Three Year Plan for the
Watkins Community Museum of History

Adopted 4/27/2001

Mission

The Watkins Community Museum will be an outstanding
regional museum/archive in Douglas County

Objectives contributing to the Mission:

  1. Internal Quality
    • Professionalism
      1. Maintain professional standards in all matters of operation.
    • Physical Facilities
      1. Continue to monitor exterior building maintenance needs and shifting of
        the structure.
      2. Adopt a master plan for museum space, office space and storage space.
    • Safety and Security
      1. Continually monitor and update the Emergency/Disaster plan.
      2. Train staff members and volunteers in emergency response.
      3. Improve security at the boiler room back door.
    • Technology
      1. Expand usage of our scanning and Internet capabilities.
      2. Develop a web page specific to our museum.
      3. Link with other organizations and businesses for our mutual benefit.
    • Collections Management
      1. Maintain an environment protective of the collection.
      2. Address backlog of artifact care needs.
      3. Computerize the catalog records.
      4. Review and update collections acquisition policy.
  2. Out Reach
    • Education
      1. Improve and develop a variety and options in education programming for
        children and adults.
      2. Expand our educational audience.
      3. Develop a well organized Docent program
      4. Improve and install an interactive exhibit
    • Exhibits
      1. Display temporary exhibits on a scheduled basis
      2. Develop an appropriate exhibit for the sesquicentennial
      3. Develop a gallery plan.
    • Marketing
      1. Develop a web site.
      2. Publicize the Watkins Community Museum of History to a national audience
        through the web
      3. Increase exposure through an alliance with the Lawrence Convention and
        Visitors Bureau, State Tourism Office and Territorial Kansas Heritage Alliance.
      4. Expand visitation and use of the building by outside groups.
  3. Community Participation
    • Membership
      1. Expand membership base (individual and business)
      2. Develop additional "Members Only" benefits.
      3. Expand multi-cultural interests in the museum.
      4. Connect with historical neighborhood organizations and the Lawrence
        Preservation Alliance.
    • Volunteers
      1. Revitalize the "Friends of the Museum" organization.
      2. Expand the volunteer base.
      3. Develop job and project descriptions for volunteers.
      4. Develop a volunteer training manual.
      5. Recruit and train a volunteer coordinator.
  4. Financial
    • Funding
      1. Explore and pursue alternate sources of funding.
      2. Obtain services of a grant writer.
      3. Seek increased funding from governmental agencies.
      4. Expand and improve our Museum Store.
    • Management
      1. Full time Administrator/Fund Raiser
      2. Full time Historian/Educator
      3. Full time Collections Manager
      4. Full time Administrative Assistant
      5. Part time building assistant
      6. Discontinue contracted custodial services
      7. Contract data entry of computerized catalogue

Ten Year Plan for the
Watkins Community Museum of History

Adopted 4/27/2001
(Some of these plans will have been accomplished in the Three Year Plan)

Mission

The Watkins Community Museum will be an outstanding
regional museum/archive in Douglas County

Objectives contributing to the Mission:

  1. Internal Quality
    • Professionalism
      1. Attain accreditation by the American Association of Museums.
    • Physical Facilities
      1. Adopt a master plan for museum space, office space and storage space.
      2. Study the possibility of obtaining a building for large equipment storage and
        maintenance.
      3. Improve toilet facilities.
      4. Install a kitchen/lounge to facilitate use by outside groups and as a
        convenience to our staff.
    • Safety and Security
      1. Continually monitor and update the Emergency/Disaster plan.
    • Technology
      1. Continue to expand usage of our scanning and Internet capabilities.
      2. Collections Management
      3. Set aside an acquisition fund.
  2. Out Reach
    • Education
      1. Develop a well-organized Docent program
    • Exhibits
      1. Follow a gallery plan.
      2. Continually update existing permanent exhibits and increase interpretive
        labeling, both audio and visual.
      3. Improve, develop and install more interactive exhibits for children and
        adults
    • Marketing
      1. Continue to expand visitation and use of the building by outside groups.
      2. Expand signage to entry to town and possibly highways.
  3. Community Participation
    • Membership
      1. Continue to expand membership base (individual and business)
      2. Expand multi-cultural interests in the museum.
      3. Continue to connect with historical neighborhood organizations and the Lawrence Preservation Alliance.
    • Volunteers
      1. Expand the volunteer base.
  4. Financial
    1. Continue to explore and pursue alternate sources of funding.
    2. Obtain services of a grant writer.
    3. Develop a brochure for attorneys for estate planning.