The document discusses how museums need to adapt to changing media and audiences in the digital age. It notes that audiences are increasingly accessing information online and through mobile devices. As such, museums need to shift from static exhibits to more personalized, memorable experiences and share authority by becoming more of a forum and connecting with niche audiences online. The document advocates for collaboration between history organizations, sharing stories through affinity groups, and using technology like RFID and networks to help audiences preserve their own stories and connect to museum collections and resources in new ways.

1. Towards a Digital Museum

2. Questions Has our audience changed as a result of technological changes? Have our organizations changed as a result of technological changes? How does a museum shift its shape to maintain connections to a virtual audience?

3. Evolution of Media Printed media—for 400+ years was the cutting edge way to reach a mass audience Radio—38 years to reach an audience of 50 million TV—13 years to reach an audience of 50 million Internet—4 years to reach an audience of 50 million iPod—3 years to reach an audience of 50 million facebook—2 years to reach an audience of 50 million http://www.howardstevens.info/2009/03/evolution-of-media.html

4. The Web in 2009 More than 75% of adults use the Internet on a daily basis 80% of GenX users (35-44 year olds) buy products online 58% of married-with-children households have two or more computers; often have home networks and multiple mobile devices 58% of survey respondents go to the internet first to solve problems, before friends, family and professionals Only 8% of users are digital collaborators Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2009

5. The Experience Economy Memorable Goods and services are props Not static Personal Active Invoke a sense of emotion Authentic B. Joseph Pine and James Gilmore, Harvard Business Review http://lopeztoledo.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/experience_economy.pdf Authenticity: What Consumers Really Want

6. What does this mean for museums? Tourism is not a sustainable business model for most historic sites Sustainability comes through relevance to your communities/audiences Attendance figures are not the most valid measure of the positive value and impact of the historic site experience Innovation, experimentation, collaboration and a broad sharing of the resulting information are essential to achieving historic sites sustainability on a broad scale “ The Kykuit II Summit: The Sustainability of Historic Sites” Vogt, J.D., HISTORY NEWS, v 62, 2007

7. What do we do about it? Share authority Shift from a temple to a forum Outreach and Inreach Let audiences reach into our organizations on their terms Connect with niche audiences Chris Anderson’s Long Tail Shift resources Financial, staff Collaborate History organizations are not competing with one another

8. History is about stories David Thelen 39% or Americans have hobbies related to the past (genealogy, antiques, reenactors) Family is most important past (above US history) for 2/3 of Americans Have to connect to people on an individual level (layered experiences) Most trusted sources: grandmothers, museums http://chnm.gmu.edu/survey/afterdave.html

9. Affinity groups– tell your story

10. RFID Layered experiences

11. http://www.curatingthecity.org/ Connect to the real thing

12. Networks– you connect for us

13. Services– we help audiences to preserve their stories

14. Reinventing OHS Four Priority Initiatives: Ohio History Online Portal OHS as “hub” or connector Collections Learning Center Connect with the “real stuff” Site Support Services History is local CW 150 Pilot new approaches Concepts: Collaboration Shared authority Key audiences: history professionals, history buffs, teachers and students

15. www.ohiohistory.org/reinventingohs

16. [email_address] #digitalangela (614) 297-2576