The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s (MMA) Robert Goldwater Library website is plush with information for the user.  The information placed on the RG Library blogging space regards the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas department (AAOA) at the MMA.  But, how would the user get there without use of a search engine?  Again, just like my NYPL Lab searching fiasco, I have a similar experience with gaining accessibility to RGL’s blogging area.    

Et Voila!  I finally reach the blog space where the RGL staff provide current and updated information regarding anything affiliated with the AAOA department at the MMA.  They provide articles, new publications from the AAOA Department’s exhibitions and MMA publications, and Web 2.0 immersion of social software.  I enjoy this blogging site because RGL tries to incorporate the user by providing the patron with informative research, and then sections of commentaries for social interaction.  They even state this on their “Are there any other blogs like this one out there?” in the “So what’s your blog about?” page.  

I like all the information, including the archive, the blogs, multiple categories for users access, journal content, new publications, and especially the images.  The RGL in the blog provides numerous images and thus, emphasizes the “role” of the image within it’s blog–and should, since it’s part of the MMA.  

But, I wonder if it’s too busy?  As a user and researcher I get lost in the heap of information.  It’s categorized well, but in some areas there is an abundance of text.  Therefore, the design is a bit stifling, but could be easily managed and rearranged.  For instance, this is seen in “blogroll” and “categories.”  The blogs are imperative, as well as the “categories” and “blogroll,” obviously.  It’s just a matter of placement.  

My other critique is that if somehow the RGL blogging information could have a headline on the AAOA’s department website on the MMA, there might be more users reading, commenting and utilizing the MMA’s and AAOA’s multiple resources.  (Well, that’s my utopian and idealistic Web 2.0 dream for all social networking capabilities.)  I think it would be a wonderful asset for the MMA, the AAOA Department, and the user.  Why not get everyone involved in the museum Web 2.0 project–isn’t that we all want, as users, educators, and students?