9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Double Sessions
Managing Copyright Issues for Museum Archives and Library Materials
How can museum librarians/archivists make sense of the confusing copyright/intellectual property laws that we must understand and apply? How does the law differ for libraries (published materials) and archives? This session will outline legal issues faced by archivists and librarians when collecting, preserving and providing access to institutional records and personal papers. Come hear an attorney who specializes in Intellectual Property outline issues of particular importance to librarians/archivists. Significant time will be set aside for discussion/questions from attendees.
Chair: Susan von Salis, Curator of Archives, Harvard Art Museum, MA

Join us for a new kind of “un-conference” session!
In a response to requests to invite more open participation by conference attendees, time has been set aside at this year’s NEMA conference for you to create the agenda and lead the discussion.

Open Space Technology (OST) offers a process of self-organizing groups of any size. ("Technology" in this case means tool—a process; a method.) Proponents of OST claim that it helps diverse people address complex issues in a short amount of time. Participants construct the agenda and schedule during the meeting itself. OST meetings have a single facilitator who explains the general method but who has no other role in the meeting and does not control the actual gathering in any way.

For the NEMA Conference, we have modified OST, limiting the face-to-face discussion to 3 ½ hours but supplementing it with a wiki that can be accessed before and after the conference. Prior to conference we encourage you to post issues and topics that you want to discuss. Once the discussions have taken place, our facilitator and note takers will report the results through the wiki. The facilitator will NOT LEAD the discussion—the leaders are us (i.e. You).

According to the originator Harrison Owen, “Whoever comes is the right people and whatever happens is the only thing that could have.” So, how about it? What is your passion about museums? What burning issues do you want to address collectively with your colleagues? Do you want to learn more about OST? Please visit nemaopenspace.wetpaint.com to help launch this unusual and un-conference session!
Facilitator: Dawn Salerno, Director of Education, Mystic Arts Center, CT

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Best Online Practices in the Museum Webspace
iMarc will facilitate discussion and exploration of current best practices for museums and not-for-profits. Specific areas of focus will include: driving web site visitors to visit the museum; simulating the in-person museum experience; membership development; member service; e-commerce; event calendars and registration; educational outreach and initiatives. Discussion and examples will illustrate how museums have leveraged their web sites to realize organizational objectives, and achieve a positive return on their investment.
Co-chairs: Nils Menten, President, iMarc, MA; Karin Klapak, Director of Business Development, iMarc, MA

Clean This Old House
A conservator will provide information about who, when, where and how to perform cleaning and maintenance tasks for the upkeep and preservation of collections in the typical historic house or small museum. There will be demonstrations for some methods and an open discussion for problem solving for the audience’s unique situations. A timetable for cleaning and care will be discussed and resources will be identified. Remember: Dirt never sleeps.
Chair: David Colglazier, Independent Conservator, NH

Letting Go: (en)lightening Staff
This program combines short presentations, discussion and audience Q&A about the realities of downsizing. Are there ways of minimizing layoffs by changing the work week? Are there ways of maintaining productivity—and programming—by sharing functions? Are there solutions that ultimately make the staff happier—or at least more of a team? How well can public service be maintained? Panelists will examine the negative impacts of the process as well as how, in some cases, it can actually strengthen the institution.
Chair: Bruce Courson, Executive Director, Sandwich Glass Museum, MA

What You Need to Tell Your Architect
A successful museum building project furthers the institution’s mission and goals. It is vitally important that an institution develop a clear, compelling strategy for the project and share it with the design team at the outset of the process. This session will discuss the specifics of the information to be shared and how it can be effectively communicated. The perspectives of a museum administrator, museum strategic planner and an architect will be shared. The final third of the session will be devoted to questions from participants about specific projects.
Chair: Arch Horst, President, Black River Architects, Inc., MA

Working with Video Professionals to Promote Your Museum
Ready to develop a video project for your museum? Or are you an independent producer who has a great idea for a new project? No matter which side of the lens you're on, this session will cover all aspects of the video production process. Museum staffers and video producers who worked together to create a museum video will share with us candid stories of their successes and challenges.
Chair: Emily Robertson, Project Manager, Exhibits, Museum of Science, MA

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
Hosted by Andrew Penziner Productions LLC

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Graphic Design Options for Organizations Large and Small
Meet three graphic designers: a museum staff member, the owner of a full service design studio, and an independent designer. Each will share their work and help you understand the variety of options available to your institution no matter how large or small. Learn about the value of developing a relationship with a designer that fits your needs. See the difference that using a professional resource can make in expanding the reach of branding, marketing materials, event invitations, exhibition catalogues, signage, and collateral.
Chair: Kate Egnaczak, Graphic Designer, Worcester Art Museum, MA

Green Outside-the-Box
It’s time to expand the green discussion from basic to advanced. This three-part session explores green innovation in museums, examines out-of-the-box green at an open-air history museum and a science museum, and then includes a challenge: participants will submit green challenges that require innovative responses. Speakers will choose three to explore with the group for innovative solutions. The process will demonstrate what to consider when using “green” approaches, and will model green problem-solving.
Chair: Sarah S. Brophy, LEED-AP, MD

Is There A Change In Your Future?
Funds are in short supply. The staff is overworked, the Board is underperforming, and your community seems indifferent. These circumstances, although distressing, provide an opportunity to re-examine the role of your museum. Is the traditional museum model outmoded? Do we overestimate the demand for what we offer? How can we ensure our survival and remain relevant? Two directors, who have encouraged their museums to change, will discuss their strategies and exchange ideas with the audience.
Co-chairs: Susan Robertson, Executive Director, Gore Place, MA; Mark R. Thompson, Executive Director, Portland Harbor Museum, ME

To Share or Not to Share – Is a Collaborative Collections Storage Facility a Storage Solution?
Are you running out of space? Are you turning people away because your collection is not accessible? Is your storage space incapable of being expanded to meet your growing collection? Are the needs of your collection competing with the needs of your historic building? Are you worried about which one will win? These questions and others will be discussed as panelists present the idea of museums joining together to develop a collections storage and study facility. Join us to ponder various collaborative storage scenarios and discuss the merits and concerns that shared facilities present.
Chair: Funi Burdick, Executive Director, Canterbury Shaker Village, Inc., NH

12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Closing Lunch and Annual Meeting
Find out what’s new in your association! Celebrate innovations in New England museums as we honor the recipients of NEMAs new award program. Network and relax with friends over a delicious lunch.
Chair: Gail Nessell Colglazier, President, New England Museum Association