MEDIA RELEASE


16 January, 1998


Powerhouse Museum wins contract to manage
Australian Museums On Line


The Powerhouse Museum has won the contract to manage and develop Australian
Museums On Line (AMOL).  The Powerhouse will manage AMOL from 15
January, 1998 for a period of 18 months.

Responsibility for development of AMOL lies with the On Line Working Party
of
the Heritage Collections Council, as endorsed by the Cultural Ministers'
Council.
The site features searchable collections (over 170,000 items) in 950
museums; a
forum with over 100 members where museum issues can be debated and
information exchanged; an events calendar, and links to related sites.

The contract announced today covers consultancy services to support ongoing
development of AMOL, maintenance of the information on the site to ensure
its
currency, relevance and accuracy, improving access to collection
information,
developing thematic stories based on collections of participating museums
and
galleries, creation of resource directories of conservation expertise,
course
materials and resources for the museum and art gallery sector.

Terence Measham, director of the Powerhouse Museum said, "We are very
excited
about this opportunity and plan to totally update AMOL and revamp the
layout,
and some of the content to make it even more user friendly".

 - END -

More information about AMOL see the website at:  http://www.nma.gov.au/AMOL

For more information or to arrange an interview, please call:
Jenny Pavilack, Powerhouse Museum PR Department        (02) 9217 0551