MUSEUM MIGRATIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION-SEEKING DESIRES TOWARD ACTIVE PURSUITS OF KNOWLEDGE.

by Campbell, Catherine

Museums cannot merely present information to their patrons. In order for visitors to gain knowledge effectively, institutions must enable them to become actively involved in the learning process. In order to assist their visitors in seeking such knowledge, a museum must first recognize the types of information that appeal to them.

This study explores the types of interests created by an exhibition, by questioning individuals visiting Sebastião Salgado’s exhibition, “Migration: Humanity in Transition,” at the Ackland Art Museum. Based on this data, the study proposes techniques, which may be further implemented to aid visitors in pursuing such interests. The study will also assist in bringing museums and libraries together, not only by providing visitors with a bibliography of related materials, but also by examining potential collaborative efforts.