Museum Computer Network facts for kids

The Museum Computer Network (MCN) is a group in the United States. It's for people who are interested in using computer technology to help museums. MCN is a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't aim to make money.

What is MCN?

MCN started in 1967 in the New York City area. Back then, computers were very new! The group began as a way for museums to keep track of their collections using computers.

From 1968 to 1971, MCN got money to create a special computer network. Museums could share this system to record their items. When the money ran out, MCN officially became a non-profit group. Soon, people from all over the world joined.

As technology changed, MCN changed too. It became a network for professionals. These people wanted to use computers to better manage and share information about museums.

MCN holds a big meeting every year called a conference. They also have an online discussion group called MCN-L. There are also special interest groups and a list of museum websites. People, museums, and companies can all be members. A Board of Directors runs the organization.

MCN's Yearly Conference

Since 1979, MCN has held a conference every year. It's a place where people can learn about new ways to use technology in museums.

Recent Conferences:

• 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota: The topic was The Invisible Architectures of Connected Museums.
• 2014 in Dallas, Texas: The topic was Think Big, Start Small, Create.
• 2013 in Montreal, Canada: The topic was Re:making Museums.
• 2012 in Seattle, Washington: The topic was Shifting Perspective, Evolving Spaces, Disruptive Technologies.
• 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia: The topic was Hacking the Museum: Innovation, Agility and Collaboration.
• 2010 in Austin, Texas: The topic was I/O: The Museum Inside-out/Outside-in.
• You can find a complete list of MCN Conferences online.

Spectra Publication

MCN also published a magazine called Spectra, which started in 1974. For example, the Computer Interchange of Museum Information (CIMI) Standards Framework was shared in Spectra.

See also

• Museums Computer Group, United Kingdom
• Museum informatics
• Everett Ellin