Category: Community Studies

Participating in Focus Group Discussing How to Strengthen Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street Program

This week I participated in a focus group discussing how to strengthen the Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street (MOMS) program.  The Maryland Humanities Council, the sponsor of the initiative in this state, assembled a panel of stakeholders and subject matter experts to share perspectives on how to strengthen the program.  This cultural initiative serves small town museums, primarily through professionally curated traveling exhibits that draw on the expertise and resources of the Smithsonian.  Specifically the group of museum
professionals from around the state talked about how participation in the
Museums on Main Street program helped the humanities and nonprofit partners develop enhanced opportunities involving the program.  The MOM’s blog, Road Reports, has a piece I wrote when our institution participated in Key Ingredients.  Click here to read “Reinvigorating the Past  in Elkton, Maryland.”

Meeting With the President of American Heritage to Discuss New Digital Age Products

Last week I meet with the president and editor-in-chief of American Heritage Magazine, Edwin S. Grosvenor.  This venerable old publication was created by the American Association for State and Local History in 1949 and its long time editor was the award winning historian, Bruce Catton.

When it was launched it sought to apply the methods of journalism to the discipline of history. Over the years it won many national awards. The publication was eagerly sought out and was so valued in many household that people maintained full collections of the serial. But the new media market in the 21st century has presented respected old publications such as American Heritage with many challenges.

As the market shifted, the corporation tried moving away from its roots, publishing popular history pieces. In 2007, it suspended publication and was sold by its owners, the Forbes Publishing Company. But it’s back as a quarterly in its fine original form while also focusing on emerging new digital age markets. That’s why I met with Mr. Grosevnor. We discussed some a state-of-the-art initiatives that he’s working on that will help Maryland institutions meet patron expectations and reach out to new audiences. Excellent material in the product development pipeline, that will help us reach out. Look for more information in the year ahead.

Rising Sun’s 150th Anniversary Celebration

Congratulations to the Town of Rising Sun.  The municipality officially kicked off its Sequicentennail Celebration today with a ribbon cutting at the town hall and an open house in the museum.  As brilliant April sunshine warmed the crowd, it was great to see the sense of history that exists in an old Maryland municipality as remarks by Mayor Cox and others indicated.  Additionally an enthusiastic crowd gathered to help remember the town’s past.  

Celebrating a Community of Readers

dixonlibraryThe library system in Cecil County recently celebrated an important achievement. For the first time, the system circulated 1-million items. That is 10 items checked out for every single citizen in the county. To observe this major milestone, every library branch in the county celebrated with a range of special programs. One aspect involved Cecil Reads posters featuring staff, citizens, and community leaders.

Over the past ten years, I have had the opportunity to serve the system as a trustee and president of the library board as it has grown. It’s been a worthwhile community experience as we opened two new branches, increased staff to serve demands, added 21st century programming, and enhanced technology. As required by state law my term on the board will end in Nov. If you haven’t visited some of branches in Cecil County, please stop in when you’re in the area.