from digital to social collections. a short story of collections online

From Digital Collections & Digital From Digital Collections & Digital CurationCuration

to Social Collections & Citizen Curatorsto Social Collections & Citizen Curators

Elena LagoudiElena LagoudiSeptember 2012September 2012

Digital collectionsDigital collections have a 50+ years history have a 50+ years history

1960s-1980s: digitization and 1960s-1980s: digitization and cataloguingcataloguing

1990s: first collections online1990s: first collections online

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsof digital collections 1960-2000of digital collections 1960-2000

►National standardization National standardization ►National catalogues National catalogues ►Communities of interestCommunities of interest►PersonalizationPersonalization►User participationUser participation►Virtual exhibitionsVirtual exhibitions►Early metrics Early metrics

Even in the beginning, digital Even in the beginning, digital culture was about the people:culture was about the people:

►From object oriented to people From object oriented to people orientedoriented

► Interest in communities of usersInterest in communities of users►Searchability and findability was a key Searchability and findability was a key

issueissue

Example 1Example 1

►Digital collections are people orientedDigital collections are people oriented

Even though the early Web was ‘read-only’, Even though the early Web was ‘read-only’, museum technologists experiment with: museum technologists experiment with:

►PersonalizationPersonalization SAGRESSAGRES system (Bertoletti and Costa, 1999) system (Bertoletti and Costa, 1999)

►Crowdsourcing + User ParticipationCrowdsourcing + User Participation InTouchInTouch exhibition, Science Museum, 1998 exhibition, Science Museum, 1998

►Communities of interestCommunities of interest Los Angeles Culture NetLos Angeles Culture Net (LACN), (LACN), one of the firstone of the first

crowdsourcing crowdsourcing projects, 1997 projects, 1997

User-centric User-centric even with web 1.0 technologyeven with web 1.0 technology

SAGRES system, Brazil, 1999

Example 2Example 2

►Digital collections are organized in Digital collections are organized in such way as to be searchable and such way as to be searchable and findable by peoplefindable by people

Documentation standards Documentation standards even with web 1.0 technologyeven with web 1.0 technology

CIDOC Board Members, 1995 ICOM’s CIDOC 1ICOM’s CIDOC 1stst newsletter, 1989 newsletter, 1989

Even though in the early Web 1.0 data did Even though in the early Web 1.0 data did not interact with each other much, museum not interact with each other much, museum technologists discuss: technologists discuss:

►National standardizationNational standardization CHIN (Canada) CHIN (Canada)

► International standardizationInternational standardization ICOM’s CIDOCICOM’s CIDOC

►National cataloguesNational catalogues National Inventory ProgramNational Inventory Program (Canada), (Canada), Inventaire Inventaire

General General (France)(France)

Example 3Example 3

►Digital collections are to be studied, Digital collections are to be studied, improved and developedimproved and developed

Metrics Metrics even with web 1.0 technologyeven with web 1.0 technology

Museum pages in WWW Virtual Library, 1995

12 sites in 1995630 sites in 1996

1200 sites in 1997

Professional bodies Professional bodies even with web 1.0 technologyeven with web 1.0 technology

1st museum technologists’ conference, 1995

Even in the early Web 1.0 museums understood the Even in the early Web 1.0 museums understood the importance of sharing expertise and nurturing communities of importance of sharing expertise and nurturing communities of interest: interest:

► 1967: MCN (Museum Computer Network) USA, 1967: MCN (Museum Computer Network) USA, MDA MDA (Museum Documentation Association) (Museum Documentation Association) UKUK

► 1987: Museums and the Web conference, 1987: Museums and the Web conference,

discussing innovative ideas: discussing innovative ideas:

1997 Museums and the Web presentation: 1997 Museums and the Web presentation: ‘ ‘The Anatomy of a Web Raising: The Anatomy of a Web Raising: Building CommunitiesBuilding Communities in in

the Digital Frontier by David Jensen,Getty Information the Digital Frontier by David Jensen,Getty Information Institute‘Institute‘

about about Los Angeles Culture Net (LACN), Los Angeles Culture Net (LACN), one of the firstone of the first crowdsourcing crowdsourcing projects referred to as projects referred to as 'web raising‘'web raising‘

2000-2012:2000-2012:The rise of The rise of web 2.0web 2.0 culture culture

The social web: it’s about The social web: it’s about connectionsconnections

►Sharing content: blogs, wikis, podcastsSharing content: blogs, wikis, podcasts►Self-publishing content: YouTube, FlickrSelf-publishing content: YouTube, Flickr►Adding to existing content: WikipediaAdding to existing content: Wikipedia►Discussions: forums, chatsDiscussions: forums, chats►Tailoring information: RSS feeds, email Tailoring information: RSS feeds, email alertsalerts

►Bringing people together: Facebook, Bringing people together: Facebook, MySpaceMySpace

What are the characteristics What are the characteristics of the web 2.0?of the web 2.0?

►Social networks make the web a Social networks make the web a social social interaction platforminteraction platform

►Sharing is easy: Sharing is easy: everyone is a everyone is a broadcasterbroadcaster

►Multi-mediaMulti-media win over simple text win over simple text►Participatory culture calls for Participatory culture calls for user user

involvementinvolvement from design to evaluation from design to evaluation

Digital collections develop Digital collections develop rapidlyrapidly

► Digitization standards improveDigitization standards improve► Documentation standards developDocumentation standards develop► International depositories growInternational depositories grow► Digital curation emergesDigital curation emerges► Interpretation for digital platforms gets more Interpretation for digital platforms gets more

sophisticatedsophisticated► E-learning platforms developE-learning platforms develop► Mobile content and m-learning become Mobile content and m-learning become

biggerbigger

► Traditional Traditional collectionscollections

AuthorityAuthority

Closed narrativesClosed narratives

ExclusiveExclusive

Object orientedObject oriented

ObscureObscure

Invitation-onlyInvitation-only

► Digital collectionsDigital collections

ExperiencesExperiences

StoriesStories

InclusiveInclusive

People orientedPeople oriented

FindableFindable

Open and accessibleOpen and accessible

Digital collections are more Digital collections are more visitedvisited

0 10000000 20000000 30000000 40000000 50000000

onsite visitors

online visitors

MOMATATEMetropolitan

47 million

18 million22 million

6m4.5m

2.2m

Museums become socialMuseums become social

Collections go mobileCollections go mobile

Digital collections need digital Digital collections need digital curatorscurators

►Digital curation: Digital curation: the active the active management and appraisal of digital management and appraisal of digital information over its entire life cycle. (information over its entire life cycle. (PennockPennock) )

Digital curators:Digital curators:

►manage the context of digital manage the context of digital collections, collections,

►define their semantic context, define their semantic context, ►facilitate data exchangefacilitate data exchange►fulfill the ‘5 rules for cultural fulfill the ‘5 rules for cultural heritage content’heritage content’

5 rules for cultural heritage 5 rules for cultural heritage content content

1.1. Discoverable-Discoverable- it is where I am and where I it is where I am and where I look for itlook for it

2.2. Meaningful-Meaningful- I can understand it I can understand it

3.3. Responsive-Responsive- to my needs, moods, location to my needs, moods, location

4.4. Useable, shareable-Useable, shareable- I can pass it on and I can pass it on and shareshare

5.5. Available at all 3 locations-Available at all 3 locations- onsite, online onsite, online and offsite and offsite

Seb Chan, 2009Seb Chan, 2009

5 steps for digital collections 5 steps for digital collections infrastructureinfrastructure

1.1. Great Great digitization-digitization- so that they are preserved so that they are preserved

2.2. Great Great documentation-documentation- so that they are so that they are interpretedinterpreted

3.3. Great Great content-content- so that they are engaging so that they are engaging

4.4. Great Great collections management-collections management- so that they so that they are structuredare structured

5.5. Great Great open, linked data-open, linked data- so that they are so that they are searchable and findablesearchable and findable

Digital collections of digital Digital collections of digital assetsassets

► What makes a What makes a digital file into a digital file into a digital asset? digital asset? Re-Re-usabilityusability

► The life-cycle of a The life-cycle of a digital asset: digital asset:

Interlinking

Distributing Creation/authoring

Preservation

Good documentation depends Good documentation depends on good standardson good standards

► Conceptual models for documentation:Conceptual models for documentation:CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRMCIDOC Conceptual Reference Model (CRM))EDM Conceptual ModelEDM Conceptual ModelFRBROOFRBROO

► Metadata schemasMetadata schemasCataloguing Cultural Objects (CCO)Cataloguing Cultural Objects (CCO)Categories for the Description of Works of Art (CDWA) Categories for the Description of Works of Art (CDWA) MARCMARCDublin CoreDublin CoreSPECTRUMSPECTRUMMIDASMIDASVRA CoreVRA CoreLightweight Information Describing Objects (LIDO) Lightweight Information Describing Objects (LIDO)

Why are standards Why are standards important?important?

►So that authenticity can be guaranteedSo that authenticity can be guaranteed►So that documentation can be So that documentation can be

homogenoushomogenous►So that data can be semantically linked to So that data can be semantically linked to

each othereach other►So that interoperability is achievedSo that interoperability is achieved►So that users can search for cultural data So that users can search for cultural data

across many collections, in many across many collections, in many countries, in many wayscountries, in many ways

From web 2.0 to web 3.0From web 2.0 to web 3.0

►The ‘web of data’ or the ‘semantic The ‘web of data’ or the ‘semantic web’ is a web where:web’ is a web where:

►Data relates to each otherData relates to each other►Searches produce meaningful Searches produce meaningful

connectionsconnections►New research is facilitatedNew research is facilitated

The semantic web is The semantic web is datadata and and peoplepeople oriented oriented

► ontologiesontologies ► taxonomiestaxonomies► standardization of standardization of

metadatametadata ► conceptual conceptual

reference modelsreference models► interoperabilityinteroperability► depositoriesdepositories► contextual authoritycontextual authority

► social discoversocial discoveriesies ► folksonomfolksonomiesies► semanticsemantic searches searches ► immersive immersive

experiencesexperiences► crowd-sourcingcrowd-sourcing► user generated user generated

content +community content +community generated contentgenerated content

Digital collections and Digital collections and the semantic web today:the semantic web today:

3 facts that underpin 3 facts that underpin everything we doeverything we do

FACT 1FACT 1

Digital collections today facilitate new, Digital collections today facilitate new, open and distributed open and distributed

contextualization structurescontextualization structures

FACT 2FACT 2

Socially-oriented Socially-oriented cultural heritage cultural heritage contentcontent create createss inter-connections inter-connections across groups and communities across groups and communities

FACT 3FACT 3

The social role of cultural heritage The social role of cultural heritage organizations andorganizations and

the culture of openness that Linked the culture of openness that Linked Open Data advocate presentOpen Data advocate present

opportunities for creating new and opportunities for creating new and collective knowledgecollective knowledge

Examples of new projects that Examples of new projects that have to do with have to do with peoplepeople

(‘social discovery’)(‘social discovery’)and and mapsmaps

(‘deep mapping’) (‘deep mapping’)

Crowd-sourcingCrowd-sourcing: :

the act of taking work once performed the act of taking work once performed within an organisation and outsourcing within an organisation and outsourcing it to the general public in an open call it to the general public in an open call

(Howe 2006) (Howe 2006)

Old Weather Project: Old Weather Project: crowdsourced documentationcrowdsourced documentation

The public hThe public helpelpss scientists recover weather scientists recover weather observations made by United States’ ships observations made by United States’ ships since the mid-19th century. since the mid-19th century.

These transcriptions will contribute to These transcriptions will contribute to climate model projections and will improve climate model projections and will improve knowledge of past environmental conditions. knowledge of past environmental conditions.

Historians will use Historians will use thisthis work to track past work to track past ship movements and tell the stories of the ship movements and tell the stories of the people on board. people on board.

http://http://www.oldweather.orgwww.oldweather.org//

►National Maritime Museum UK in National Maritime Museum UK in collaboration withcollaboration with Zooniverse Zooniverse

Old Weather Project: Old Weather Project:

logbooks and the people that kept themlogbooks and the people that kept them

Ancient Lives: crowdsourced Ancient Lives: crowdsourced archaeologyarchaeology

Ancient Lives is putting hundreds of Ancient Lives is putting hundreds of thousands of images of Greek papyri thousands of images of Greek papyri fragments onlinefragments online and asking the public to and asking the public to transcribe and catalogue them.transcribe and catalogue them.

ItsIts goal is to increase the momentum by goal is to increase the momentum by

which scholars have traditionally identified which scholars have traditionally identified known and unknown literary texts, and the known and unknown literary texts, and the private documents and letters that open up private documents and letters that open up a window into the ancient lives of Graeco-a window into the ancient lives of Graeco-Roman Egypt. Roman Egypt.

www.ancientlives.org www.ancientlives.org

►Zooniverse + Zooniverse + researchers, researchers, papyrologists andpapyrologists and Egypt Exploration Egypt Exploration SocietySociety

‘‘Deep Maps’Deep Maps’

digital cultural mappingdigital cultural mapping

geo-narrativesgeo-narratives

spatial narrativesspatial narratives

Deep mapsDeep maps: : A dynamic virtual environment that allows A dynamic virtual environment that allows

users to identify and experience the users to identify and experience the reciprocal influences ofreciprocal influences of space on human space on human

culture and human events for the purpose of culture and human events for the purpose of constructing constructing spatial narrativesspatial narratives and making and making

spatial arguments. spatial arguments.

A deep map contains geolocated information A deep map contains geolocated information from multiple sources that convey their from multiple sources that convey their

source, contingency and context of creation; source, contingency and context of creation; it is both integrated and queryable through it is both integrated and queryable through

indexes of time and space. indexes of time and space.

The Polis Centre Blog, 2012The Polis Centre Blog, 2012

Deep mappingDeep mapping

is an epistemology for studying spatial is an epistemology for studying spatial patterns, processes, or phenomena through patterns, processes, or phenomena through the integration of a wide-range of spatially the integration of a wide-range of spatially

and temporally enabled sourcesand temporally enabled sources..

From the Summer Institute ‘Spatial Narratives and Deep Maps: Explorations in Advanced Geo-spatial Technologies and the

Spatial Humanities’, June 2012

HyperCities: exploring urban HyperCities: exploring urban historyhistory

►HyperHyperCitiesCities is a collaborative research is a collaborative research and educational platform for traveling and educational platform for traveling back in time to explore the historical back in time to explore the historical layers of city spaces in an interactive, layers of city spaces in an interactive, hypermedia environment. hypermedia environment.

HyperCities: Rome base map

HyperCities: 1659 map of central Europe

ArchAtlas: mapping ArchAtlas: mapping archaeologyarchaeology

►ArchAtlas is a web-orientated ArchAtlas is a web-orientated archaeological mapping and research archaeological mapping and research project, founded by the late Prof. project, founded by the late Prof. Andrew Sherratt, which continues to Andrew Sherratt, which continues to be developed at the be developed at the DepartmentDepartment ofof ArchaeologyArchaeology, , UniversityUniversity ofof SheffieldSheffield, UK., UK.

ArchAtlasArchAtlas

ArchAtlasArchAtlas

CivilWarData150: deep mapping CivilWarData150: deep mapping historyhistory

►AA collaborative project to share and collaborative project to share and connect Civil War related data across connect Civil War related data across local, state and federal institutions local, state and federal institutions during the four year sesquicentennial of during the four year sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. the American Civil War.

►The project will utilize Linked Open Data The project will utilize Linked Open Data to find and create connections between to find and create connections between archives and help increase the discovery archives and help increase the discovery of these resources by researchers and of these resources by researchers and the general public alike. the general public alike.

ConflictHistory.com utilizes the Freebase ConflictHistory.com utilizes the Freebase API and Google Maps Flash to present a API and Google Maps Flash to present a

dynamic view of the history of war. dynamic view of the history of war.

CultureSampo: a national deep CultureSampo: a national deep mapmap

►CultureSampo is a CultureSampo is a Finnish Finnish national national communal publishing conduit for both communal publishing conduit for both institutional memory organizations as institutional memory organizations as well as private citizens. well as private citizens.

Finnish Culture on the Semantic Finnish Culture on the Semantic Web Web

Historypin: a community Historypin: a community curated map of the worldcurated map of the world

►Historypin is a way for millions of Historypin is a way for millions of people to come together, from across people to come together, from across different generations, cultures and different generations, cultures and places, to share small glimpses of the places, to share small glimpses of the past and to build up the huge story of past and to build up the huge story of human history. human history.

historypinhistorypin

historypinhistorypin

The Megalithic Portal: funded The Megalithic Portal: funded and run by volunteersand run by volunteers

►A community contributed portal with A community contributed portal with maps identifying megalithic maps identifying megalithic monuments in the UK, Europe and the monuments in the UK, Europe and the World.World.

The The Megalithic Megalithic Portal, UKPortal, UK

LookBack Maps: LookBack Maps: historic photographs on a maphistoric photographs on a map

►AA simple, yet robust way of visually simple, yet robust way of visually organizing, exploring and engaging in organizing, exploring and engaging in history and historical photographs history and historical photographs through web and mobile-based maps.through web and mobile-based maps.Through the online mapping of high-Through the online mapping of high-resolution public photo collections and resolution public photo collections and geotagging technology, Lookbackmaps geotagging technology, Lookbackmaps creates collaborative, standardized creates collaborative, standardized views into the past.views into the past.

LookBack MapsLookBack Maps

Historic Churches of Great BritainHistoric Churches of Great Britain

The future of digital The future of digital collectionscollections

► From cFrom closed websites to integrated open losed websites to integrated open web presenceweb presence

► AApproaching digital content differently to pproaching digital content differently to

the physical museum: new models,the physical museum: new models,newnew structures structures

► PPutting digital content where audiences are utting digital content where audiences are and ensuring findability and ensuring findability

► LListening to and building collaborative istening to and building collaborative communities with audiencescommunities with audiences