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Local Authority Museum Websites - A Report


The purpose of MDA's survey was to identify the current state of play of web-publishing in Local Authority museums, with a particular focus on the need to maintain a clearly-identifiable online presence which reinforces both the museums core branding and that of the Authority.

The survey was carried out by email and garnered 23 detailed responses from Local Authority museums throughout the UK. Individual responses have been anonymised.

Summary of Findings

Responses to the MDA Survey were overwhelmingly in support of museums being able to maintain their own web presence with a distinct look and feel and on a separate, museum-specific URL from that of their Authority.

The majority of respondents recognised the need to maintain a presence within the Local Authority website as part of the overall cultural and leisure services offer, but that their target markets were sufficiently distinct from those of the Authority to require an independent web presence.

Most respondents highlighted the tremendous support received from their Authority's IT services team, and many mentioned the importance of this relationship in delivering effective web services. In cases where the museum is considered either small or incidental in the overall picture of service provision, this can have a profound impact on their ability to move forward effectively.

Respondents to the survey placed a strong emphasis on the principle that an independent, high-quality museum website should build on and strengthen the relationship with the Authority and its cultural offer rather than undermine it. Museums do not wish to be regarded as separatist or unsupportive of the overall body corporate within the Authority. Their primary concern is to be able to add value to their role by delivering online services as effectively as possible.

Detailed feedback

A more complete analysis is provided in the report.

Responses addressed a number of areas including:

  • Traffic and footfall
  • User association & Search Engine Optimisation
  • Marketing needs and drivers
  • Publication of museum information
  • Specific requirements for Information Architecture
  • Specific Functional requirements
  • Editorial workflow & control
  • Interoperability
  • Ability to control and manage technical infrastructure
  • Internal change-management and buy-in

Using this Report

A number of correspondents have indicated that they would like to be able to use the MDA report as part of the ongoing discussion with their Local Authority. MDA is happy to be referenced in this way, and welcomes the wider distribution and application of the findings of this report.

MDA would like to thank the museums which responded to this survey for their input. Further researches in this area will be carried out and added to this online resource.