The University Museum Online - University Museums Online

Can we save the university museum?

What if your university museum could continue its mission, reach a broader audience and generate additional income online—all while the museum itself is closed during the coronavirus outbreak?

What if these benefits could be extended even after the outbreak is over?

What if, instead of offering a flashy online brochure, you had a site that provided actual educational experiences—courses? Events? What if it could build a community and raise money? I believe all of this is possible and I have preliminary ideas of how to make this happen. I have 20+ years as a web developer, I hold an MBA with a concentration in marketing, and worked directly with customers on the floor of a major museum for the better part of a decade.

Most important, I love museums and want to help them. I believe that this difficult time is the perfect one to gear up for current and future challenges.

But good intentions is not enough. If you are a professional working or volunteering at a university museum, I need your help. Would you be willing to share your expertise and insights? Answer a few questions? This would help me develop the best possible solution to the problem. And you might get some ideas on how to help your museum during this crisis—and beyond.

If you are willing, I’d be grateful.

Take the Survey

“I believe that this difficult time is the perfect one to gear up for current and future challenges.”

From the Blog

Digital Membership – Development Decisions

University Museum Survey Form

First Name

Last Name

Name of University Museum

My initial thoughts about the idea of adding advanced features to the university museum website to engage musueum audiences wherever they are, raise money, hold events, offer courses, and build an online community:

What's important to your university museum?

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not important and 10 being extremely important, how would you rate the following.

How important is RAISING MONEY to your university museum?

How important is DEVELOPING ORIGINAL EXHIBITS to your university museum?

How important is EDUCATION to your university museum?

How important is CUTTING EXPENSES to your university museum?

How important is BUILDING COMMUNITY to your university museum?

How important is COLLECTING EMAILS to your university museum?

What ONE online feature would most help your University Museum.

EDUCATION
I plan to setup a sample course. I believe it’s usually best to keep it simple. A video, some text and quizzes. Give the student a certificate upon successfully completing the course. Suggest other opportunities for the student to continue her/his relationship with the university and the university museum.

COMMUNITY
Website-based communities can engage people on an ongoing basis in many ways. This is one way to truly build relationships with customers. That said, operating and maintaining communities is labor intensive and is only recommended for those with the resources to keep it running smoothly.

EVENTS The site could/should be used to promote (virtual) events. Whether the event is on Zoom, Facebook or some technology embedded into the site itself, events should continue being a part of museum activities even when the museum itself is closed.

RAISING MONEY For various activities and functions on the university museum site, offer a “suggested donation” which could gently raise money (while collecting emails) and build connections with site visitors. If you have some substantial and very popular online events, you can charge for those events.

EXISTING SITE
Because this enhanced site requires a certain focus and some specific technology, it probably should not be part of any existing site.

MONTHLY SERVICES
I believe these sites should, insofar as possible, be managed in house. That said, it’s unlikely that all of it will be possible to handle in house. I plan to offer training and/or monthly services—for those who need it—at a reasonable fee to ensure the ongoing success of the site.