how to cope when you open your digital doors
TRANSCRIPT
Paul Rowe, @armchair_caverCEO, Vernon Systems
How to cope when you open your digital doors
16 collections7 art collections, 6 social history collections and 3 natural science collections
“The presentation of our collection online has had a profound impact on the museum and the way it interacts with its audience.”
“ballooning number of queries, … surge of people offering us new information”
“The difficulty in obtaining copyright, quickly and efficiently, to keep up with acquisitions and publishing online”
Your data will never be perfect
Increased number of lengthy enquiries
Harder questions, but deeper engagement
50% have had no additional staff since putting the collection online
How can you cope?
“If you don’t know how your stuff is being used, or who is using it, or when it is used, you will remain in a black hole.” George Oates, 12 Mar 2015
Make the most of your volunteers
Implement data standards
Decide what fields to captureStandardise your terminologySet conventionsSet minimum requirements
Review data entry
Powerhouse Museum Object Name Thesaurus
Standardised terminology can help interlink online records
Create broad categories to aid the online visitor
http://collectiontrust.org.uk
http://www.getty.edu/research/publications/electronic_publications/cdwa/
Copyright: low hanging fruit
Use the least restrictive licence you can
“started publishing images of New Zealand artworks that are copyright ‘orphans’ ”
Use your online collection to help trace copyright owners
Have a ‘take down’ policy
Assign roles for social media75% of respondents had roles to cover this
Share your records with larger aggregation sites like National Library’s Trove website
Provide commenting or feedback optionsThis is a great opportunity to find out more about your collection items
You must assign someone the job of responding to these comments.
Verify information and incorporate it into your core records if possible
Natural sciencesNo change in interest / demand for type specimens
Natural sciencesMinimal increase in workload after putting collection online
Queensland Museum>700,000 recs on Atlas of Living Australia
Unanimous overall positive feedback
“It has revitalised our small local history Museum and significantly extended our reach.”
“I have loved the new digitised museum records. To see my Grandad’s gorgeous big ears popping out of a photo online … is truly heart-warming.”
Paul RoweVernon Systems@armchair_caverwww.vernonsystems.com
Museums Australia conferenceSydney, May 2015
Thank you