1) We're never used a RFI. So I can't help there. 2) The Museum uses an external vendor to host our website and simple CMS. We have no in house tech staff and hence are more or less satisfied. This vendor also hosts/processes program/event ticketing, membership sales, email and store. Hence, a great integration of data across those users.
In regards to the earlier question of who manages the website. Each department can access their own pages, but marketing oversees the website. Knowledge of Search Engine Optimization, branding, and usability is important, I think, for anyone leading a new web venture. Also, if I may - a slightly different topic: Blogs. Could anyone forward a sample of a successful museum blog including a quick note on the purpose, management, and results? Also - level of satisfaction with provider (be it internal, typepad, blogger etc.). Thanks! Jurek Lipski Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10029 www.mcny.org jlipski at mcny.org 212-534-1672 ext 3406 For information about programs and exhibitions and special invitations to upcoming events, subscribe to MCNY E-News updates. -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chad Petrovay Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:15 AM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Organizational Question Sharon, You said that you are bringing your web hosting in-house instead of continuing to allow an external vendor to provide the service. May I ask what prompted this decision? I was under the impression that it was desirable for institutions to outsource such things as web hosting. Chad M Petrovay Collections Database Administrator The Walters Art Museum 600 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21210 P: 410.547.9000 x266 F: 410.837.4846 cpetrovay at thewalters.org www.thewalters.org Exhibitions: Mapping the Cosmos: Images from the Hubble Space Telescope through July 27 Faces of Ancient Arabia: The Giraud and Carolyn Foster Collection of South Arabian Art on view July 20-September 7 -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sharon Hultman Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 7:00 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Organizational Question Peter, we here at WSHS have been hosting our websites on an external hosting service for years, but are beginning to bring them in-house. I've never done an RFI because, in the beginning, the job of figuring out such things was left entirely to me. I've always done all the modification to the sites, as well. Several years ago, Tamara came on as IT Director, so things have been changing. At this time our organizational site is still hosted at a service in Chicago (for about $30 per month), but all our other sites have been brought in-house. Maintenance of the sites is going to be spread out among the content providers (at long last), and we're taking a somewhat unusual route. My HTML page designs are being converted to ASPX files by the database developer we hired a couple of years ago (You may know Kevin through the WHC), and content providers will be editing the content in Adobe Contribute. All of our sites should be hosted in-house by the end of August. So far, it looks like it's going to work pretty well. Sharon Hultman WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY MUSEUM 1911 Pacific Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402 253-798-5926 http://washingtonhistory.org -----Original Message----- From: Peter Turner [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 3:52 PM To: 'Museum Computer Network Listserv' Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Organizational Question This discussion is of great interest to me as we are in the situation here at "the MAC" where our current web host is quitting the web hosting business. There are 2 pieces of information I would appreciate from anyone with an opinion: 1 - Is there anyone in this community who has used or created a RFI (Request For Information) that would be willing to share that document with me ?? Please send to me directly at the email below. I would be very grateful. 2 - Who hosts your site (one stop shop, self host or split design, CMS, Host) and how happy are you ?? Any comments and help very gratefully accepted as we have a fairly aggressive timeline to move hosts. Peter Turner Information Technology Specialist Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture 2316 West First Ave Spokane, WA 99201 Phone 509-363-5327 Fax 509-363-5303 Email petert at northwestmuseum.org ? -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Holly Witchey Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 9:08 AM To: Bstokes at mosthistory.org; Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Organizational Question Dear Bill: I agree with Barbara's comments below with a caveat. Museum leadership should be called upon to make the decision on who manages web site but they should make the call from a position of educated strength. My recommendation is, unless you are simply rolling in money, that the responsible path for any cultural heritage organization to take in 2008 is to send out an a Request for Information (RFI) as opposed to an Request for Proposal (RFP) to several developers asking them to comment, in a brief document, on what they do for your institution, how they would propose to do it, how you would manage it, and what, in general, it might cost--you should also include your current favored vendor in the process. When all the responses come back in you then weight the pros and cons, sometimes a favored vendor will come in higher than others, but a good working relationship might compensate for the additional cost. This information is then presented to the museum leadership, or reviewed in conjunction with museum leadership, depending on the size of your institution, and a decision is made. If it comes down to a choice between one or two, then you might want to go with a full blown RFP, but I've always found RFIs are just as useful and not as time consuming for all parties. Then...once you've chosen your vendor the most important thing is to MANAGE EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS. This means creating a specifications document for the final project that sets out what you are going to do, what they are going to do and assure that everyone one understands the parameters of the project. Hope this helps, Holly Witchey Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44106 216-707-2653 hwitchey at clevelandart.org -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Barbara Stokes Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 10:59 PM To: 'Museum Computer Network Listserv' Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Organizational Question Your museum leadership should make the decision on who manages the website. In our museum, website management is part of marketing and development. As for your proposal to submit specs to several website vendors rather than stay with the current vendor in revamping the site, it depends on how reliable and service-oriented your current vendor is and what their capabilities are. Not a definitive answer, I know, but there are a lot of factors to be considered. Barbara Stokes, Senior Curator Archives, Collections, and Programs Museum of South Texas History 200 N. Closner Boulevard Edinburg, TX 78541 bstokes at mosthistory.org 956/383-6911 -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of william jahsman Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 9:47 AM To: mcn-l at mcn.edu Subject: [MCN-L] Organizational Question Hi, list members. I'm a recent subscriber. I work at a museum-in-progress, The Leonardo, in Salt Lake City. As with all startups, there are a million things to do. My short list is programming for Body Worlds and beyond, procurement of a membership system, new website development, and infrastructure. The exhibits director is proposing we sole source our website development to our current vendor. Our current website (www.theleonardo.org) is beautiful but not very functional. I'm proposing we submit our requirements to several vendors and choose the best one. Is it customary for an exhibits manager to specify website development? How is it handled in your organization? TIA, Bill Jahsman The Leonardo 801-531-9800 _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l
