Museum professionals and the relevance of LIS expertise

Abstract

This article presents results from a survey designed to assess the relevance of library and information science (LIS) expertise-here defined as those topics typically, but not exclusively, taught in LIS programs-for museum professionals. The topics covered in this article are information representation, information organization and access, information management, computer technologies, digitization technologies, interactive technologies, information policy, evaluation methods, and collaboration initiatives. An online survey assessed the degree to which museum professionals possess skills in these topics, perform work in these topics, and consider these topics important for future study. The article examines the relative value of each topic for museum professionals, and discusses the importance of strengthening relationships between LIS and museum studies by better understanding the relevance of LIS expertise in museums. KeywordsMuseum informatics; museum information professionals; library and information science education.

How a museum knows? Structures, work roles, and infrastructures of information work

“…Museum information management is an established field of interest (Orna & Pettitt, ), and there is an emerging consensus on the need for specialized museum information professionals (e.g., P.F. Marty, , ). A new scholarly topic museum informatics (P. Marty, Rayward, & Twidale, ) has emerged at the interface of museum studies and information science (P.F.…”

Synergizing the collections of libraries archives and museums for better user services

“…collaboration initiatives (CI); to manage the relationship between different organizations working towards common goals, e.g. inter-museum consortia, resource sharing, outreach programs for community and educational institutions (Marty 2007).…”

Emerging convergence? Thoughts on museums, archives, libraries, and professional training

“…These concerns are echoed in literature of training digital librarians (Choi & Rasmussen, 2006), and in discussions of the development of Library and Information Science Curricula (Markey, 2004) and in a review of the information skills of museum employees (Marty, 2007). They are also recognized in sector-wide human resources reviews such as the 8R's study of The Future of Heritage Work in Canada (The 8Rs Research Team, 2004), and in institution-specific studies of professional development needs (Doering, Karns, & Roberts, 2005).…”