DCDC16 Bruynzeel presentation: Opening Up Archives

Opening Up Archives

Maximising access to university collections

University collections

Higher Education Museums, Galleries and Collections

• 400 HEMGCs in the UK

Higher Education Museums, Galleries and Collections

• 400 HEMGCs in the UK

• Of these 100 are public museums

Higher Education Museums, Galleries and Collections

• 400 HEMGCs in the UK

• Of these 100 are public museums

• In England and Wales HEMGCs make up

4% of all museums…

Higher Education Museums, Galleries and Collections

• 400 HEMGCs in the UK

• Of these 100 are public museums

• In England and Wales HEMGCs make up

4% of all museums…

• … But account for 30% of designated

collections of national and international

importance

*Figures from University Museums Group and Nick Merriman ‘The Current State of Higher Education Museums, Galleries and Collections in the UK’, 2001

What do you store?

Important

Alloy axe heads, Pitt Rivers Museum

What do you store?

Important … not so important

Alloy axe heads, Pitt Rivers Museum ‘Gifted’ from university staff, alumni etc

eg multiple GP bags from alumni

Opening Up Collections

0.01% of British Museum’s collection is on display at any one time

Opening Up Collections Digitization

0.01% of British Museum’s collection is on display at any one time

Opening Up Collections Digitization

Physical Access

0.01% of British Museum’s collection is on display at any one time

Opening Up Collections Digitization

Physical Access

0.01% of British Museum’s collection is on display at any one time

• Safe Storage for Conservation and Preservation

• Retrieval – On Site, Faster, Open Access

• Geographic Location

• Increased importance of Special Collections vs. digital subscriptions

Physical Access

Case Studies 1. Community Gateway

2. Nationally Significant Collection

3. Collections Study Centre

1. Community

Gateway

Heritage Quay

Gesture Technology Electronic mobile shelving

Outcomes

• Formed a vital bridge between campus and community

• Transformed archive into a regionally significant heritage destination

• 12,500 visitors in two years

• Consolidated 9 leaking, mould-infested repositories into one site

• Fit for purpose - received Archive Service accreditation

• Won a slew of awards including 2016 Guardian University Award for inspirational building, Times Higher Education Outstanding Library team award 2016

Sarah Wickham

“A lot of the money and effort was spent on

constructing the facility, which has enabled

us to do all the other good stuff.

We are more relevant to more people - on

and off campus - than ever before.”

Archives and Collections Manager

2. Nationally

Significant

Collection

Lapworth Museum of Geology

Improved Gallery Space Open Storage Repository

Outcomes

Outcomes

• New gallery spaces

• Dedicated education

room

• New archive

respository on site,

providing home for

250,000 specimens

• Visible storage solution

to allow public access

to collections

3. Collections

Study Centre

The Hunterian at Kelvin Hall

Iconic City Location Storage for 1m objects

Outcomes

• City centre location raises profile of University of Glasgow as a research hub

• Increased object-based research, teaching and learning

• Brings study spaces in close proximity to collection

• Shared space for collaboration between collections and teaching staff

• Purpose built repository optimises conservation, maximises storage, improves access and speeds up retrieval times

Last Word

“If I was to give one piece of advice, it would

be look at how you add value. We’re seeing

benefits across all the faculties: marketing

and events management students and

engineers are benefiting from the archive. In

a sentence, be really thoughtful and vocal

about where you can add value – it may not

be in the most obvious place.”

Sarah Wickham, Archives and Collections Manager

Contact

Andy Duck

Bruynzeel Storage Systems

andy.duck@bruynzeel.co.uk