What is the definition of a small museum?
Survey Results
Earlier this year, the AASLH Small Museums Committee distributed an electronic survey to the membership and
received 455 responses out of 6,500 sent. It was designed to create a working definition for the Committee so we
can better respond to the needs of small museums.
The results reinforced the committee’s belief that budget size is the primary determinant of small museums, but
there are also numerous variables that contribute to this classification. For example, 41% of respondents indicated
that budget size is the primary way to define a small museum; however, the list of free responses to question five
was sizeable and nearly everyone responded to question four’s request to indicate “other factors.” Of special note
are the responses to budget size (questions one and two). When looking at the aggregate data, 50% of respondents
indicated that the defining budget size is $100,000 or less. A second look at the aggregate data indicates that 80% of
respondents believe that the defining budget size is $250,000 or less. The entire data set is presented here and
notable “data spikes” are in bold and are outlined.
Comments? Email your thoughts to [email protected]. Thanks for your participation.
1. How would you define a small museum? a. By its budget size (go to question two) b. By the number of staff members (go to question three) c. By the square feet of exhibit, storage, and office space (skip to question four) d. None of the above: 2. If you answered “a” to question one, what is the defining budget size? $25,000 or less $25,001‐$50,000 $50,001‐$75,000 $75,001‐100,000 $100,001‐$150,000 $150,001‐$200,000 $200,001‐$250,000 $250,001‐$350,000 $350,001‐$500,000 3. If you answered “b” to question one, what number of staff defines a small museum?
0‐3 4‐6 7‐10 11 or more 4. What other factors define a small museum (choose all that apply)? Number of “hats” the director and other staff members wear Volunteers performing key staff functions AASLH Annual Meeting – Atlanta 2007
Small Museums Luncheon
Respondents 183 96 98 72 Respondents 26 25 25 47 29 21 22 16 34 Respondents 112 58 15 8 Respondents 352 294 Percentage 41% 21% 22% 16% Percentage 11% 10% 10% 19% 12% 9% 9% 7% 14% Percentage 58% 30% 8% 4% Percentage 25% 21% 1
Sources of funding Number of annual visitors Size of volunteer corps Relationship to other museums in your community None of the above (go to question 4) 245 236 172 76 17 18% 17% 12% 5% 1% 5. How else would you define a small museum (the results were open‐ended and are not included here)? Respondents 6 41 40 11 123 91 3 134 109 36 92 71 88 312 128 Respondents 115 95 66 66 107 Respondents 39 7 65 271 70 Respondents 4 52 3 31 77 Percentage 1% 9% 9% 2% 27% 20% 1% 30% Percentage 13% 4% 11% 8% 11% 37% 15% Percentage 26% 21% 15% 15% 24% Percentage 9% 2% 14% 60% 15% Percentage 1% 12% 1% 7% 17% 6. What is the nature of your organization (choose the closest approximation)? Art museum Historic house Historic site Historical society (no museum) Historical society (with museum) History museum Natural history museum Other 7. How is your organization funded (check all that apply)? City Commercial County Federal Other. Private nonprofit State 8. How long have you worked in the museum field? 0‐5 years 6‐10 years 11‐15 years 16‐20 years 20+ years 9. Are you a paid or non‐paid (volunteer) employee of the museum where you work? I do not work at a museum Non‐Paid, full‐time Non‐Paid, part‐time Paid, full‐time Paid, part‐time 10. What is your job title (choose the closest approximation)? Accountant Administrator Building/Grounds Manager Coordinator Curator AASLH Annual Meeting – Atlanta 2007
Small Museums Luncheon
2
Development Officer Director Educator Marketing Coordinator Receptionist Registrar Tour Guide Volunteer 11. Do you consider the museum where you work a small museum? Yes No N/A 8 186 33 1 3 26 1 24 Respondents 283 111 55 2% 41% 7% 0% 1% 6% 0% 5% Percentage 63% 25% 12% AASLH Annual Meeting – Atlanta 2007
Small Museums Luncheon
3