Smithsonian Web and New Media Strategy v 1.0

We've just posted Smithsonian Web and New Media Strategy, Version 1.0. The strategy talks about an updated digital experience, a new learning model that helps people with their "lifelong learning journeys," and the creation of a Smithsonian Commons—a new part of our digital presence dedicated to stimulating learning, creation, and innovation through open access to Smithsonian research, collections and communities.

This strategy was created through a fast and transparent process that included workshops, the Smithsonian 2.0 conference, Twitter, YouTube, and ongoing collaboration through the wiki. It's a work in progress, and we welcome your comments, questions, and input, via this blog or through any discussion tab on the strategy wiki site.

This strategy will feed into the Smithsonian’s comprehensive strategic plan, currently under development.

Comments

[James G. Leventhal]

In the middle of reading

http://remix.lessig.org/

Lawrence Lessig's Remix

and reading my newspaper in newsprint about the Kid what got sued for $675,000, down from a potential $4.5 MIL.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/31/entertainment/e063918D96.DTL&type=tech#ixzz0N44Y8jGy

There is a moral imperative for the open model, people.

And it's thrilling to see the US Government, through si2.0 so far out there in the lead!

Now jump in there and mash it up!

[Beth Kanter]

Hi Michael,

I'm running guest posts this week on the theme of transparency. May I have permission republish this post on my blog - full attribution/credit etc.

[Kim Christen]

I am curious, Michael, how you will handle culturally sensitive materials? We are currently working with the NAA and NMAI on the Plateau Peoples' Web Portal (http://libarts.wsu.edu/plateaucenter/portal/html/ppp/index.php) and the materials we have re-used from SI went through a long process of evaluation, narration and curation from the tribes involved, and in doing so, valuable knowledge was added (and will continue to be) to the content. Do you plan on involving these stakeholders in the process as well and what might that mean for "open access"?

[Michael Edson]

Hi Kim - - your question about culturally sensitive materials is a good one.

A little background. At the moment, all of the collecting units (museums, archives, libraries, etc) have policies and procedures for assessing culturally sensitive materials and determining what can and can't be shared publicly. The collecting units also have their own ideas about how they want to involve the rest of the world in adding to what we know and hold. That being said, the overall trend is towards more openness and a greater emphasis on what the public can add to what we know, and the resources we dedicate to advancing the strategy will no doubt build momentum in that direction.

As to involving stakeholders in what "open access" really means, absolutely! We've already taken the first steps by developing the strategy on a public wiki that allows for (and sometimes cries out for) input from stakeholders inside and outside the Institution.

[Lars L]

Thanks guys for sharing your work! It will be very helpful in our own process! /Lars Lundqvist, National Heritage Board (Sweden)