No title today, sorry

# notes:

Looks like there's a new blog at the Smithsonian: Office of Exhibits Central. There was an announcement on the Livejournal museum communities. Looks like they've been posting for a while though. I suspect an Eye Level style model for posting and start up. It's the Smithsonian, after all.

-------

Connecting with Communities. That's what this is all about. And let's have a little case study of what happens when you do connect with a community.



That's from my Google Analytics. In the past week I had a chance to connect with the museum and the web community. I handed out a few business cards (MOO cards rock!), put a few cards up on the jobs wanted board, and got mentioned in a couple presentations. And look what happened. An explosion. Normally I'm lucky to get about 8 direct hits to the blog. But almost 90? Wow.

I'm realistic. I may have grabbed a couple new readers, but most are probably poking their heads in. If my goal was to stay well connected with this community, I would get my URL out there more, go to more conferences, leave more comments on other blogs (as it is, I leave almost none *shameface*). But I'm pretty well wrapped up in my own little world right now. Maybe later, when I need to figure out where to go with this blog, maybe then I'll get active and try and get internet-famous.

-------

I think I've got a thesis title. Whaddya think of this?: "Constructing Connections: A Museological Approach to Blogging." It's a little more refined than "I'm in Ur Museum Website, Readin' and Analyzin' Ur Blogz" (bless its geeky little heart). The bit after the colon may be refined, but I think Constructing Connections gets at a few key concepts of blogs, so it's very plausible.

Read More...

Summary only...

Titular Woes

Before I get to the subject of this post, I've been meaning to take back some of the mean stuff I said earlier about Blogger. It's much more customizable than it used to be. But in terms of also working as social networking and creating community, it is no match whatsoever for LiveJournal. Blogger can be a PITA to get to work the way I want to, and I really wish it had comment threading. Not that I get many comments. But Blogger, you're okay.

Right. Subject. Titular woes. (insert adolescent snicker here)

I'm trying to come up with a title for my thesis. I have 1.5 pages of my thesis written and I want a title. I want a snappy title. Something that's fun and communicates my topic at the same time.

My best one so far?

Museums and Blogs: A Critical Analysis

*yawn* *double yawn*

There's a part of me that would like to call it I'm in Ur Museum Website, Readin' and Analyzin' Ur Blogz: An Analysis of Museum Blogging, but this is probably a bad idea for several reasons.
One: It would freak out the straights. I don't want to freak out the straights.
Two: It's confusing now. How confusing is it going to be in 6 months when it's even more horribly out of style?
Three: It's going to get dated real fast. See #2. I don't want it to be laughed at for an appalling title.
Four: Did I mention it will freak out the straights?

I do actually quite like the second title. It does convey a sense of fun that I hope I actually have and am not just imagining. And it is very much an internet thing. But.... Dated and scary are two big cons in the pro-con chart of its life.

What I need is a happy medium. And yes, this really is an issue now. See, I've put my thesis on my resume, and I've started the job hunt (*puts on safari hat and kahkis*) (I'm starting early because I'm clever like that and I am terrified by recent conversations on the Museum-L listserv). Until inspiration strikes, I'll leave the boring *yawn* title on ye olde resume.

Read More...

Summary only...