You might want to contact the Museum Computer Network. I believe they are a
division of the Amercian Association of Museums.



At 04:33 PM 11/24/98 -0500, you wrote:
>I am a graduate student working on a thesis topic and need help from
>msuem professionals.  I would appreciate comments.
>
>Thesis statement:
>
>Small museums have computers -- many acquired randomly,
>not systematically. This raises the question, how can museums
>organize and centralize information systems, how do they make
>decisions regarding the use of technology, and how can museum
>staff understand the impact on their institution.  I propose a planning
>process for small museums to determine how to use technology for
>more efficient and ineffective internal communication.  This process
>might culminate in the hiring of an IS manager to maintain, overseeing,
>develop/evolve this technology as the museum grows and technology changes.
>
>
>Your comments on the previous and following statements/questions
>would be appreciated:
> There are many nonprofits that do have jerry-mandered,
> out of date systems and don't have the resources or skills
> to replace them or develop a system for evaluating them.
>
> The big challenge is always funding--money is very, very
> hard for infrastructure.
>
> Are there still directors of small museums who are resistant
>  to what technology can do for them?  Consensus is that pretty
>  much everyone agrees on the merits of information systems.
>
> Who would be the decision maker on how to go about
>  integrating or acquiring technology, the director?
>
> The feeling that an analysis of what can be done, rather than
>  a need to convince people that it needs to be done would
>  be useful.
>
>My current thinking is to stick to the "how to" analyze the current state
>of affairs and oppose the "why."
>
>My interest is in small museums with staff under fifty.
>
>Thanks
>