Defining Open Authority

...Or high-five your mentor, or send them a thoughtful note. Whichever is appropriate for you. I happen to prefer hugs. 

I'm also lucky and blessed to not just have just a mentor, but to have many mentors. I'm (naturally) in a reflective mood as I embark on my 30s here in a couple of hours. My 20s, like anyone's, held a shocking number of happy, life-changing events—motherhood being by far the most significant. Anyone who knows my hilarious five-almost-six-year-old understands why he's forever and truly my pride and joy. But beyond Teddy, it's my twisty, curvy, amazing adventure of a career that has made my 20s so darn interesting. And that leads me to think of my many mentors, who, each and every one, have believed in me more than I believed in myself at times. I know I wouldn't be where I am today without them, so it seems fitting to make a bit of a public thanks—a virtual hug, so to speak.

The most amazing part of it all is that 10 years ago my current job didn't exist (it didn't exist 5 years ago). I knew I wanted to educate, that I loved history and culture, and kids, and I also happened to be pretty geeky about online communities from the get-go. I could never have imagined how those all would come back to perfectly intertwine in the end—but in hindsight it all makes perfect sense.

So begins my incredible list of mentors, with thanks...

Reggie Moore: The social studies teacher who gave me my educator wings. She told me I could do it, I believed her, and I did it. Reggie, you're one of those special educators who makes a lasting impact on your students. I've always considered myself lucky to have had you help me not only in my education, but in my career.

Cheryl Phillips: The big-thinking elementary educator who knew I could think big too, and took me along for the ride. Cheryl, you wheeled and dealed (repeatedly) to ensure others saw my potential. Those opportunities led me to where I am today, and know that I'm so thankful that you made such efforts for me.

Lori Sparks: The smart and caring coffee-shop-customer-turned-best-friend. Lori, I'll never forget the day that you told me about The Compass School and insisted it was perfect for me. My year at Compass changed my life, and I have you to thank for it. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

Jenny Mikulay: The intuitive professor who encouraged me to dream big and conquer my fears. Jenny, when I left the classroom, it was hard for me to envision how I'd make a difference in this field. Your encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue my new path, even before I knew what the end result would be. Now I see it. Thank you.

Richard McCoy: The wisecracking change-maker who dragged me along for the ride (possibly kicking and screaming). Richard, you singlehandedly created more opportunities for me than seems humanly possible. Really all I can say is—thank you for believing in me. And for forcing me to (miraculously) get over my fear of public speaking.

Angie McNew: The forwardthinking museum-job-fairy-godmother who guided me into the (geeky) limelight. Angie, I'll never know how you convinced an entire museum to wholeheartedly embrace me and this crazy Wikipedia idea, but you did. Then you saw me for more than that, and helped shape the job I have today, which is perfect. Thank you.

Modupe Labode: The steady, open minded professor and advisor who showed me I can write about, even spearhead, museum theory. Modupe, you have a quiet way of empowering students to take hold of their ideas. You always know what kind of help I need, and when. Thank you for helping me shape my thoughts. They're going places.

Andrew Lih: The supportive Wiki-family patriarch and advocate and champion of all things GLAM. Andrew, you are incredible in your ability to spot the next rising star and encourage them until they succeed. You know this community inside and out, and I couldn't have completed my year in its "formal service" without you. I'm lucky that you found me.

Ed Rodley: The brilliant mind who makes those around him feel brilliant too, and who is likely shocked he's on this list. But Ed, you shouldn't be shocked! I'd consider you my newest mentor (I collect them, can you tell?) It's your interest and enthusiasm that has given me the momentum to continue on past mere grad school requirements. I see a future in our legitimately-not-crazy ideas, and I can't wait for the journey ahead.

And alongside these mentors (see how awesomely lucky I am?) I also have a few peers who have impacted the past years just as much as those listed above. Jenny, Emily, Colleen, Suse, Liam, and of course Dominic, you each have embraced me for my socially awkward quirks and love me because of them, you hear of my (and our) trials and stresses and celebrate our successes, and you encourage me to grow every day. Thank you for being there. <3

Open Authority is a phrase that's everywhere in museum blogs, tweets, and conferences these days.  What exactly does it mean?  At the recent Museum Computer Network (MCN) conference in Montreal,  Ed Rodley and a panel explored this question in Defining Open Authority in the Museum, proposing that €œdevelopments in the realm of accessibility have dovetailed...

I so appreciate Gretchen Jennings' reflections on open authority, where she dives deeper into the role of museums as conveners of community and conversation after "life happens." 

And her suggestion for how to more purposefully address the demands of open authority?...

We in this profession are used to being considered and careful in rolling out any initiative. But as our world moves more and more quickly, we should shape our internal systems so that when our community needs us we can be there—the forethought and consideration having already been done through advance planning and systems in place.  

The examples in this blog post reminded me of why we're doing what we're doing. Sometimes I fall into just looking to that next publication or conference as a way to move an idea forward, forgetting what's at the heart of the idea. But what's at the heart of the idea, I'm being reminded often, really matters. 

This interview with Nick Poole, CEO Collections Trust, is so chock full of open authority goodness I just can't even stand it. 

Here are some snippets, but I strongly encourage watching the full video. It's well worth it. (And okay maybe I went a little crazy with the snippets.)

People are walking in and they're equal to the institution. And so it's no longer enough to say, "well we have this amazing stuff, and we're going to show it to you." We have to say, "We have this amazing stuff with you. We're going to find out more about it, we're going to learn about it." And so that means that the really stylized experience of a museum...just doesn't work anymore for the way people expect to be able to engage with the services.

It's entirely a model built around a one-directional model, and now we're talking about a conversation, and a conversation that happens everywhere, in real time. And so part of the idea about being responsive is really doing our job as cultural heritage institutions by making ourselves open to that kind of dialogue, rather than saying you will come and you will benefit from coming to my museum. 

...It doesn't mean less culture, and it doesn't mean less authority, but it means more value and more sharing...

...To me, what technology does is enables you to unlock the whole of the museum experience for the user. By pointing this window (tablet, etc.) in their hands...you empower them with the capability to interpret the knowledge and the intellectual content of that experience. And then more than that.you allow them to open up their own voice into that experience. You allow them to not just sense the history that came before them in the room, but you enable them to become a participant in their history, to leave footprints, essentially, on the experience.

When you’re a social media manager for a museum, your job is…interesting (and incredible, and challenging, and inspiring)…but sometimes it can also seem lonely. Who else understands the laughable frustration of answering a frantic visitor Twitter question at 11:30pm about tomorrow morning’s dinosaur program? Who else would understand just WHY that social media campaign is going to be the most epic, meme-tastic campaign ever?

I’m lucky to have an incredible boss who shares monitoring responsibility with me (and who is great to vent to about our crazier social media moments.) But, why aren’t we supporting each other across institutions? …there are more of us out there, right? Why aren’t we celebrating our successes (and our #fails… Fails are okay!) Why aren’t we bantering more on Twitter, or pooling resources for big ideas, or even sharing out one another’s epic, meme-tastic campaigns to our own audiences?

Maybe that sounds a little extreme. (Does it?) But as social media professionals, we get the importance of transparency, openness, and authentic tone. So why not be even more open? Is it because we’re in competition with one another? Are we vying for the same online audiences, or trying to one-up each other’s campaigns? We really aren’t…and we shouldn’t be. So let’s be more giving. We deserve it, because we’re ALL doing awesome work that we *should* be proud of (and sharing!)

Arts journalist Lee Rosenbaum Tweets that the ‘@MetMuseum‘s digerati should serve the curators, not the other way around’, and is clearly troubled by moves within the museum to enable artists and others to create new types of art from the digital bodies of old ones.

Open Authority Example #13: Chicago History Bowl The Chicago History Museum

Website: Chicago History Bowl

Description:Vote For a Future Chicago History Museum Exhibit

Huffington Post: "Chicago History Museum Launches 'First Of Its Kind' Crowdsourcing Project For New Exhibit"

The city's oldest cultural institution will be asking Chicago residents what they'd like to see in a future exhibition. Dubbed the "Chicago History Bowl," this user-generated contest will allow fans to suggest ideas and then vote on finalists...

My take:

The Chicago History Museum is certainly undertaking an impressive digital engagement campaign—calling on the public to not only vote on a future exhibit, but to submit ideas as well. If that's not Open Authority, I don't know what is.

It's been stated that the Chicago History Museum is "the first museum in America to tap the power of online crowdsourcing for such an endeavor." While I tend to cringe at superlatives like this, I really can't argue with it. A number of museums have made great strides in fearlessly incorporating visitor contributions into exhibit interpretation, including most notably the Brooklyn Museum, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, and...does my museum count? :)  

But, to be honest, I can't think of another instance of placing the impetus FIRST on the community to begin the conversation and to initiate the topic. The "open" comes first in this case, and the curatorial "authority" comes second, when the museum pares down the suggestions in preparation for the voting round. 

I'm quite proud to be among so many greats in the ongoing musete.ch interview series coordinated by Dana Allen-Greil.

Open Authority Example #12: Cast  Your Vote!

The National Archives and Records Administration

Website: The Records of Rights VOTE

New York Times: ‘Rights’ Exhibit to Display Documents From the Mighty and the Modest

Join the debate and cast your vote! Help National Archives curators select the first original landmark document to be featured when Records of Rights opens on December 12.

Q. What about user-generated content? What might be some opportunities to present the content created by visitors and now being shared on their personal Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts?

NAME (National Association for Museum Exhibition) is hosting a series of Twitter chats about innovative, visitor-centered practices in museums in conjunction with the latest issue of the Exhibitionist journal, on the topic of "Meaning Making."

Q1: How can integrating visitor-made content into exhibitions support meaning making?

Peter Samis @psamis Right, and it places your voice into the heart of the community #meaningmaking

Katie Theodoros @KatieTheodoros  it also places the voice of your community  into your organization! #meaningmaking

Website: Our Museum

Our Museum: Communities and Museums as Active Partners is a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Special Initiative to facilitate a process of development and organisational change within museums and galleries committed to active partnership with their communities, with the ambition of affecting the museum sector more widely.

This initiative will:

support and develop museums and galleries to place community needs, values,  aspirations and active collaboration at the core of their work;

involve communities and individuals in core decision-making processes and to implement the decisions taken;

ensure that museums and galleries play an effective role in developing community skills, through volunteering, training, apprenticeships, etc.;

Open Authority Example #10

Rijksstudio, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Website: Rijksstudio

Press: "Masterworks for One and All," New York Times

Awards: Best of the Web, Museums and the Web

"We're a public institution, and so the art and objects we have are, in a way, everyone's property." - Taco Dibbits, Director of Collections

Big Data vs. Small Data: What About GLAMs? OpenGLAM blog. Joris Pekel. May 2, 2013.

"...It is not about the size of your database, the real revolution is the mass democratisation of the public institutions...the Open GLAM should be prepared to engage in the discussion and build value together with the community. Opening up data is not about dumping it online and never look at it again, it is about a dialogue where the public institutions tries as much as possible to send the user on his way, only to see him wander off and explore paths and directions never seen before."