There are some influences that run so deep, we may forget where they came from and how they got started. Like the use of everyday materials in exhibits, and the deep belief in the value of tinkering and messing about.

Boston Stories, a website that’s being lovingly created by Mike Spock and colleagues, promises to help us remember one very important influence on the museum scene – the Boston Children’s Museum and all those who were part of what George Hein calls “an optimistic time.” Check it out.

At right, in an image from the website’s archives, a child explores an exhibit and practices blowing bubbles.

Paul Orselli has started a Google Group Exhibits Exchange for those looking for new homes for “retired” exhibits. Check it out at http://groups.google.com/group/exhibits-exchange

As Paul says, “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!”

And when you post a listing there, consider posting a case study or a ‘Bit over here on ExhibitFiles  (and linking to it), to share your experiences here, too.

ExhibitFiles contributors are among the 450 people who’ve gathered in Washington, D.C., this week for the biennial ISE Summit, organized by the Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) with support from the National Science Foundation.

NSF’s ISE program has funded a number of projects – CAISE, InformalScience.org, and ExhibitFiles among them – that together are building what some have called an “improvement infrastructure” for the informal science education field. The 240+ case studies and reviews, and the growing number of Bits, contributed by ExhibitFiles members are an important part of the collective memory that’s supporting good work i our field.