The Mead Art Museum helps serve the community of Amherst College by making its 16,000 object collection available to both the academic community and the general public. The Mead collection is quite strong in American and European paintings, along with ancient Assyrian carvings and Russian modern art. On the site's homepage, visitors can view sections that include Collection, Exhibitions, Events, and Publications and Podcasts. First-time visitors should start with the Collection Highlights area, which provides a nice mix of items culled from the museum's impressive holdings. The podcasts on the site are quite a find as well, as they include meditations on the work of John Singer Sargent, John Singleton Copley, and the aforementioned Assyrian works. Moving along, visitors can also read the museum's annual report and read over its engaging blog, titled "SpeedMead." The site is rounded out by a search engine and a place where visitors can offer their feedback.