INTRODUCING THE SMALL MUSEUMS TOOLBOX Lindsay Foreman Manager and Curator, Agassiz-Harrison Historical Society and Museum together with Anissa Paulsen, Program Officer, BC Museums Association Small museums make up approximately two-thirds of the BC Museums Association membership and we are dedicated to serving their needs. In May 2019 the BC Museums Association unveiled the Small Museums Toolbox which is a series of brand-new tools that share tips, advice and practices with respect to three key museum functions: collections management, museum education and exhibit development. Each tool is designed to be user-friendly, practical, easy-to-implement and specifically geared to address the unique challenges that may face people working in small museums. The Small Museums Toolbox is housed on the BCMA’s BRAIN – our new online learning centre located at museumsassn.bc.ca/brain.
28
The project was financially supported by the Government of Canada and Toolbox development was intellectually supported by a group of dedicated BCMA members currently working in “small museums” throughout the province. Engaging directly with our members as BCMA developed these tools was critical to the process.
Reflections on Participating in the BCMA’s Small Museums Toolbox Working Group On September 4, 2018, the BCMA called out for participants to join the Small Museums Toolbox Working Group. I immediately jumped at the opportunity to join; in fact, I responded just over an hour after I received Anissa’s e-mail. Given my relatively recent career turn from consulting archaeology to museum studies, and finding my footing as the only full-time employee at the community-based Agassiz-Harrison Museum, I was excited about getting involved and knew that these tools would benefit both me and many other members of our tight-knit museum community. Between December 2018 and March 2019, Working Group members worked diligently to: review the current BCMA definition of a “small museum”; prioritize tool topics for review and release to the membership; and test, review, and provide constructive feedback on Toolbox contents, design, implementation, and promotion.
I was excited about getting involved and knew that these tools would benefit both me and many other members of our tight-knit museum community.
