Honestly, who isn't on facebook?

Well, to answer that question, my mom's not, but she knows my login information, so that's close enough. I'm pretty excited because I just launched the museum's Facebook page and, after some hard work (thanks Colin and Nic!), I think it looks pretty good.

I have to pitch a social media plan to the board next week, and I'm starting to get pretty nervous. Luckily, fate's on my side and I found this article, which sets me up for a lot of common objections and how to respond to them. Being prepared to present new media to a group of VIPs? Check.

I'm trying to decide what to blog about for the museum - I want a mix from exhibits (to go along with our podcasts), current women's issues, and discussion about the museum's future. I really want to start the conversation about the museum - there's nothing on blogs, twitter, etc. yet. Scary yet exciting!

In Vespa news, honking at me then waving and saying "nice wheels" is not a good idea. It does get my attention, but it makes me swerve, and I don't think I'll make an attractive trauma patient. Thanks.

Digital Heritage and me, perfect together?

It's amazing what you can stumble upon when you're doing random searches on Technorati. I found a program at the University of Leicester in the UK that offers a masters in Digital Heritage (!) I got more and more excited as I read through the degree description and found this:

Course aims: To stimulate students to engage critically and creatively with the opportunities of new media, and, in particular, to encourage the development of the philosophical approaches and practical skills needed by new media professionals, managers and others in the museum and heritage sector.

Sign me up! I emailed the professor in charge of the program and he got back to me (promptly, I may add - in contrast to some U.S. institutions where you may never, ever hear back from a professor). He also mentions Web 2.0 in his email, which is an awesome sign for a history professor! The program starts in April 2009 and it allows for distance learning at a cost of around (with the current exchange rate) $10,000 a year. I wonder if I can swing this...

In other news, I joined 24 Hour Fitness yesterday and took a Turbo Kickboxing class. And, oh how I'm paying for that today. (No pain no gain, right?)

Blog Crazed

I've always considered myself something of an early adopter as far as technology is concerned. At my current internship, I've given myself the title of Tech Goddess, with the subtitle of "Thou who installs printer drivers and figures out the website". It's pretty interesting, especially because I work at a local historical society, and technology is very hit or miss. I've learned to piecemeal things with OpenOffice or work on machines that are 10-15 years old. (And I love it!)

My newest foray into technology has been ongoing. I've taken to reading blogs that have to do with my future career ambitions and subject interests, so last night I went Google Reader crazy. I've found some awesome sites, such as Museum 2.0 and I'm in Ur Museum Blogz (which has a great post about finding a job with a museum... check!). I'm not sure what the policy will be like at my new job in Texas, but I think creating a blog for a museum is a great way to generate interest (and these blogs have some other great suggestions for basic marketing as well).

I mostly write in my blog to keep in touch, but I'm going to also write in here about new strategies for museums and my thoughts. As a college senior, I think I offer a (naive) (or new) perspective on the world of public history.

For starters, check out a post on my old blog about Mount Vernon. It's an example of a museum taking technology and using it to enhance exhibits, not to overshadow them.