[MCN-L] Facebook is just sloppy
I may be alone in this, think you're off the mark. The only proof provided is that the thumbnailer doesn't work perfectly (sidebar, very few thumbnailers do). And Facebook has adequate reasons for requiring a profile picture to be the same on both the profile and the feed (I believe in the business world they call that branding). Is Facebook at fault because MoMA's profile pic thumbnail crops the logo slightly or is that MoMA's fault? You managed to make a blanket statement about their company, based upon one instance. One case does not a trend make. Facebook started as profiles for individuals. After MySpace had problems with commercial entities masking themselves as individuals (ie: characters from movies, tv shows, etc), Facebook opened up the platform to organizations, products, and commercial entities. Facebook did not create a platform for such entities, they made modifications to the platform to allow such entities to exist. Should we be complaining about the platform that we all benefit from (at no cost for access to, or use of said platform), or should we be thankful that we're no longer relegated to the use of Groups. (A fun way to start, but lacked the finesse of a Profile/Page). I guess my only comment would be, if you're going to bite the hand that feeds you, you'd better have a good reason for doing so. Chad Petrovay ?| ?Collections Database Administrator MIM-Musical Instrument Museum | 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard ?| Phoenix, AZ 85050 480.478.6000 main ?| ?480.478.6058 direct | 480.471.8690 fax ?| www.themim.org Blog: www.petrovay.com/tmsblog -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Hanan Cohen Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 4:23 AM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: [MCN-L] Facebook is just sloppy Hi, I wrote about my experience/frustration while working with Facebook and my conclusion about the past and future of the company. http://info.org.il/english/facebook_is_just_sloppy.html Would love to get your comments. --- Hanan Cohen Webmaster Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem www.mada.org.il http://www.mada.org.il/en/ - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/-/127569645760 - Twitter http://twitter.com/madajerusalem - YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/madajerusalem ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
[MCN-L] Facebook is just sloppy
I agree with you Chad. Facebook has been an amazing platform for us and there are lots of ways to work-around some of their quirks. -- Tamsen Schwartzman Museum Media Manager The Museum at FIT, Room E116 Seventh Avenue at 27th Street New York, NY 10001 212~217~4547 ** 212~217~4561 fax www.fitnyc.edu/museum Visit our collections online at fashionmuseum.fitnyc.edu Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @MuseumatFIT Closes July 3: Menagerie Closes November 13: Eco-Fashion: Going Green Opens September 17: Japan Fashion Now -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Chad Petrovay Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 7:31 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Facebook is just sloppy I may be alone in this, think you're off the mark. The only proof provided is that the thumbnailer doesn't work perfectly (sidebar, very few thumbnailers do). And Facebook has adequate reasons for requiring a profile picture to be the same on both the profile and the feed (I believe in the business world they call that branding). Is Facebook at fault because MoMA's profile pic thumbnail crops the logo slightly or is that MoMA's fault? You managed to make a blanket statement about their company, based upon one instance. One case does not a trend make. Facebook started as profiles for individuals. After MySpace had problems with commercial entities masking themselves as individuals (ie: characters from movies, tv shows, etc), Facebook opened up the platform to organizations, products, and commercial entities. Facebook did not create a platform for such entities, they made modifications to the platform to allow such entities to exist. Should we be complaining about the platform that we all benefit from (at no cost for access to, or use of said platform), or should we be thankful that we're no longer relegated to the use of Groups. (A fun way to start, but lacked the finesse of a Profile/Page). I guess my only comment would be, if you're going to bite the hand that feeds you, you'd better have a good reason for doing so. Chad Petrovay ?| ?Collections Database Administrator MIM-Musical Instrument Museum | 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard ?| Phoenix, AZ 85050 480.478.6000 main ?| ?480.478.6058 direct | 480.471.8690 fax ?| www.themim.org Blog: www.petrovay.com/tmsblog -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Hanan Cohen Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 4:23 AM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: [MCN-L] Facebook is just sloppy Hi, I wrote about my experience/frustration while working with Facebook and my conclusion about the past and future of the company. http://info.org.il/english/facebook_is_just_sloppy.html Would love to get your comments. --- Hanan Cohen Webmaster Bloomfield Science Museum Jerusalem www.mada.org.il http://www.mada.org.il/en/ - Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/-/127569645760 - Twitter http://twitter.com/madajerusalem - YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/madajerusalem ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
Hello all! I'm new to the network and have a couple of questions to ask the greater group. I've just started a new position as the Collections Information Manager at the Portland Art Museum and in the first few weeks, I've encountered what I think is probably a very common problem. We use MimsyXG for our collections database and all of our curators have access to it, but are currently only able to enter/change information in the Description field. I've been approached by curators who would like greater freedom to add information and correct information in the database, but know that that can be a major risk. I'd love to hear how other institutions navigate this issue and what fields curators in your institutions have permission to use/access. If you do give curators access to more fields, how are you monitoring/auditing the changes that are made? I'd be interested to see some policies or guidelines that anyone has been using in this sort of scenario. Any input will be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Maggie Maggie Hanson Collections Information Manager Portland Art Museum 1219 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 T: +1 503 276 4224 F: +1 503 276 4201 E: maggie.hanson at pam.org
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
At the ROM we have two main tables, one is the reserve of Registration, the other the reserve of Curatorial. The primary fields for recording any information we have about the object itself are in the Curatorial table. If your institution wants the db to have information which is correct and up-to-date with the current knowledge, then the curators should be in the position to properly catalogue in the db. They are the ones that know what is correct. R. _ Dr. Robert B. J. Mason (E-mail: robert.mason at rom.on.ca; fax (416) 586-5877) Dept of World Cultures, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, CANADA Associate Professor, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, 4 Bancroft Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C1, CANADA web: http://www.utoronto.ca/nmc/mason/mason.html Maggie Hanson maggie.hanson at pam.org 6/23/2010 1:09 PM Hello all! I'm new to the network and have a couple of questions to ask the greater group. I've just started a new position as the Collections Information Manager at the Portland Art Museum and in the first few weeks, I've encountered what I think is probably a very common problem. We use MimsyXG for our collections database and all of our curators have access to it, but are currently only able to enter/change information in the Description field. I've been approached by curators who would like greater freedom to add information and correct information in the database, but know that that can be a major risk. I'd love to hear how other institutions navigate this issue and what fields curators in your institutions have permission to use/access. If you do give curators access to more fields, how are you monitoring/auditing the changes that are made? I'd be interested to see some policies or guidelines that anyone has been using in this sort of scenario. Any input will be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Maggie Maggie Hanson Collections Information Manager Portland Art Museum 1219 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 T: +1 503 276 4224 F: +1 503 276 4201 E: maggie.hanson at pam.org ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
Hi Maggie: I don't know if Mimsy has workflow capabilities, but some systems allow you to be notified of changes or let you see/approve the changes before they become live. Barring that, I've also instructed my curators to place the original information into a notes field before they delete it entirely (but I also have backups to refer to, in a worst case scenario). ~Perian
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
I'd be interested to know what approval is needed by db staff to check the corrections of the curatorial staff. It is the curatorial staff that are experts on the collection, not necessarily the db staff. M. _ Dr. Robert B. J. Mason (E-mail: robert.mason at rom.on.ca; fax (416) 586-5877) Dept of World Cultures, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, CANADA Associate Professor, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, 4 Bancroft Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C1, CANADA web: http://www.utoronto.ca/nmc/mason/mason.html Perian Sully perian at emphatic.org 6/23/2010 1:35 PM Hi Maggie: I don't know if Mimsy has workflow capabilities, but some systems allow you to be notified of changes or let you see/approve the changes before they become live. Barring that, I've also instructed my curators to place the original information into a notes field before they delete it entirely (but I also have backups to refer to, in a worst case scenario). ~Perian ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
Checking the corrections of the curatorial staff might refer to making sure that the information they enter is properly formatted / uses controlled vocabulary terms, etc. -- not checking the veracity of the information itself, but making sure it is formatted consistently with database standards. -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu]On Behalf Of Robert Mason Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 3:35 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Database access for curators? I'd be interested to know what approval is needed by db staff to check the corrections of the curatorial staff. It is the curatorial staff that are experts on the collection, not necessarily the db staff. M. _ Dr. Robert B. J. Mason (E-mail: robert.mason at rom.on.ca; fax (416) 586-5877) Dept of World Cultures, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, CANADA Associate Professor, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, 4 Bancroft Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C1, CANADA web: http://www.utoronto.ca/nmc/mason/mason.html Perian Sully perian at emphatic.org 6/23/2010 1:35 PM Hi Maggie: I don't know if Mimsy has workflow capabilities, but some systems allow you to be notified of changes or let you see/approve the changes before they become live. Barring that, I've also instructed my curators to place the original information into a notes field before they delete it entirely (but I also have backups to refer to, in a worst case scenario). ~Perian ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
Exactly. To torture an analogy - English and history professors are content experts but they don't catalog the books in the library - not even the ones they write. Trained catalogers apply the correct retrieval vocabularies and follow standardized rules for the formation of bibliographic information, which allows other people following the same rules to find them, organize them (as in putting them into bibliographies, citations, etc.) On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 3:48 PM, Gabriela Zoller gzoller at albrightknox.org wrote: Checking the corrections of the curatorial staff might refer to making sure that the information they enter is properly formatted / uses controlled vocabulary terms, etc. -- not checking the veracity of the information itself, but making sure it is formatted consistently with database standards. -- Chuck Patch Museum Information Management Consulting 403 Edgevale Rd Baltimore MD 21210 410-366-3613
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
Thanks, Gabriela. This is a concern as well as the fact that corrections in many instances included deleting prior information, which may be needed and useful for records in departments like the registrar even if the information is not necessarily (or any longer) correct. -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Gabriela Zoller Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 12:48 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Database access for curators? Checking the corrections of the curatorial staff might refer to making sure that the information they enter is properly formatted / uses controlled vocabulary terms, etc. -- not checking the veracity of the information itself, but making sure it is formatted consistently with database standards. -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu]On Behalf Of Robert Mason Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 3:35 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Database access for curators? I'd be interested to know what approval is needed by db staff to check the corrections of the curatorial staff. It is the curatorial staff that are experts on the collection, not necessarily the db staff. M. _ Dr. Robert B. J. Mason (E-mail: robert.mason at rom.on.ca; fax (416) 586-5877) Dept of World Cultures, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, CANADA Associate Professor, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, 4 Bancroft Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C1, CANADA web: http://www.utoronto.ca/nmc/mason/mason.html Perian Sully perian at emphatic.org 6/23/2010 1:35 PM Hi Maggie: I don't know if Mimsy has workflow capabilities, but some systems allow you to be notified of changes or let you see/approve the changes before they become live. Barring that, I've also instructed my curators to place the original information into a notes field before they delete it entirely (but I also have backups to refer to, in a worst case scenario). ~Perian ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/ ___ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
Chuck, Gabriela, and Maggie have it correct. One would hope that the db staff worked with the curators in advance, to determine the correct terminology terms! However, I can tell you that no one applies terms consistently, so having that final approval by the information manager is critical. Likewise, I can't tell you how many times I've gotten into discussions with curators who want to delete the description field (used by registration for identification purposes) in favor of a more contextual, historical curated description. I have had to go into backups to restore the identifying description and re-incorporate it. These days, I'm in favor of a curator's description (or history, or curator's notes) field that the curators can use, in addition to a physical description field for the registration staff. On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 12:59 PM, Maggie Hanson maggie.hanson at pam.orgwrote: Thanks, Gabriela. This is a concern as well as the fact that corrections in many instances included deleting prior information, which may be needed and useful for records in departments like the registrar even if the information is not necessarily (or any longer) correct.
[MCN-L] Bad news for the public domain
Yikes... Court Says It's Okay To Remove Content From The Public Domain And Put It Back Under Copyright http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100621/2320049908.shtml From the article: ...last year, a district court made a very important ruling on what appeared to be a minor part of copyright law. The Golan casehttp://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090403/1619494384.shtmlasked a simple question: once something is officially in the public domain, can Congress pull it out and put it back under copyright? The situation came about because of (yet another) trade agreement that pulled certain foreign works out of the public domain. A district court had initially said that this move did not violate the law, but the appeals court sent it back, saying that the lower court had not analyzed the First Amendment issue, and whether this was a case where the inherent conflict between the First Amendment and copyright law went too far to the side of copyright by violating the traditional contours of copyright law. Getting a second crack at this, the district court got it right -- and was the first court to point out that massively expanded copyright law can, in fact, violate the First Amendment. But, of course, it couldn't last. On Monday, the appeals court reversed the lower court's rulinghttp://courtlistener.com/ca10/09-1234/and said there's no problem with the First Amendment because copyright law addresses a substantial or important governmental interest. If I read this right, because the ruling is less about international trade agreements and more about First Amendment issues, this undermines the sanctity of public domain in the United States, regardless of origin. And since it's likely to go to the Supreme Court, AND the Roberts Court has been notoriously pro-corporate, I'm not feeling terribly secure about the fate of public domain. Anyone else have other perspectives about this? ~Perian
