bringing science to the world museum victoria natural science collections online 2008 emu users’...
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Bringing Science to the World
Museum VictoriaNatural Science Collections Online2008 EMu Users’ Meeting, Wellington, New ZealandAlex Chubaty, Collection Information Systems
Introduction
• 2006 – collections on Intranet (‘Musenet’)
• History and Technology collectionData preparationField mapping
• Features:Keyword and Advanced SearchesTaggingRecently viewed imagesSearch filtersRelated records based on Classification,Subjects/Keywords, Collection Name
• Over 385,000 records
Advanced Search interface (partial) for MV History & Technology collections on ‘Musenet’, with search term
Natural Sciences on Musenet
• Field MappingSearch and DisplayFields and Records
• Data preparationConsistency (Taxonomy module)Format standardisationData validationCommon names
• Basic FeaturesKeyword and Advanced SearchesTaggingRecently viewed images
Advanced Search interface (partial) for MV Natural Sciences collections on ‘Musenet’
Search returns and display
• Individual records plus links via scientific name
• Custom made ‘summary data’
• Search filtersTaxonomyLocality
• Mapping facilitySpecies Specimen
Mapping Functionality
• Google Maps vs KE MapsInstallation and supportPublic familiarityGoogle technology improvements
• Google Earth/Google Maps
Natural Sciences live on the web
• On Musenet - Oct 2007
• Live from MV website – Nov 2007
• 11 disciplines
• Over 883,000 records
• Example searches
Later Features Added
• Mapping at single specimen level
• Browse function – 3 broad levels
• Vernacular names added
• Search engine optimisation
• Improved search speed and search matching
Features To Be Released or Tested
• Species level results as first results
• Location based searches
• Display vernacular names more frequently
• Image browser
Statistics from Google Analytics1 Jan – 30 Aug 2008• 27,427 visits from 147 countries
• 21,408 visitors
• 4.77 pages per visit
• Average of 2.04 minutes spent
• Popular keywords: kunatitepaxillosida: luidiidaeaustronomia
Source of Traffic
• Google – 80%
• Referring sites – 10%
• Direct traffic – 10%
Conclusions
• Genuine interest in MV’s scientific collections
• Increased public awareness of MV as a holder and custodian of legacy data sets
• Increased public awareness of the scope and size of our collections
The Future
• History and Technology’s ‘Web Readiness’ project
• Indigenous Cultures discussing strategies
• Major part of MV’s online strategyDigitisationPublic accessStorage
Where?
• http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au
• http://museumvictoria.com.au/
• http://www.collectionsaustralia.net
• http://www.google.com
Acknowledgements
• Craig ChurchillCollection System SpecialistOnline Development
• Ken WalkerDeputy Head Sciences (Terrestrial Zoology)