The Museums Computer Group is interested in canvassing a wide range of views. If you're not a member but work in a relevant field, we'd be interested to hear about why you're not a member, and of course if you're a member we'd love to hear about how we can help you and your organisations.
Message from the MCG committee (of which I'm a member) below.
As our next 25 years of Museums Computer Group activity begins, we're looking to the future, and what sort of shape you – the membership – would like the MCG to take.
To get your views, we've set up an online survey on http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk.
As the sector opens up to new ways to meet audiences, new ways to allow access to searchers, and new horizons like the semantic web, the MCG committee think it's time to open up our plans to all our members for comment.
If you think about it, the way people work together, think together and spark ideas off each other is changing rapidly right now. Many of us are on Facebook or LinkedIn – what sort of opportunities might networks like these bring MCG? How can we truly make the group represent the excitement and feel of the 21st century digital world?
Do you think we should still be publishing printed newsletters, or is the web a better place to find the published expertise and thinking of a respected professional organisation? Should MCG continue to plan regular meetings for members around the UK? Does our conventional committee structure really represent the sector and serve the membership?
We'd like you to tell us what you think about these issues, and anything else you feel would be constructive and helpful. It would be great if you could visit the MCG website (http://www.museumscomputergoup.org.uk)
and click the survey link on the homepage.If you'd rather not fill in online forms, send an email directly to MCG Chair, Debbie Richards – DRichards@leics.gov.uk.
We'll be reporting survey results to the membership at the Spring 08 MCG meeting, which is on 23rd April at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea (http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk/meetings/1-2008.shtml)
and on the MCG website.Bookings are now being taken for the meeting and please do book soon as spaces are filling up fast.
With best wishes,
The Committee of the Museums Computer Group
I sent in a brief bit of feedback.
However, if I can make a comment about the process, I'd say that the request for feedback could have done with some more directed questions, rather than just a general feedback box. How about asking how frequent the meetings should be, for instance, and whether they should rotate around the country or be concentrated in the easy-to-reach cities.
It's funny you say that – we've come to the same conclusion. The initial stage was useful in terms of scoping the enquiry, but we're looking at putting out a more structured survey based on the feedback we've had so far.