging,
multimedia applications, collections management, and networking.

Co-hosted by the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), the
conference will offer  workshops, panel sessions, special interest group
meetings, and exhibits of the latest in software and automation services
for museums.   Sessions and workshops on developing image databases,
planning for projects and products, museum automation, the Internet,
contracting, copyright and licensing for multimedia products, setting up a
Web site and more are planned.  Updates on MCN-sponsored projects and the
work of special interest groups will be offered.  Planned for the evenings
are receptions at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the National Gallery
of Canada, and the National Aviation Museum, as well as tours and
sightseeing opportunities in Ottawa and nearby Montreal.

The Museum Computer Network is a not-for-profit, international
organization committed to fostering the cultural aims of museums through
the application of computer technology.  Founded in 1972, MCN serves
professionals and institutions who wish to develop, manage, and convey
museum information through the use of automation.  It supports cooperative
efforts that enable museums to play a more effective role in creating and
disseminating cultural and scientific knowledge as represented by their
collections and related documentation.

The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a program of the federal
Department of Canadian Heritage.  CHIN's mission is to broker effective
access to Canadian and international heritage information for public
education and enjoyment and for the collective benefit of Canadian museums.
 CHIN provides services to over 400 museums across Canada and to over 350
heritage organizations in 30 countries internationally.

Join us for MCN '96/CHIN '96 in Canada's capital, a city that brings
together a wealth of heritage and cultural attractions and a booming high
tech industry, making this a very appropriate site for this exciting
conference.

You may find more information about the conference, and obtain the
conference program, registration materials, or information on exhibiting,
on the Web.  CHIN is on the Web at http://www.chin.gc.ca.  MCN's web site is
http://world.std.com/~mcn/MCN.html.

For more information, contact Gail Eagen, MCN '96 Program Chair, at the
Canadian Heritage Information Network, 15 Eddy Street, 4th floor, Hull,
Quebec, Canada, K1A 0M5. Phone: 1-819-994-1200. Fax: (819) 994-9555.
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