How to cope when you open your digital doors

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