Using the OMA website to promote your own site is now easier than ever! Last month during Heritage Week, the Ontario Museum Association launched its brand-new Content Management System-driven website.  With many new enhanced features, the new site gives members direct control over their listing in the online Guide to Ontario Museums, job postings and event listings… as well as access to their membership information.  As part of the overall site change, OMA site visitors can now much more easily access your events and site listings from the home page. Visit www.museumsontario.com today and see how the new features can save you time and resources and help you promote your site!

New Features for Members

- Log In feature on the Home Page

- Member Dashboard enables Members to perform the following tasks based on type:

• Review and Update account information
• Update listings in the online Guide to Ontario Museums
• Upload an image for listings in the Guide
• Post and view jobs to the Job Board
• Add Events to the member events calendar

New Features for Site Visitors and Tourists

- Home Page calendar featuring OMA events with links to information as well as a direct link to Member events

- Become a Member call to action

- An online Guide to Ontario Museums with up to date information.

New Accessibility Features

- 3 text size options on all pages

- Enhanced “Site search” feature – analyses entire Website for entered keywords – produces results in seconds

- Member Log In and Log Out boxes on all pages – Members now always know if they are currently logged in and where they can log out.

- Member Log In directs members to their Member Dashboard, where they can perform familiar and new tasks.

- “Print This Page” feature on all sections and pages – feature opens a new window with the page displayed in a printer-friendly format

- Accessibility and Sharing features such as text resize and “Send this Page to a Friend” remains active on the printable page.

-  Non-Expiring password system

- On the former Website, lapsed member passwords would expire as soon as the Membership Renewal Date was passed.  On the new Website, the password system is linked directly to the Renewal Date, so as long as the current date is prior to the Renewal Date on record, members can recover their password through email or change their current password.  If a membership lapses, updating the Renewal Date will allow the member to use their password or have a new one generated through the Forgot my Password feature that is accessible via any Log In box.

- Immediate Access to Member Resources and online Benefits

- With a Website password system linked directly to the OMA’s Membership database, new Members will now have access to the Members’ Only area of the Website the same day they apply and/or are approved for Membership.

New Communication Features – “Reach the OMA after hours”

- Apply online for Membership - 24hrs/day, 7 days a week

- Send emails to OMA staff by specific need

- Register online for Certificate in Museum Studies courses and other Professional Development events

New Sharing and Social Networking Features

- “Send this Page to a Friend” feature - enables any visitor to email a page link to a friend or colleague with a pre-written message and hyperlink

- Share content via Facebook and Twitter

The OMA’s new Content Management System-driven Website is made possible with the assistance of the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program (CAHSP), and was created by Virtuo.ca CMS Technologies.