Sheila, I think we need to do this. The interesting/complicated questions for me, going forward, are less about the value of the online visit per se, or usage of online content by itself, but about the relationship between online and physical usage, and creating a seamless and impactful visitor experience through multiple "visits" of various kinds. Thank you for proposing the luncheon, which I'll attend, and for reviving the group.
--Matt -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On Behalf Of sheila.ca...@pch.gc.ca Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 2:48 PM To: mcn-l at mcn.edu Subject: [MCN-L] Metrics & Evaluation SIG Hi everyone - I would like to invite interested MCN attendees to the Metrics & Evaluation SIG that will be held concurrently with all SIGs at an 'unluncheon' on Friday, November 18. Details are available at: http://www.mcn.edu/calendar-2011/2011-11-18. The Metrics & Evaluation SIG has been dormant for the last couple of years, and I'd like to know if there is interest in continuing or reviving this SIG. I think events in the last year have proven that there are some areas of potential interest for discussion. For example, when the Google Art Project was launched in February 2011, questions arose again about whether increased availability of high quality museum images would deter visitors from visiting museums. Museums want to know the value of online visitors, and administrators still tend to consider physical visitors the "real" visitors. In addition, user expectations have changed, as have the type and quality of content delivered. These are exciting, timely and relevant topics for discussion, and ones that the Metrics & Evaluation SIG could address. At the SIG meeting, I could foresee discussions about gathering information on all surveys and research studies related to the value of online visitors and to user expectations. Also, it would be interesting to discuss what questions we need to be asking to understand current trends. Currently, I'm gathering articles and studies that would be useful for this discussion. If you know of any off the top of your head, please forward them to me. In the meantime, here are a few questions for consideration: ? What are user expectations of online content? (this could be expanded to user expectations for content delivered digitally through any medium) ? How are visitors using content on sites? ? What do online visitors look for after a museum visit? The initial mandate of this SIG was related to evaluation of online content, but this could be expanded to include how can we analyze its usefulness. I'd like to know your thoughts on this topic or any others, and hope you will come to the SIG meeting on Friday, November 18. Sheila Sheila Carey Analyste des publics et des programmes | Audience and Program Analyst R?seau canadien d'information sur le patrimoine (RCIP) | The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) Minist?re du Patrimoine canadien | Department of Canadian Heritage Gatineau, Canada K1A 0M5 sheila.carey at pch.gc.ca T?l?phone | Telephone 819-934-5017 T?l?copieur | Facsimile 819-994-9555 T?l?imprimeur (sans frais) 1-888-997-3123 | Teletypewriter (toll-free) 1-888-997-3123 Gouvernement du Canada | Government of Canada
