If you're not familiar with the Museum Computer Network, read on.
The name says it all...
From its beginnings in 1967, the Museum Computer Network was conceived as a way to connect people, not machines. It has always been about building a community among those responsible for implementing technology in their institutions. By working together, MCN members are able to solve the problems we all encounter in our workplaces. To this day, this is what the MCN is about and what it does best.
How we do it:
The Annual Meeting
Each year the MCN showcases the accomplishments of its members in an annual meeting. It's here that many of the best ideas in museum technology were first aired; collections management systems, standardized vocabularies, museum web sites, data interchange standards for museums - all of these idea showed up first at the MCN annual meeting. The themes have changed, but the relevance and importance of the information you get has been there since the beginning.
And it's not just the sessions. Each year since 1987, the MCN annual meeting has featured an exhibit hall focused on the technology our members need and has provided a setting where vendors can show their wares to an audience that matters.
MCN workshops address the learning needs of members across a wide spectrum of information technology issues, from choosing a collections management system to learning about the latest industry standards and how to implement them.
Spectra and ESpectra
For two decades, the MCN's journal, Spectra, has provided members with important articles, surveys and other information about developments in the field of museum technology.
Launched in 1999, ESpectra provides free and timely news on developments impacting museum technology, as well as announcements and job listings.
MCN-L
As an announcement service and as a source for finding solutions to the most perplexing of problems, the free MCN-l listserv is an invaluable service to the museum community as a whole. We do this for the entire profession; help us maintain it by becoming a member today.
What we're planning
MCN 2003
The 2002 meeting was great, but 2003 will be even better. This one is part of a double-header with the Northeast Document Conservation Center, which will be staging its "Off the Wall and Online" workshop a day in advance of the MCN meeting. MCN is offering a special discount for its meeting to dual-attendees, making it a value that is truly greater than the sum of its parts.
The Research Libraries Group (RLG) is sponsoring a hands-on, XML workshop. Priced on a cost-recovery basis, it's a terrific bargain. Check the web site for details.
The annual meeting is essential, but we recognize that resources need to be closer at hand. We are working hard toward making more of that happen.
ESpectra and now Spectra are resources that MCN offers its members online. Spectra is the first of our members-only, online services. In the coming months we will introduce an online membership directory that can be searched by name, institution and specialization (so don't forget to fill out that part of your membership form!)
The MCN Marketplace was launched as an experimental directory of museum technology vendors. Look for it to grow into the incredible tool it can be during the coming year.
Workshops
We are also in the process of partnering with other organizations to bring you workshops that are held multiple times per year in different venues so that we can offer educational opportunities to the widest audience.
So there's the pitch. Join today and I'll see you in Las Vegas!
___________________________________
Chuck Patch
President, Museum Computer
Network
www.mcn.edu
director of systems
The Historic New Orleans
Collection
(504)523-4662
(504)598-7108 (fax)
www.hnoc.org