Get connected: your museum and social media

Social media are one of the latest information and communication tools to have come to the attention of the museum community: the attractiveness of this set of media relies on it being largely free, used by millions of people of all ages, and in many countries around the world. Social media are also increasingly used by institutions, educational bodies, companies, etc., making it a crucial tool for museums to interface and connect with sponsors, patrons, visitor communities and other stakeholders. The authors collaborated with the Irish Museums Association in organizing and facilitating a one-day event on this topic, which was held in November 2009. The workshop was aimed at those working at any level in the culture and heritage sector in Ireland trying to find the right fit in terms of web based technologies and their museum or gallery. Based on the discussions and outcomes from the workshop, this paper provides an overview of the role that social media can have in enhancing the museum experience, as well as a discussion of the opportunities and risks of specific social media tools (such as microblogging, social networking, photo sharing, etc.).