[BCMA] Museum Measurables

Wed Aug 1 00:50:34 PDT 2012

This is a question that has been raised before, obviously, and the BCMA 
did some significant work around this many years ago. I have an archive 
of some of the information at http://fishability.biz/research, including 
a paper by David Spalding (Standards for BC Museums, 1993 
<http://fishability.biz/research/evaluation/oldstandards.doc>), a 
research paper that I wrote (Standards Portfolio for the BCMA, 2002 
<http://fishability.biz/research/evaluation/bcmastandards.doc>), 
resources from a presentation at the 2002 BCMA conference "Measuring 
Museums", including an extensive bibliography 
<http://fishability.biz/research/evaluation/Bibliography> on the subject.

Please have a look at these (there's a ton of information) and get in 
touch if you'd like to explore this further. I feel strongly about 
standards in the museum world. You can use these resources to create our 
own standards and not build a new wheel. There are many takes on this, 
and I really like something like the AAM approach where the museum is 
valued in the context of the community and its other assets. This allows 
for standards, but doesn't force small museums to abide by large museum 
standards.

Cliff Quinn
Systems Management
250-727-7879

On 31/07/2012 4:27 PM, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. wrote:
> ------- Forwarded message follows -------
> Date sent:	Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:11:01 -0700
> From:	"Elisabeth Duckworth" <Educkworth at kamloops.ca>
> Subject:	Re: Museum Measurables
>
>
> For BCMA listserve.
>   
> The head of the Kamloops Parks, Recreation and Culture Department, of
> which the Kamloops Museum & Archives is a part, has asked that the
> department's annual report include measurables which are the industry
> standard for our various fields. That way we can clearly compare apples to
> apples and demonstrate how the Kamloops department is measuring up
> against other municipalities.
>   
> My question is, what are the BC museums community measurables?
> What are our "industry standards"?
>   
> We all measure attendance; hours of operation; revenues; exhibits; public
> openings; and programmes.
>
> Are there other ways to measure the community benefits of what museums
> do?
>
> Can we measure demographic targets or social outcomes?
>   
> In this climate of disappearing budgets and the need to justify the purpose
> and benefit of what we do, I'm wondering if there are other, more meaningful
> measurables we can use in addition to numbers.
>
> Please contribute your responses to the BCMA listserv by "Reply".
>   
> Thanks very much.
>
> - Elisabeth Duckworth, Supervisor, Kamloops Museum & Archives
> Chair, Host Committee, BCMA Conference 2012
> October 17-20, 2012, Kamloops, BC
>
>   
>   
>
>
>   
>   
> Elisabeth Duckworth
> Museum Supervisor
> KAMLOOPS MUSEUM & ARCHIVES
> Direct Line: 250.828.3576
> www.kamloops.ca/museum
>   
>
> P Please consider the Environment before printing this email
>
>   
>
> Our corporate mission is...
> MAKING KAMLOOPS SHINE
>
>>>> "Jim Harding" <JHarding at MuseumsAssn.bc.ca> 09/07/2012 10:32 AM
>>>>
> Hi Elisabeth;
> Apologies for the delay in responding, but with the AGM, audit wrap-up &
> postscript(s), I can finally cath-up on some messages...
>
> This would be a GREAT listserv posting in search of a model!
>
> The closest we have come across are Tourism related measurements and
> the recent "Time Travel BC Project" produces monthly Google Analytics to
> monitor online traffic, etc.
>
> But proper measurement practices are becoming more and more important,
> and expected as our sector's relationship with industry (tourism) & the
> corporate sector (visitor services & amenities) get closer.
>
> Is it possible to re-phrase your query for the listservs? If you can or want,
> please send this to me and I will ensure it's posted & broadcast.
>
> Will be in touch soon regarding Host Committee next steps, but as
> mentioned to Dennis in Vancouver, I do need a breakdown of cost
> projections for the social events (Opening/Welcome Reception, BC Reports,
> Awards Banquet, Guest Speaker/Minister's Luncheon, Refreshment
> Breaks), so I can complete a more specific Conference 2012 Budget. I am
> currently updating the BCMA's cash flow projection up to Conference time.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
>
>
>> Good afternoon Jim,
>> Here's something different from the conference for a change!
>>   
>> I am working on my departmental annual report and the word from the department head is that we are to use measurables which are the industry standard for our various fields.
>>   
>> My question: is there a report, discussion paper, etc that talk about BCMA measurables for all our museums. We all measure the usual attendance, hours of operation, revenues, exhibits, etc, but are there measures people are using that measure the community benefits of what museums do, demographic targets, social outcomes, etc.
>>   
>> A question easy enough to ask, but not so easy to answer. Thanks for any ideas or leads.  - Elisabeth Duckworth
>>   
>>   
>>   
>>   
>> Elisabeth Duckworth
>> Museum Supervisor
>> KAMLOOPS MUSEUM & ARCHIVES
>> Direct Line: 250.828.3576
>> www.kamloops.ca/museum
>>   
>>
>> P Please consider the Environment before printing this email
>>
>>   
>>
>> Our corporate mission is...
>> MAKING KAMLOOPS SHINE
>>
>>
> _______________________________
> Jim Harding, ED
> BC Museums Association
> (250) 356-5694
>
>
> ------- End of forwarded message -------
>
>
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-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cliff Quinn
Systems Management
250-727-7879

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