Heritage values, communication of

[Living reference work entry] Heritage sites and places have both official and unofficial interpretation and vision information, through visitor centers, Internet sites, guides, audio tours, guidebooks, and so on. With the democratization of mass communication and the exponential rise of electronic experience and idea sharing, various new forms of social networking are employed to distribute information and experiences of places. Communicating heritage values entails processes of engaging and sharing with others, with place, and with debates about these vales should encourage an appreciation for tangible and intangible heritages. The process must be mindful of the complexity, fluidity, and hybridity of heritage and communities, located at the interface of economy, place, stakeholders, history, and cultural production.