FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Updated July 29, 2005

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Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

IMLS Releases National Report on Status of Museums' Data Collection Activities

Offers Analysis and Extensive Compendium of Reports about Museums

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) released its June 8, 2005 Museum Data Collection Report and Analysis, a national study on the status of America’s museums’ data collection activities. The report updates a similar study commissioned by IMLS in 1998 and focuses on data collected and reported by museums between 1999 and 2004 (or planned through 2006).

“The U.S. Congress charges IMLS to analyze museum and library trends and needs to provide reliable data for the development of good policies that will inform federal support for these institutions,” said Mary Chute, Acting Director of IMLS. “The release of the 2005 Museum Data Collection Report and Analysis will also help museums advance professional practices and heighten awareness of the public value of museums in America’s communities.”

The report looked at a wide range of museum data, both qualitative and quantitative, including case studies, strategic plans, benchmarking, and best practices research. Surveying 490 sources, the report found that many museum studies are available on the internet and includes 246 of the studies in the report itself constituting an extensive compendium of museum data information. Categorized by annual reports, directories and surveys, economic impact studies, facilities, finance (financial reports, cost analyses and salary surveys), funding trends, and general, museums nationwide are encouraged to use the compendium as a new research tool.

The report notes the problems and difficulties, as well as the value and benefits of data collection efforts and cites the World Wide Web as having enormous potential for gathering and sharing museum data (a significant difference from the study done in 1998). The report also outlines needed areas of growth and further research for museums notably in the area of performance and outcomes measures, diversity, and small and rural museums.

Among the recommendations for museums in the report are the creation of a collaborative working group tasked with different areas of research, standardization of definitions and data categories for conducting surveys, and collaborations with other organizations that collect data on museums. The report also recommends museums build platforms to showcase their value and share data collection efforts.

Museum Data Collection Report and Analysis is free and available online in PDF format. For print copies, please email your request to imlsinfo@imls.gov.