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Reimagining Children's Museums Leadership Pre-Conference Proceedings Report
This report documents the very beginnings of Reimagining Children’s Museums, a three-year leadership project that explores what it means to experience a children’s museum in the 21st century. Read what children’s museum directors and nationally-known thought leaders from the worlds of technology, philanthropy, management education and design fields have to say about community vibrancy indicators, the changing faces of museum visitors, the Maker Movement, interactive and gaming media, trends in education philanthropy and meeting the expectations of digital natives.
Members/Nonmembers: Free PDF version
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ASTC-ACM 2011 Workforce Survey Report
This report provides up-to-date numbers on a range of workforce metrics including compensation, educational requirements, benefits, demographics and diversity. Easy-to-read tables present an overview of 24 staff positions, in-depth analysis of 14 core positions and three categories of floor staff (permanent full-time, permanent part-time and seasonal paid). A separate chapter is devoted to CEOs and Executive Directors and includes data from 25 top executives at institutions outside of the United States. 280 pages, plus introduction and appendix.
Members: $75
Nonmembers: $150
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Collective Vision: Starting and Sustaining a Children's Museum
A comprehensive guide for new and existing institutions, this resource guide is a 337-page compilation that addresses children's museum philosophy, audience and mission, governance, educational theory, exhibits, programs, planning, fundraising, marketing and much more.
Members: $65
Nonmembers: $95
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Capturing the Vision
Capturing the Vision is the visual companion volume to Collective Vision, illustrating in its pages and CD-ROM the children's museum field as it exists today. It offers best practice models for consideration in the planning of new institutions or renovating existing museums.
Members: $55
Nonmembers: $85
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Healthy Kids, Healthy Museums
Healthy Kids, Healthy Museums is a 100-page publication profiling 30 best practices at children’s museums that offer family-friendly strategies to combat the childhood obesity epidemic. The publication is a resource to give children’s museum professionals ideas and tips for implementing successful models to support healthy families. The articles included in the publication show the range of innovative health-related programs, exhibits, initiatives and other practices at children’s museums across the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom.
Members: Free PDF version or $10 for print copy.
Nonmembers $10 for PDF or $25 for print copy.
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Increasing U.S. Children and Families’ Understanding of Asian Cultures:
A Final Report
In 2004, seven traveling exhibitions, each depicting an Asian culture (Chinese, Hmong, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese), began a four-year tour of the United States that was funded by The Freeman Foundation and administered by the Association of Children's Museums. The Final Report, written by Selinda Research Associates, Inc., describes how children learned about unfamiliar Asian cultures through a variety of developmentally appropriate interactive engagements, and provides recommendations regarding the development of future cultural exhibitions. A PDF version of the 200-page publication is available for individuals and organizations.
Members: Free PDF version or $35 for print copy
Nonmembers: $100 for PDF or print copy
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2008 Children's Museums Metrics Reports
Based primarily on data reported Fall 2007 by 232 ACM member museums, the complete 102-page report includes charts and graphs and a comprehensive table of data. Tony Casilio, founder of AWP Research, provided metric analysis for this publication. The 2008 Children's Museums Metrics Reports are packaged as six individual PDF volumes.
- Museum Profiles
- Building & Facilities
- Finances & Government Relations
- Attendance & Memberships
- Exhibits, Programs & Publications
- Staff
Members: Free PDF version
Nonmembers: $150 per volume PDF
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Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper
A product of a dynamic planning project funded by the Civil Society Institute, Kids Dig Dirt! Green Paper explores the ways that children's museums can connect children to nature through outdoor play. The Green Paper provides the vision as well as guiding principles and resources for developing outdoor environments in children's museums.
Members: $20 print version. Free PDF version
Nonmembers: $35 print version. Free PDF version
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The Case for Children's Museums
The Case for Children's Museums is a marketing resource tool that includes a collection of facts, testimonials and descriptive language, which museums can draw from to create their own case statement, proposal, volunteer training manual, board orientation document or other organization materials. A detailed source list is included.
Members: $10 print version. Free PDF version
Nonmembers: $45
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The 21st Century Learner Symposium Report
The 21st Century Learner Symposium Report is a collection of discussions and keynote addresses from respected scholars including Dr Alison Gopnik, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and Drs. Roberta Golinkoff and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek. The Report is an excellent resource for museums, libraries and public broadcasting stations on how they can work together to support lifelong learning in their communities.
Members/Nonmembers: $10 print version / Free PDF version
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Standards of Excellence in Early Learning: A Model for the New Chicago Children's Museum
Conducted over a two-year period with Gyroscope, Inc. and Erikson Institute, Standards of Excellence in Early Learning defines the fundamental relationship between play and learning and translates the science of child development into clear benchmarks for Chicago Children's Museum's exhibits, programs, physical environment, staff and role in the community. Print copies no longer available.
Members/Nonmembers: Free PDF version
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Hand to Hand Annual Subscription
Hand to Hand is ACM's quarterly journal which highlights national issues and trends in the children's museum field. Articles include interviews with trend setters, museum leaders, program overviews and museum profiles. One free annual subscription is included per membership. Current issue is posted as a free trial.
Member/Nonmember U.S. Subscribers: $30
Member/Nonmember International Subscribers: $50
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Hand to Hand Single Issues
Timeless insight and useful museum planning information can be found in Hand to Hand. View the Hand to Hand Index for a list of back issues. Volumes 1-5 - Contact ACM for availability and pricing.
Members: $5 per issue in Volumes 6-Present
Nonmembers: $10 per issue in Volumes 6-Present
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ACM E-Forum
ACM's monthly online newsletter contains links to members in news outlets and blogs; grant opportunities; museum jobs, exhibit rentals and sales; and ACM networking and advocacy announcements. Current issue is posted under Highlights on the ACM homepage.
Members: Free e-delivery for all members and individuals employed at member institutions.
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Standards for Professional Practice in Children’s Museums
Standards for Professional Practice in Children’s Museums was developed by ACM in 1992 with a grant from Institute of Museum and Library Services. This document outlines the standards for professional practices in children's museums and is helpful for newly founded or start-up museums and those museums seeking accreditation from the American Association of Museums.
Members and Nonmembers: Free PDF version
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Integrating Teens Into Your Museum Family
Created by Please Touch Museum® upon receiving the MetLife Foundation and ACM Promising Practice Replication Award, this toolkit is a 111-page book and DVD that addresses partnerships, recruiting, staffing, funding and programming to help children's museums create youth programs that fit their communities.
Members & Nonmembers: Free Print Version while supplies last; Shipping Cost: $5
Members & Nonmember: Free online/toolkit version.
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