The Evolving Role of Museum Information Professionals
Since 2002, I have been researching the role of the museum information professional, conducting interviews and surveys with current museum professionals about the information resources, tools, and technologies they use on the job, and the place of the museum in the information society. As museum professionals and visitors become more information-savvy, and their information needs and expectations become more complex, the role of information professionals working in museums has changed dramatically. The evolution of this position over time has raised many interesting questions about the need for and importance of information professionals in museums.
As part of a research study funded by the FSU Council on Research and Creativity, I conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with museum information professionals. The results of these interviews have helped shed light on the changing role of the museum webmaster, the changing expectations of museum professionals with respect to information literacy, and other issues about the evolving role of information professionals in museums:
Marty, P.F. (2007). The Changing Nature of Information Work in Museums. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 58 (1), 97-107. [Preprint | Final]
Marty, P.F. (2006). Finding the Skills for Tomorrow: Information Literacy and Museum Information Professionals. Museum Management and Curatorship, 21 (4), 317-335. [Preprint | Final]
Marty, P.F. (2006). Meeting User Needs in the Modern Museum: Profiles of the New Museum Information Professional. Library & Information Science Research, 28 (1), 128-144. [Preprint | Final]
Marty, P.F. (2005). So You Want to Work in a Museum? Guiding the Careers of Future Information Professionals in Museums. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 46 (2), 115-133. [Preprint | Final]
Marty, P.F. (2004). The Changing Role of the Museum Webmaster: Past, Present, and Future. In D. Bearman & J. Trant (Eds.), Museums and the Web 2004. Pittsburgh, PA: Archives & Museum Informatics. Available online at http://www.archimuse.com/mw2004/papers/marty/marty.html
Marty, P.F. (2004). The Evolving Roles of Information Professionals in Museums. Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 30 (5) 20-23. Available online at http://www.asis.org/Bulletin/Jun-04/marty.html
In a related project, I have been working to identify and assess the relative value of museum informatics topics for museum professionals, educators and students. Supported by funding from the FSU Office of Distributed and Distance Learning, I developed and administered an online survey to approximately 200 museum professionals, educators, and students, asking them about information science skills in museums. A dozen semi-structured interviews were also conducted with select participants. The results of this study will help inform the creation of an online certificate program in museum informatics and increase understanding about the relationship between LIS and museum studies:
Marty, P.F. (2007). Museum Professionals and the Relevance of LIS Expertise. Library & Information Science Research, 29 (2), 252-276. [Preprint | Final]
Marty, P.F. (In Preparation). Museum Informatics in the LIS Curriculum.
To further my research into museum information professionals, I was recently awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to hold a workshop about Cultural Heritage Information Professionals. This workshop will improve the ability of educators and professionals to support information needs in cultural heritage organizations by encouraging a closer relationship between education and practice in LIS, museum studies, and archival studies programs.
Marty, P.F. (2008). Exploring the Intersection of LIS, Museum Studies, and Archival Studies Education for Encouraging the Development of 21st century Cultural Heritage Information Professionals. Institute of Museum and Library Services. ($81,206). For more information, please see: http://chips.ci.fsu.edu/.