[MCN-L] contents of mcn-l Digest, Vol 58, Issue 22 - database access for curators
Hi all, We have XG and we have found that by creating fields that say physical description and another called contextual description has reduced a lot of the problems we were having with people getting to their happy place when it came to who can write what on an object record (and who can change it!). Curators work mainly in the contextual fields and our registration staff work in the Physical description fields, as this suits their purposes much better. It also allows us to keep information on how an object has been described by different areas of the museum. Our DB team work very closely with all staff who use our database (we call it MICA) to ensure they understand the importance of maintaining correct standards. Am happy to share much more detailed info with listers (including screen shots etc), just email me at emma.jones at awm.gov.au . Every catalogue (or object) record must be approved by a senior curator in the relevant curatorial section before it can be released to the web, public etc. In this way, each curatorial section is responsible for the checking of accuracy etc. Our DB team do a regular review of all records created and if we find what seem to be errors (spelling mistakes, incorrect conflict terms etc), we place them in a group and send them back to the relevant curatorial area with a request to re-check. Our view is that the curators are responsible for the content of the records they create - without taking this approach we found that people felt that no one had ownership of them, which meant when it came to cleanup, it just didn't happen. We have also created a number of Cystal reports and attached them to MICA which curatorial staff can run to easily find any records created within a time frame so they can go back and check. Maggie, if you have XG, why don't you try archiving old information in the description flexi fields? It's a little more robust than the notes field when to comes to keeping the information. Below is an example (not the complete list) of the types of descriptions we can have in a description flexi field Blog text Catalogue caption Catalogue description Catalogue summary Condition on arrival Conservation description Contextual description Exhibition label Exhibition relevance Graphic Panel Caption Obverse Original caption Previous caption Production information Research notes Reverse Verso description Cheers Emma Jones Manager, Collection Information and Access Australian War Memorial -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu] On Behalf Of mcn-l-requ...@mcn.edu Sent: Friday, 25 June 2010 5:00 AM To: mcn-l at mcn.edu Subject: mcn-l Digest, Vol 58, Issue 22 Send mcn-l mailing list submissions to mcn-l at mcn.edu To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to mcn-l-request at mcn.edu You can reach the person managing the list at mcn-l-owner at mcn.edu When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of mcn-l digest... Today's Topics: 1. Re: Database access for curators? (Robert Mason) 2. Collection APIs (Steward, Jeff) 3. Re: Database access for curators? (Gabriela Zoller) 4. Re: Database access for curators? (Chuck Patch) 5. Re: Database access for curators? (Maggie Hanson) 6. (no subject) (Ann Go) 7. Re: Database access for curators? (Perian Sully) 8. Bad news for the public domain (Perian Sully) 9. NDF 2010 Conference: International Keynote Speakers Confirmed (Adrian Kingston) 10. Personalised visitor services at your institution? (Aur?lie Henry) 11. Re: Database access for curators? (Richard Light) -- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:35:16 -0400 From: Robert Mason r...@rom.on.ca Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Database access for curators? To: Museum Computer Network Listserv mcn-l at mcn.edu Message-ID: 4C2229B5.6BCF.0070.1 at rom.on.ca Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII 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
[MCN-L] Database access for curators?
It had also occurred to me that our experiences differ. The ROM has a healthy research staff, and the curators comprise natural scientists, archaeologists, and anthropologists, who tend to be a lot more computer and database aware than our decorative arts people, so suggesting that anyone else is better qualified at looking after the computer records in their case is absurd. I would also have to disagree that cataloguing an object is like cataloguing a book, an object or specimen's database record is more like the book, than the catalogue of it, and so the person most likely to correctly catalogue it is the actual expert in the nature of that object or specimen. RM _ 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 Richard Light richard at light.demon.co.uk 6/24/2010 8:56 AM In message AANLkTikv88IgCKH20tsDA1YIfZHyEjcEfuQ98qeeYhWg at mail.gmail.com, Perian Sully perian at emphatic.org writes 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. Interesting how experience varies on this issue. I'm not sure whether it's a North America/U.K. difference, or simply one between larger museums who can afford to have IT staff to argue with the curators, and the sort of smaller museums I tend to deal with. Anyway, I agree that there is a distinction to be made between an identifying description, and one designed to bring out an object's cultural and/or historical significance. The latter is presumably destined for consumption by the public, and it would clearly be more helpful to include it, for example, in a summary record on your web site. In our Modes data structure we have gone a step further, and provided a repeatable Commentary element, each with a defined Audience. This allows multiple semi-structured descriptions of an object, each targeted at a specific sector of the public. This helps address the perennial problem of how museums can generate interesting web pages directly from the information held within their collections management system. Richard -- Richard Light ___ 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] scanner recommendations?
Hi, Does anyone have a wide-format (at least 11x17) scanner that you like and could recommend? We need something that can do slides transparencies too, and hope to keep it under $2000, but would love to be able to scan something at a quality high enough we could give it to printers. Thanks in advance for any suggestions, Sara Sara Tucker IT Director Dia Art Foundation 535 West 22nd St New York, NY 10011 stucker at diaart.orgmailto:stucker at diaart.org 212.293.5576
[MCN-L] scanner recommendations?
We love our Epson 1XL scanners - but you'll pay close to $3000 for the version with Silverfast software and transparency unit, which is what you'll need. The price has dropped this year from over $4000, so it's a good deal. Not sure what else is out there for large format scanners. Denise Gos? Head of Image Resources and Copyright Management Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona 1030 N. Olive Road, Tucson, AZ 85719 T: 520.307.2830 F: 520.621.9444 gosed at ccp.library.arizona.edu -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Tucker, Sara Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 9:30 AM To: mcn-l at mcn.edu Subject: [MCN-L] scanner recommendations? Hi, Does anyone have a wide-format (at least 11x17) scanner that you like and could recommend? We need something that can do slides transparencies too, and hope to keep it under $2000, but would love to be able to scan something at a quality high enough we could give it to printers. Thanks in advance for any suggestions, Sara Sara Tucker IT Director Dia Art Foundation 535 West 22nd St New York, NY 10011 stucker at diaart.orgmailto:stucker at diaart.org 212.293.5576 ___ 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] scanner recommendations?
I second Denise's recommendation. The Epson 1XL series is fantastic. ~Perian On Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 9:37 AM, Gose, Denise gosed at ccp.library.arizona.edu wrote: We love our Epson 1XL scanners - but you'll pay close to $3000 for the version with Silverfast software and transparency unit, which is what you'll need. The price has dropped this year from over $4000, so it's a good deal. Not sure what else is out there for large format scanners. Denise Gos? Head of Image Resources and Copyright Management Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona 1030 N. Olive Road, Tucson, AZ 85719 T: 520.307.2830 F: 520.621.9444 gosed at ccp.library.arizona.edu
[MCN-L] scanner recommendations?
By the way - thats a 35mm slide scanner - forgot to note that. Jeffrey Evans jfevans at princeton.edu 609.258.8579 On Jun 25, 2010, at 1:28 PM, Jeffrey Evans wrote: We just bought a Pacific Image PS3650 from BH for $700. It works really well. A little slow though (USB), but produces files that can printed at 1/2 page I bet. JEFF Jeffrey Evans Photographer, Digital Imaging Specialist Princeton University Art Museum jfevans at princeton.edu 609.258.8579 princetonartmuseum.org On Jun 25, 2010, at 12:29 PM, Tucker, Sara wrote: Hi, Does anyone have a wide-format (at least 11x17) scanner that you like and could recommend? We need something that can do slides transparencies too, and hope to keep it under $2000, but would love to be able to scan something at a quality high enough we could give it to printers. Thanks in advance for any suggestions, Sara Sara Tucker IT Director Dia Art Foundation 535 West 22nd St New York, NY 10011 stucker at diaart.orgmailto:stucker at diaart.org 212.293.5576 ___ 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] scanner recommendations?
I'd have to support the Epson line too. We have a much older Linocolor Circon which is fabulous, running Silverfast. Epson is one of the few still seriously in the game for a manageable cost. If you spend the extra I think you'd be set for a long time to come. Mark Paradis Chief, Multimedia Services-Chef de services multim?dia National Gallery of Canada, Mus?e des beaux-arts du Canada 380 Sussex Drive,Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9N4 ph. 613-990-1788, fx. 613-991-2680 cell 613-797-0558 -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Perian Sully Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 12:43 PM To: Museum Computer Network Listserv Subject: Re: [MCN-L] scanner recommendations? I second Denise's recommendation. The Epson 1XL series is fantastic. ~Perian On Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 9:37 AM, Gose, Denise gosed at ccp.library.arizona.edu wrote: We love our Epson 1XL scanners - but you'll pay close to $3000 for the version with Silverfast software and transparency unit, which is what you'll need. The price has dropped this year from over $4000, so it's a good deal. Not sure what else is out there for large format scanners. Denise Gos? Head of Image Resources and Copyright Management Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona 1030 N. Olive Road, Tucson, AZ 85719 T: 520.307.2830 F: 520.621.9444 gosed at ccp.library.arizona.edu ___ 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] scanner recommendations?
Perian Sully perian at emphatic.org wrote: I second Denise's recommendation. The Epson 1XL series is fantastic. ~Perian On Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 9:37 AM, Gose, Denise gosed at ccp.library.arizona.edu wrote: We love our Epson 1XL scanners - but you'll pay close to $3000 for the version with Silverfast software and transparency unit, which is what you'll need. The price has dropped this year from over $4000, so it's a good deal. Not sure what else is out there for large format scanners. Denise Gos? Head of Image Resources and Copyright Management Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona 1030 N. Olive Road, Tucson, AZ 85719 T: 520.307.2830 F: 520.621.9444 gosed at ccp.library.arizona.edu ___ 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] Help with Policy on Internet site postings
Browsing through socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php, it's becoming obvious to me that there are two different threads: guidelines for employees who are using social media outlets for the organization, and guidelines for employees who are using social media outlets privately. The former, are necessary to maintain consistent voice and brand, however the latter seems to be more of a grey area. The MacArthur Foundation has been working on studies about how young people use social media, and the importance of social media on their personal and social development (http://spotlight.macfound.org/). At the same time, we now have the issue to address of cyber-bullying (http://www.stopcyberbullying.org), which is more to the examples that John pinpointed. Has the development of the technology outstripped our ability to apply etiquette to this new situation, and is there so much a need for artificial policies to govern it, as there is for a cultural movement for the reapplication of etiquette to the technology (aka, netiquette). Does there need to be an institutional policy addressing personal use of social media, or would a generic clause in your personnel manual about bringing the reputation of the institution into disrepute suffice? This avoids the question of how to police a social media policy, and future-proofs your policies against future shifts in technology. Otherwise, we will always be at want for a new policy whenever there is a shift in technology for which etiquette has yet to catch up. (I may add that the views expressed here are expressly my own) 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 -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Rebecca Melenka Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 9:52 AM To: 'Museum Computer Network Listserv' Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Help with Policy on Internet site postings Ohhh, Social media - one of my faves! Here's a couple of great ones: Database of Social Media Policies: http://socialmediagovernance.com/policies.php Policy Tool for Social Media: http://socialmedia.policytool.net Rebecca Melenka BA2, MA Digitization, Publishing and Rights Coordinator Glenbow Museum Phone (403) 268-4144 Fax (403) 265-9769 www.glenbow.org -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of John Bedard Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 10:49 AM To: mcn LISTSERV Subject: [MCN-L] Help with Policy on Internet site postings We are interested in seeing sample policies regarding postings on external Internet sites, from blogs to Social Media. Areas of interest include a staff member appearing to be an official spokesperson for or representing the organization, especially in a manner that potentially impacts the reputation of the museum; and posting derogatory or defamatory comments regarding other staff members, visitors, volunteers, trustees, donors or the institution. This policy will not reference postings to official institutional sites and forums. Does anyone have any sample policies on this topic that they can share? John R. Bedard | Director of Information Systems Minneapolis Institute of Arts 2400 Third Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404 612-870-3268 | JBedard at artsmia.org | www.artsmia.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/ ___ 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] NDF 2010 Conference: International Keynote Speakers Confirmed
Bob: Can I go? :-) Lisa -Original Message- From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Adrian Kingston Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:03 AM To: mcn-l at mcn.edu Subject: [MCN-L] NDF 2010 Conference: International Keynote Speakers Confirmed Apologies for cross posting. National Digital Forum 2010 Conference Linking data, linking people Monday 18 - Tuesday 19 October 2010 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS CONFIRMED We're delighted to confirm Michael Edson and Nick Poole as the international keynote speakers: MICHAEL EDSON Director of Web and New Media Strategy, Smithsonian Institution Michael has worked on numerous award-winning projects and has been involved in practically every aspect of technology and New Media for museums. Read more. NICK POOLE CEO, Collections Trust Nick advises Governments, funders and cultural agencies throughout the world on issues relating to the new Digital Economy, including standards, IPR, social media and emerging business models. He has published and lectured worldwide, and is currently the Chair of the UK branch of the International Council of Museums. Read more. REGISTER TODAY The financial year is coming to a close on 30 June for Government. Check to see if your department has any reserve funds to allow you to register today! Register now: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=12560; PRE and POST CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES DigitalNZ and National Services Te Paerangi are holding events around the NDF Conference. We encourage you to support these events too! 2nd Annual DigitalNZ Get Together 11:00am - 3:00pm, Sunday 17 October Level 1, National Library of NZ, 77 Thorndon Quay Contact: gathering at digitalnz.org You're invited to Digital BarCamp 9.30am and 3.30pm, Wednesday 20 October Venue: TBC Contact: luciep at tepapa.govt.nz Conference enquiries or further Information Visit the NDF website (http://ndf.natlib.govt.nz/about/2010-conference.htm) for full conference details and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the conference organisers: Paardekooper and Associates Conference organisers of NDF 2010 P: +64 4 562 8259 F: +64 4 562 8269 E: ndf at paardekooper.co.nz W: http://ndf.natlib.govt.nz/about/2010-conference.htm +++ Visit the Te Papa website http://www.tepapa.govt.nz The email message together with the accompanying attachments may be CONFIDENTIAL. If you have received this message in error, please notify mail at tepapa.govt.nz immediately and delete the original message. The views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be views of Te Papa. Te Papa employs strict virus checking measures and accepts no liability for any loss caused either directly or indirectly by a virus arising from the use of this message or any attached file. +++ ___ 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/
