Transcript Reviewing Machine-Readable Systems in Museums

Reviewing Machine-Readable
Systems in Museums
KE EMu Users, 2 June 2008
Julian Tomlin
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Contents
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The Project
Technologies
Case Studies
Benefits and Drawbacks
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Workshop - 30 June
Links
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The Project
• London Museums Hub
– Part of wider research into access to collections
• Brief
– Machine-readable technologies
– Chiefly in museums
– Focus on collections management
• Methodology
– Email lists; conferences; CMS user groups
– Site visits (referred to in case studies)
• Today providing summary, with reference to KE EMu
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Technologies
• Chiefly 1D, 2D barcodes, RFID tags
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Ashmolean Museum
• ‘The Decant’ - moving 250k
objects to 1k locations, with
16k containers
• Barcodes, with in-house
database
• 9 data stations,
each with 2-4 staff
• Workflow
– basic cataloguing,
barcoding, photography
• Data loaded into
MuseumPlus (new CMS)
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Petrie Museum
• Conservation audit of 80k
objects
• Barcodes chosen, RFID
rejected
– RFID estimate of £24k
• Labels positioned in crystal
boxes, or placed in open
boxes
• Aim to supplement/ replace
display labels
– not fulfilled as labels too big
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Manchester Art Gallery
• 2D (QR) codes
– Trial with Revealing Histories display
– Link to web pages with text, audio, inviting user content
– Example of web page for mobile phone
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Children’s Museum, Indianapolis
• RFID
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Walker Arts Center
collections management
planned for visitor access
ARTiFACT TRAC™
software
– data stored on the tag
• RFID tags
– encapsulated
• Washi-Wrap™
– tie-on tags
• Live link planned
– to KE EMu
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MVWISE
• Web interface to KE EMu
– Uses PDA’s web browser
– Developed by Museum
Victoria, Melbourne
– MvCIS (Collections
Inventory System) leading
to MVWISE (Wireless Input
System)
• Live updating of data
• Uses barcodes but RFID
reading supported
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Benefits and drawbacks
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Accuracy, speed of data entry
Perception of organised, secure storage
Success in large-scale collection moves
Reliance on certain staff, lack of take-up
Importance of training, support, procedures
Costs
– comparison of technologies, staff time
• Longevity
– technology, physical
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Decisions - environment
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Decisions - barcodes or tags?
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Decisions - readers, software
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More …
• Workshop - 30 June @ London Transport Museum
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Researching our online audiences
Current and potential use of web statistics
Measuring the use of collections
Machine-readable labelling for collections management and access
Bookings
http://londonhub.wufoo.com/forms/london-museums-hubworkshop/
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Links
• www.collectionslink.org.uk/find_a_network/regional_n
etworks/sustainable_storage
• mvwise.museum.vic.gov.au/Home.htm
• www.emuusers.org/Portals/0/Melbourne
2005/Presentations/03_MVWISE.pps
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E: [email protected]
W: www.juliantomlin.com
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