VAM Book Club - January

Join us for our first VAM book club! Registration is free to current VAM members. If you would like to become a member, visit the membership page.

For the inaugural VAM book club, we'll read Chapter 1 in Nina Simon's The Participatory Museum. It has been fifteen years since this book had a profound impact on visitor participation in museums. A more recent article by Thomas Cauvin builds on Simon's seminal work and discusses how museums can use participation to enrich narratives without compromising expertise or methodology.

Join other VAM members in a conversation about these two readings and their relevance to the museum community in Virginia. At the end of the meeting, attendees have the opportunity to choose the reading for the next book club meeting on April 10. We are looking for suggestions on the April book!

What’s the Benefit of Joining a Book Club?

• Meet People!: Connect with fellow book lovers and expand your professional network.
• Learn New Things: Discover fresh perspectives, exploring the latest best practices and insights through engaging discussions.

How to Participate

We want your voices to be heard! Are you excited to participate in our community book club? Here’s how you can get involved:

1. If Interested, Join the First Meeting!
2. Submit Your Book Suggestions During the Meeting: Share your ideas for exciting reads! Once we gather all suggestions, we’ll send out a poll for everyone to vote on their favorite pick.
3. Vote: Help choose our next book during the next meeting.

Your input is essential in making our book club a vibrant and engaging community space. Let’s discover some fantastic reads together at the first meeting!

Mark Your Calendar

Mark your calendar for additional book clubs throughout the year! Join us quarterly from 3:00 – 4:00 PM on the second Thursday of January, April, July, and October for stimulating discussions on museums and professional development.

We Can't Wait to See You!

Get ready for engaging conversations, new perspectives, and a chance to connect with fellow museum enthusiasts. Let’s grow and learn together!

Questions? Contact us at membership@vamuseums.org