I must agree that the Wessex Archaeology site has loads of interesting content and is integrating well with social media websites too (Flickr images etc).
What I'd be interested knowing more about is how they manage the site, get people to post blogs, is one person in overall control etc, etc if there is anyone on the list involved in the project perhaps they could let me know.
Linda
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jon Pratty
Sent: 24 January 2011 12:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Does Europeana make you think culture?
It's great that this thread is opening up the Europeana discussion in a positive way now. As Robert Bud and Jason Webber hint, making great content online is about more than just putting collection objects online. It's partly, at least, about blending strands of content types together and keeping them alive and topical on an everyday basis, something online journalists excel at. It's also about welcoming participation and contributions from both public and expert users. It's about importing and exporting basic data for others to build on, seeing your institution within a web of digital creation, consumption and collaboration.
I think Culture Grid and Europeana fit into this cultural web as possible sources for part of the data mix; but there's still much more needed to make a whole publishing proposition. We could perhaps be looking outwards to see how other digital producers [like high street retailers] keep rich online catalogues looking vibrant and current. They do it with offers, features, rich media, social media and all sorts of initiatives. At the bottom of the online supply chain, though, there's always a repository of base-level object info, and that's why Europeana and Culture Grid - to me- are so important.
My current fave site that blends differing content types and data sources is Wessex Archaeology - lovely functional, informational, topical, fun stuff! http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/
Jon
Jon Pratty
Relationship Manager, Digital and Creative Economies
Arts Council England
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Webber, Jason
Sent: 24 January 2011 12:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Does Europeana make you think culture?
Hi
I manage the www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk website that uses the culture
grid but has been specifically designed to contextualise the collections
it displays. We therefore have hundreds of pages of information about
all sorts of aspects of London life and people in the 20th century and
most objects have a caption that tells you something interesting.
I definitely agree that for a lot of people a database of objects online
is not going to engage them. To try and overcome this we've been working
hard utilizing social media and have a program of audio slideshows that
tell small but interesting stories. So far these have been successful in
helping us have something to market and give people who just want some
entertainment something to look at.
Without this kind of ongoing content creation though, I do fear that at
best people will look at online collections once and then not think to
return. Creating content, of course, requires either money for staff or
volunteers who are generous with their time. For this project at least
it's something I'd like to develop.
As Nick says Culture Grid and Europeana are not destination sites and
it's up to us to make them.
Cheers.
Jason
Jason Webber
Web Manager, Exploring 20th Centuy London, Information Resources Section
Museum of London
150 London Wall
London. EC2Y 5HN
Tel: 020 7814 5596
Fax: 020 7600 1058
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Before printing, please think about the environment
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Jim Richardson
Sent: 24 January 2011 11:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Does Europeana make you think culture?
Hi All
Personally I struggle to think of a good online collection. I certainly
don't rate Europeana which is incredibly dry, and doesn't keep my
interest more then a few seconds before I click away.
Perhaps before we digitise every collection in Europe we should speak to
our audiences about what they would want from such a website, and
develop a better standard of collection interface.
As I say, though I think Europeana is terribly designed (and has a truly
awful name) I struggle to come up with a museum who has done it
brilliantly. Personally I like the collection pages on the Brooklyn
Museum website which I find to be friendly, easy to use and interesting,
but I don't think it's a perfect solution...
Anyone think they have nailed the right design for an online collection?
Jim
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