Can we learn from museums?

Both libraries and museums are institutions dedicated to making enriching experiences available to their communities. For a long time both institutions tended to remain behind their high walls, offering riches but not advertising them very much and not pushing them to the forefront. All that has changed over the past half century, but the pace of change has accelerated greatly particularly in museums. New technology makes it possible for museums to invite their publics to participate in the selection and evaluationg of art and to see exhibits that may be otherwise inaccessible. The N.Y. Times recently produced a special section on museums outlining the initiatives taken in New York, Brooklyn, Indianapolis, and San Francisco. Libraries have been expanding their web presence too, but perhaps not as spectacularly as museums. What ideas can children's librarians borrow from the museums to offer their patrons? Well, clearly announcing events and posting slideshows of visiting authors, illustrators, and performers is one way. Perhaps some events can be streamed live through Facebook or other social media. Teenagers and tweens would probably find this congenial. Offering glimpses of new acquisitions in the picture books, or excerpts of books, as amazon.com does, would surely attract readers. Following library accounts of programs and PR work is valuable, but it's time to reach out further and take our cues from sister institutions which may offer fresh ideas.