Overview
The Canadian Heritage Information
Network (CHIN), a Special Operating Agency of the Department
of Canadian Heritage, was created in 1972 to foster sound management of
the knowledge and collections developed by Canadian museums, and provide public
access to these through a national
inventory.
CHIN today supports an active network
of over 1200 not-for-profit member heritage institutions across Canada, serving
as a national centre of excellence that provides a visible face to Canada's
heritage through the world of networked information. CHIN's vision is to connect
Canadians and worldwide audiences to Canada's heritage by promoting the development,
presentation and preservation of Canada's digital heritage content for current
and future generations of Canadians.
To reach these goals, CHIN is focusing
on the following four priorities:
Skills Development
Promoting Heritage content Access and Use in Civic Life
Public Engagement and Participation
International Outreach
Priority 1
Enhance the skills of member museums by leveraging emerging technologies to
develop convenient, personalized, and interactive online services.
By providing heritage professionals
with the means to share their collections and know-how with each other, CHIN
helps Canadian museums establish themselves as world leaders in the effective
use of information and communication technologies.
CHIN members also enjoy access to
comprehensive products and services that address all aspects of the digital
content process. Membership is free for public, not-for-profit Canadian heritage
institutions. Through its professional Web site and related activities, CHIN
helps strengthen the knowledge and abilities of the Canadian heritage community
with respect to the creation, presentation, management, and preservation of
digital content. The CHIN site provides easy access to extensive resources that
draw from CHIN's own work and research as well as other centres of expertise
around the world. These online resources include:
In May 2006, CHIN launched the Knowledge Exchange, a new section of the CHIN Web site that fuels
creativity, communication and collaboration among heritage professionals by
providing self-paced e-learning products, peer-to-peer online communities of
practice, and engaging presentations by experts. This initiative enhances the
ability of heritage professionals to learn with CHIN, and from each other.
Priority 2
Further the use of heritage content in education by enabling virtual learning
environments, supported by a compelling repository of Canadian museums content.
For CHIN and its member institutions,
the Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC) is by far one of the network's
proudest accomplishments. Administered by CHIN, virtualmuseum.ca
brings a rich collection of engaging high-quality online content into Canada's
homes, schools, and workplaces.
Through the VMC's galleries, virtual
exhibits, interactive games, and other digital content, heritage institutions
can present their collections to a much wider audience than ever before, while
showcasing Canada's innovative use of digital technologies to the world.
In 2007, the VMC will enable
museums to further engage Canada's educators and learners in active learning
through a new pilot project entitled AGORA - The VMC
Learning Centre. Supported by reusable learning resources, the space offers
authoritative learning content (text, images, voice, video and multimedia) accompanied
by tangible outcomes, in a manner that facilitates access and use in various
research and learning scenarios.
Through investment programs, CHIN
supports the development of online museum content to be showcased at virtualmuseum.ca.
Under a competitive process, heritage
organizations submit proposals to the VMC Investment Program
to produce bilingual virtual exhibits, interactive games, and educational tools
that engage diverse audiences through quality research and appealing presentation.
Proposals are reviewed by an Editorial Board comprised of representatives from
the museum community, as well as other sectors such as the publishing, education,
library, and new media. A new investment program dedicated to content tailored
for the Museum Learning Space is also underway.
The Community Memories
Program helps small museums create online exhibits that capture local histories,
providing Canadians from coast to coast to coast with insight into the values
and experiences that have shaped the country's collective identity. Museums
with successful proposals are supplied with user-friendly software, and museums
with three or fewer full-time employees also receive a standard investment.
Priority 3
Increase public interest and participation by analyzing audiences to better
target needs, and implementing effective communication strategies.
CHIN is resolutely committed to staying
on the leading edge of digital heritage research and technology that enhances
public engagement and participation.
Accordingly, it closely monitors
technological and industry trends, and publishes original research nationally
and internationally. CHIN also works to improve heritage information management,
maximize benefits for knowledge creators and distributors, and increase the
ability of museums to capitalize on new business opportunities.
Priority 4
Enhance international collaboration that engages worldwide audiences in Canada's
rich heritage.
CHIN works nationally and internationally,
offering workshops, convening meetings on subjects of common interest to its
membership, as well as sponsoring and attending conferences and events that
provide opportunities for heritage professionals to increase their expertise.
Underlying all of CHIN's activities is a continued, collaborative research program
designed to advance our collective understanding of issues associated with new
technologies and digital content, particularly in the areas of intellectual
property and online audiences.
CHIN also represents the Canadian heritage community
internationally in projects related to access to heritage information, and has
been so recognized for its work in developing standards for museum documentation.
This work encompasses a broad range of information types and the technical protocols
necessary for the exchange of information in a widely distributed environment.