Managing Collections and Media in the EMu

Catalogue

Philip EdgarMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Wellington Picture

The issues:how do we Manage collection items as

collection items regardless of format

appropriately manage media assets in a way that distinguishes them from collection records

highlight the relationships that may exist between a media asset and a collection item

objects that have been collected by the Museum because of their historical, aesthetic, scientific or other significance and have been through a formal acquisition process

(Analogue or digital)

Collection Items

records (predominantly images) created or used by the museum to support collection documentation; access and preservation; and other museum activities

(Analogue or digital)

Media Assets

Digital Objects in Multimedia module• Would have separated analogue

collection items from digital collection items

Media Assets (analogue or digital) in Multimedia Module• Inadequate Cataloguing

capabilities• Lack of support modules

Collection Items and Media Assets in the catalogue

Options

Multimedia

•Media Asset

•Digital scan

•Digital

•Collection Item

•Painting

Collection

•Media Asset

•Colour Transparency

•Analogue

Media Assets

Catalogue

Multimedia

•Collection Item

•TIFF File

•Digital

Collection

Media Assets

Catalogue

Multimedia

•Media Asset

•Digital scan

•DigitalCollection

•Media Asset

•Colour Transparency

•Analogue

Media Assets

Catalogue

Positives analogue and digital collection

items managed together   analogue and digital media assets

managed together appropriate management modules

available ability to relate media assets to

collection items

Negatives separation based on a single field in

the catalogue Complex security and access Duplicate info in multimedia module

record Confusing relationship of media

asset records to other modules

Conclusions – Our Ideal Record Level Security! Collapse multimedia functionality into the

catalogue Create a Media Asset module also with

collapsed multimedia

•Media Asset

•Digital scan

•Digital

•Collection Item

•Painting

Catalogue

•Media Asset

•Colour Transparency

•Analogue

Media Asset Module

Multimedia

(functionality)

Multimedia

(functionality)