Erin Blasco's presentation on @OwneytheDog from the @PostalMuseum.

1. @OwneytheDog
Erin Blasco, public programs & social
media, National Postal Museum

2. Who is [was?] Owney
• 1888-1897
• Pal of Railway Mail clerks
• Good luck charm
• Postmaster General’s darling
• Traveling celeb, mascot
@OwneytheDog | facebook.com/Owney | @ErinBlasco

3. Owney Today
• New exhibit, makeover
• Stamp
• E-book
• Curriculum
• Look-Alike Contest
• Annual “Owney Fest”
• Social media user
@OwneytheDog | facebook.com/Owney | @ErinBlasco

4. Why is he Using Social Media?
• Fan of speedy, high tech
communication
• 1890s canine celeb = newspapers
2012 = Twitter
• Advocate for postal workers
• Combines museum topic areas
• Curious, social lifelong learner
• Approachable history
@OwneytheDog | facebook.com/Owney | @ErinBlasco

5. Owney’s Conversation Topics
• Stuff @PostalMuseum can’t say
• Weird stuff in the collection
• Historical dogs, animals in
postal history
• Transportation, mail, and food
• Snooping new exhibits at night
@OwneytheDog | facebook.com/Owney | @ErinBlasco

6. Owney’s Challenges
• Evaluating if fans are learning
• Refining audience segmentation
(@PostalMuseum vs. Owney)
• Identifying audience needs, interests
and meeting them with museum
resources
• Bigger projects (crowdsourcing
transcription)
@OwneytheDog | facebook.com/Owney | @ErinBlasco

7. Owney’s Shout Out to his Museum
Mascot Friends
• Mr. Blobby the Blobfish: • Johny Gadsby
• http://twitter.com/mrblobbyam • http://twitter.com/johngadsby
• SUE the T-Rex • Maurice the Miner
• http://twitter.com/suethetrex • http://twitter.com/mauricetheminer
• Djehutymose
• Sandy the Mammoth
• http://twitter.com/djehutymose
• http://twitter.com/SandytheMammoth
• LAS Mummy
• http://twitter.com/lasmmummy • Camilla
• http://twitter.com/Camilla_SDO
• KVM Mummy
• http://twitter.com/kvmmummy • Dippy
• http://twitter.com/NHM_Dippy
• Guerriere Terrier
• http://www.facebook.com/people/Guerriere- • Oisin the Deer
Terrier/100002603759151 • http://twitter.com/OisinTheDeer
• Sabra Sabertooth
• http://twitter.com/SabraSabertooth
@OwneytheDog | facebook.com/Owney | @ErinBlasco