The Met's digital endeavors.

Byline: Byron Butler

New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is anticipating some expansions over the upcoming months, but according to museum director Thomas Campbell, they won't come in the form of a new wing. Instead, Campbell is looking to advance the museum with virtual and digital updates.

Campbell began his position three years ago, filling in for his predecessor Philippe de Montebello, who served as director for 31 years. Montebello relied largely on attracting visitors via the Met's sheer grandeur, while, in contrast, Campbell is focused on welcoming and educating a new generation of visitors.

The Met will soon install WiFi throughout the museum's 21 buildings, most of which were built with thick walls, making the effort quite a feat. It will also relaunch its website this summer.

One of the largest endeavors the museum is preparing for is the roll-out of a self-guided tour that will be delivered directly to a visitor's mobile device. It will be tailored to fit the needs of the visitor, whether he or she is young, old, an art aficionado or a first-time visitor.

"The Met is an absolutely astounding museum, but it is a better museum for people who already know something about art and have a familiarity with the place, which can be intimidating," said Ford Bell, president of the American Association of Museums in Washington, to The New York Times.

"They face a big challenge trying to address that because of their sheer size and complexity. Smaller museums can try these things out much more quickly," he added.

Another effort that The Met has signed on with is a the Google Art Project, which brings art museums and collections to the internet. The website offers more than 1,000 pieces by almost 500 artists and lets visitors take virtual tours of galleries. Seventeen museums have signed on with the project, four of which are located within the U.S., the Los Angeles Times reported.