1 reviewing machine-readable systems in museums ke emu users, 2 june 2008 julian tomlin
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Reviewing Machine-Readable Systems in Museums KE EMu Users, 2 June 2008
Julian Tomlin
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Contents• 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– 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
• 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
– 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-hub-workshop/
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Links
• www.collectionslink.org.uk/find_a_network/regional_networks/sustainable_storage
• mvwise.museum.vic.gov.au/Home.htm
• www.emuusers.org/Portals/0/Melbourne
2005/Presentations/03_MVWISE.pps
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end