Hi Jeanne, I started MFIT's Facebook presence by starting a group. I quickly learned that there were benefits and limitations to having a group...all of which have been pointed out in the links to blogs people have sent you. I really love the way events are communicated to members of a group, but I have established a page (it is thriving), and now it has become tedious to post events and news in both places. I am considering merging the two since I am a department of one, but if we had more resources I might keep both going. The group definitely feels more intimate. However, another down side is that the group is linked to my personal FB account. Some people may not want their work and private lives merging like that.
-- Tamsen Schwartzman Museum Media Manager The Museum at FIT, Room E116 Seventh Avenue at 27th Street New York, NY 10001 212~217~4547 ** 212~217~4561 fax www.fitnyc.edu/museum Visit our collections online at fashionmuseum.fitnyc.edu Closes June 16: Seduction Opens March 10: Muriel King: Artist of Fashion Opens June 16: Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out -----Original Message----- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rebecca Lawrence Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 4:13 PM To: mcn-l at mcn.edu Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Facebook-Groups vs. Pages Hello, >From the small museum perspective: The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center has a Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pennsburg-PA/Schwenkfelder-Library-Heritage-ce nter/21293856113?ref=ts We don't have many fans. We have 33, as of today, March 2nd. We have a small staff of 6; I'm unofficially the web guru, officially the museum educator. I find Facebook has been helpful to generate conversation among visitors and staff. To me it's important to maintain a dialogue, no matter the means. I keep a calendar of events and occasionally post exhibit reception photos. No one ever directly responds, but I've had families attend a program and casually mentioned they saw us on Facebook. Someone has been reading it. Our fans are parents who come to our family workshops, staff members and members of the Schwenkfelder church (one of our constituencies). Most of our "fans" come here on a regular basis. I recognize almost all of them. If it doesn't establish new connections, it at least helps to maintain the relationships we have. In addition, having a Facebook page allows me to continue a dialogue about using "new" technology especially if there are staff and volunteers who only view the internet as a large search engine and a place to check email. Thanks, Rebecca Rebecca Lawrence Museum Educator Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center 105 Seminary Street Pennsburg PA 18073 (215) 679-3103 www.schwenkfelder.com _______________________________________________ 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 The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
