Meulemans, Saskia

s.meulemans@lse.ac.uk

Role and Impact of Information and Communication Technologies in Museums

This research is concerned with the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in museums.

With more and more museums recognising the possibilities of ICTs, there exists a growing need to study the use and effects of these technologies in museums. The aim of this research is to interpret the role of ICTs and the actors that contribute to their role over time. The relationship between the museum as organisation, the ICTs and the involvement of key museum people will be studied. Past and current ICTs activities will be looked into, tracing possible changes, influences by and effects on the museum. The focus and use of ICTs are assessed and their relation to the overall focus and objectives of the museum are reported. Specific attention will be paid to the role of key museum people such as the board and the curatorial staff: how they deal with ICTs and which factors influence their thinking and actions.

The research argues that people involved in decision-making and management most likely shape the role of ICTs. Concepts of actor network theory will guide this research in analysing all the actors, human and non-human, that influence the role of ICTs.

The research uses the case study method to understand these actors. Fieldwork will be conducted in an internationally recognised art museum. The intention of the research project is to shed a different light on the current debate, focus and also worries around ICTs in the museum world. In addition to this, as the empirical and theoretical analysis builds on literature and concepts from the field of museum studies and information systems, the research hopes to be a valuable contribution to current research in both fields.

Supervisor: Steve Smithson, PhD

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