-----Original Message-----
From: Carrie Beauchamp <[log in to unmask]>


>What are the goals of museum web sites? How does your web site fit your
museum's mission? From the discussion so far, it appears that most museum
web sites are marketing tools to provide visitors with basic information
(upcoming events and exhibits, hours, address, etc) for a "real" visit. Is
this correct?

I believe the better museum web sites are moving into more educational
content.  But, hey, educational programs are also a form of marketing in the
museum world.  Outreach into the schools, etc. tend to promote awareness of
the museum -- perhaps more effectively than the old standard advertising and
publicity approaches.

> Are museums preparing to do more with the technology as it gets cheaper
and faster? More importantly, SHOULD museums be concerning themselves with
virtual versions of their traditional work?


Those museums calling themselves "national" or "state" SHOULD be doing this.
And some are.   If there are (conjecturally) 5,000 museums in the USA,
probably 4,500 are unable to divert the resources needed to look in this
direction.