Abstract: A system for capturing, developing and profiling an individual's interests in various sites, exhibits or items on display at an institution or facility and providing site- and/or theme-specific information based on these interests. The system preferably includes a collection of information associated with the sites, exhibits or items on display at an institution or facility, which is organized and is capable of being indexed by each particular site, exhibit or item location or item on display. The preferred system further includes a plurality of portable information storage devices, such as, for example, smart cards having non-volatile memory cable of being organized into a specialized data structure, uniquely assigned to visitors to such institutions or facilities.