Rate this book

The Participatory Museum (2010)

by Nina Simon(Favorite Author)

4.12 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0615346502 (ISBN13: 9780615346502)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Museum 2.0

review 1: Very readable discussion of ways that museums can increase participation, through guest contributions, collaborations, hosting community events, etc. This would be a little hard to use as a reference, it's really a book that you read through and attempt to keep its main points in mind for the future. Simon is right on the money with a lot of this, for example, I (and I'm probably not alone here) hate museums that ask questions of the public that are just supposed to 'get you thinking', or questions to which the museum already has the answers, and think that this is really connecting with people somehow. Or similarly, museums that ask for feedback but don't tell you what they are going to do with it, and you know it is just headed for the garbage. Simon calls them out on t... morehis, and points out that for people to feel valued as guests, museums need to ask questions that are specific, and personal, and have answers, and allow people to contribute feedback that is actually necessary, and utilized, and improves the exhibit somehow. Simon also includes lots of case studies of museums finding effective ways to encourage participation, and some that describe how museums fail in this regard.
review 2: If you work in museums, you NEED to read this book. Largely because everybody else is. Or at least says they are. I want to hate Nina Simon, but I don't. She IS a business woman selling a product which she's happy to help you with (please make no mistake) and yes I think she can be a little too Pollyanna at times, but I tend to agree with her and find I like many of her ideas. What I do (really) hate is the cult that has grown up around her. Her ideas are good, but they're not the only ones. I guess the cult is to be expected. I mean, she's made it easier for museums to appear to be creative, without actually being creative. For that alone, I expect they'll put up a golden statue of Nina soon. less

Download links for: The Participatory Museum

Advertising