Museum Informatics: Leveraging Information to Make Data-Driven Decisions

Museums have managed large amounts of data for over forty years, often relying on disparate systems within siloed departments. This fragmentation makes it challenging to identify the natural connections that exist in managing data about people, objects, and events. This course focuses on the data systems used in museums to explore these underlying relationships and their potential benefits. We examine the key metrics and data points between various museum functions, such as the relationships between fundraising, membership, attendance, and social media engagement. Additionally, we delve into collections management systems to identify patterns in giving that could be leveraged by connecting this data with other datasets. This analytical approach is particularly relevant to museum educators, as they gather and interpret data on programs offered, attendance rates, and evaluation feedback to inform the design and success of future initiatives. Moreover, big data extends beyond merely connecting information about constituents and visitors. By digitizing historical collections, researchers gain the ability to analyze field notes, specimen records, and scientific analyses from past fieldwork. This digitization enables the measurement of historical trends and their comparison with current data, providing researchers with access to insights that may otherwise remain hidden in paper records. Topics covered in this course include museum data systems and their key metrics, developing an effective information policy, systems integration for seamless data connectivity, metadata and tagging for enhanced data categorization, and information storage and retrieval techniques. By concentrating on these areas, the course aims to equip participants with the knowledge to effectively manage and utilize museum data, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and the overall visitor experience.