Restocking the Exhibits Exchange

How do you build "critical mass" for an online project?

A year or so ago, I started a FREE Google Group called the "Exhibits Exchange"

The "Exhibits Exchange" group is a place to post information regarding the many well-used (but still usable) "retired" exhibits and/or components for sale, trade, barter, or exchange.   It seems like a no-brainer to me, given the requests for this sort of thing that continually pop up on the ASTC and CHILDMUS lists.  There are two great items (a double gravity well, and an entire exhibition!) currently on the Exchange.

So what's the problem?  Well, honestly,  numbers.  Even though we've had some good early success, and found homes for some exhibits, the whole concept of an Exhibits Exchange will work much better with a bigger group of members ---  more members broaden the potential pool of both exhibit offerers and exhibit takers.

I'm asking ExhibiTricks readers help in two ways:

1)  If you're not already a member of the Exhibits Exchange group,  please join up (and tell a colleague or two about the group as well!)  It honestly takes just a minute (did I mention it's FREE?)

2)  If you have any bright ideas for building up the critical mass of Exhibits Exchange, leave a comment below or just email me directly.

Thanks!



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Stretch Your Exhibit Dollars with the Exhibits Exchange Group

Here's a chance to stretch your exhibit dollars:

Join the free "Exhibits Exchange" Google Group.

The Exhibits Exchange Group is a place to find, post, sell, barter, or exchange "Used but Usable" exhibit elements.  Check out a new batch of postings placed by Kathy Krafft from the Sciencenter in Ithaca, NY.

Please let friends and colleagues know about the group --- the more group members, and the more postings of "used but usable" exhibits, the better the entire experience will be for everyone!

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the group.



Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Free Updates" link on the right side of the blog. P.S. If you receive ExhibiTricks via email (or Facebook or LinkedIn) you will need to click HERE to go to the main ExhibiTricks page to make comments or view multimedia features (like videos!)

Help Build "Critical Mass" for the Exhibits Exchange Group

I need your help (and bright ideas!) 

A few months ago, I started a free Google group called the "Exhibits Exchange"

The "Exhibits Exchange" group is a place to post information regarding the many well-used (but still usable) "retired" exhibits and/or components for sale, trade, barter, or exchange.   It seems like a no-brainer to me, given the requests for this sort of thing that continually pop up on the ASTC and CHILDMUS lists.


So what's the problem?  Well, honestly,  numbers.  Even though we've had some good early success, and found homes for some exhibits, the whole concept of an Exhibits Exchange will work much better with a bigger group of members --- "critical mass" if you like.   More members broaden the potential pool of both offerers and takers.




I'm asking ExhibiTricks readers help in two ways:

1)  If you're not already a member of the Exhibits Exchange group,  please join up (and tell a colleague or two about the group as well!)


2)  If you have any bright ideas for building up the membership of Exhibits Exchange, leave a comment below or just email me directly.


Thanks!
 

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Free Updates" link on the right side of the blog. P.S. If you receive ExhibiTricks via email (or Facebook or LinkedIn) you will need to click HERE to go to the main ExhibiTricks page to make comments or view multimedia features (like videos!)

Get A Poetry Machine for National Poetry Month!

What better way to celebrate National Poetry Month than getting a Poetry Machine for your museum (or for your own living room!)

As you can see in the YouTube video above, the Poetry Machine is an interactive mechanical marvel put together by Clifford Wagner.  By turning the crank on the side of the machine, a set of gears and chains turns a set of "word boards" through the complete repeating wordplay of a poem by Emmett Williams.

You can find out more about purchasing the Poetry Machine by checking out the new Exhibits Exchange group.  What's the Exhibits Exchange group, you ask?  Simply put, it's a free place to post used (but still usable) exhibit components or exhibitions for sale, trade, or barter (at a substantial discount!)

So why not join our burgeoning Exhibits Exchange group and find out what other bargains you might discover while learning more about the Poetry Machine?

And, in closing, in honor of National Poetry Month, here is one of my favorite poems by Richard Brautigan:


The Memoirs of Jesse James

I remember all those thousands of hours
that I spent in grade school watching the clock,
waiting for recess or lunch or to go home.
Waiting: for anything but school.
My teachers could easily have ridden with Jesse James
for all the time they stole from me.


Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Free Updates" link on the right side of the blog.

P.S. If you receive ExhibiTricks via email (or Facebook or LinkedIn) you will need to click HERE to go to the main ExhibiTricks page to make comments or view multimedia features (like videos!)

Exhibits Exchange Now LIVE!

Think green!  Help find a "second home" for the many well-used (but still usable) "retired" exhibits, instead of letting them gather dust in storage or being tossed out!

Following up on the positive response I received on a recent blog posting about giving "retired" exhibits a new home,  I've just started a new Google Group called the "Exhibits Exchange"

 

The "Exhibits Exchange" group is a place to post information regarding used exhibits and/or components for sale, trade, barter, or exchange. 

     

It is free to join and free to post exhibit offerings on the "Exhibit Exchange" so please let friends and colleagues know about the group --- the more group members, and the more postings of  "used but usable" exhibits, the better the entire experience will be for everyone. 

Feel free to contact me directly if you have questions, comments, or concerns. 

Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Free Updates" link on the right side of the blog.

P.S. If you receive ExhibiTricks via email (or Facebook or LinkedIn) you will need to click HERE to go to the main ExhibiTricks page to make comments or view multimedia features (like videos!)

Exhibits Exchange: Give Old Exhibits A New Home!