This book analyzes the relationship between museums and families--how they view one another, how museums can facilitate free-choice learning in families, and how both together can serve as powerful allies to enact social and community change. Leading museum researcher Lynn Dierking identifies the family as a learning institution and details the implications for programming and exhibits in history, art, science, children's museums and other cultural institutions. In describing museums with excellent family programs, she provides exemplars for other museums to improve family learning within their institution.