The museum effect : how museums, libraries, and cultural institutions educate and civilize society / Jeffrey K. Smith.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Who we were, who we are, who we might become -- The nature of visits to cultural institutions -- Time, flow, and the unit of analysis -- Defining the museum effect -- Expanding the museum effect to other cultural institutions and events -- How to enhance the museum effect -- Investigating the museum effect and other research in cultural institutions -- A final word.

Museums, libraries, and cultural institutions provide opportunities for people to understand and celebrate who they are, were, and might be. These institutions educate the public and civilize society in a variety of ways, ranging from community events to a single child making a first visit. This book documents this phenomenon, explains how it happens, and shows how institutions can facilitate this process. Cultural institutions vary dramatically in size, nature and purpose, but they all allow visitors to hold conversations with artists and authors perhaps long dead. These conversations, sometimes with others present, and sometimes with artists, scientists, explorers, or authors not present, allow visitors to explore their lives and their possible selves. Cultural institutions inspire personal reflection, and help visitors better themselves, in that they leave having contemplated what is noble, excellent, or exemplary about the society in which they live. The museum effect is a process through which cultural institutions educate and civilize us as individuals and as societies. These institutions allow visitors to spend some time with their thoughts elevated, and leave the institution better people in some meaningful fashion than when they entered. This book presents the underlying idea and the argument for the museum effect, along with empirical research supporting that argument. It will help those working in museums, libraries, and archivists to facilitate this process, and study how this is working in their own institutions.