How do collections and objects "speak" to audiences? How can museums present their collections online in ways that can be resourced and sustained at local level? Collections Australia Network national project manager Ingrid Mason used this presentation at the 2009 Museums Australia conference to discuss how museums can bring their collections to life online to engage new audiences.

1. Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 ,

2. Local Objects Telling Global Stories Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 ,

3. Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , Unpack this session title... http://www.flickr.com/photos/practicalowl/482858938/

4. Local Objects Telling Global Stories Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , How might using social media meet the needs of audiences? What is the impact of a new, extended, and/or broader audience? How and why enable it?

5. Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , Image reproduced courtesy of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. Photo: Jean - Francois Lanzarone

6. Local Objects Telling Global Stories Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , A broader audience.. diverse participants.. Benefits and impact? Review audience types and motivations? Expectation management? Changing social behaviour? New territory... new stories... new practices Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 ,

7. Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , ? Australian collections and resourcesGLAMs, gardens, historical sites, keeping places1600 Partners - mostly small Began as AMOL - now cross sector95 collections: 500,000 records/58,400 images +NMA recently via OpenSearch+Hurstville recently via Upload+Outreach blog

8. Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , More unpacking... How do collections and objects "speak" to audiences? How can museums present their collections online in ways that can be resourced and sustained at local level? What do audiences want from collections online? What control does a museum have over information once it is online? More dialogue with audiences.. old.. and new..

9. Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , Online audiences ... matter of learn by doing it and see or do some background research and thinking before leaping in? Be aware of assumptions, anticipate and hope for value-add for current visitors or collection stakeholders/users, but what about the unexpected visitors, e.g., ABC for PHM via Flickr, from genealogists overseas. Models... for online collection access... these should be fit for purpose... and within the bounds of an organisation's capacity and in line with its values and mission or mandate. Note that all of the major speakers have said unlock your collections. How this is done is important, i.e., the impact it has. Be ready to review your approach.

10. Ingrid Mason, National Project Manager, Collections Australia Network, Museums Australia Conference, Newcastle, 2009 , Outcomes ... prepare for impact and continue to be open to it and for work. Having digitised records and digital files of or related to collection objects means an ongoing need to plan for and attend to software and digital assets. Prepare also for surprises in terms of reassessing your audience and their needs, e.g., PHM licencing model for image copying... or need to be open to taking risks, making mistakes and rethinking and reworking. Benefits ... reaffirm the value of collections, by opening them up. Having the significance and/or value of the collection challenged and grappling with new perspectives on what a collection offers and in what context, in this case in the online environment.