I would endorse the use of SHIC as a good general classification. We found
it very useful when setting up a subject hierarchy in the SSPL picture
library for the wide variety of photos from the National Museum of
Photography, Film & Television.
I would advise you to use both a subject hierarchy AND a free text
keywording function. The hierarchy will help you to organise the images -
and provide a browsing function - and the keywords will help the search.
Rather than expect your users to remember anything, you can give them
pull-down lists to choose from for the hierarchy - and a free text box for
keywording with guidance about whether they should use singular or plural
words etc etc.
From our experience at the Science Museum, there is certainly no single
"right way" to keyword images. Have a look at some commercial picture
library sites including the one we have just finished -
www.scienceandsociety.co.uk
Another useful site is
http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/schemasstandards/gateway.asp
However, be careful, for you will soon find that you get bogged down in
metadata information and I assume that you do not have much of a budget. Set
a few key standards and then keep your web interface as simple as possible
your own image database (for internal use only) can have a lot more fields
to record all the extra information you need.
good luck
Angela Murphy (aka Bailey)
The Image Business
21 Leamington Road Villas
London W11 1HS
Tel: +44-(0)20-77274920
Mobile: +44-(0)7973-820020
email: [log in to unmask]
Project Management
Image Library and Digitisation Consultancy
Image Research and Rights Clearance
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