Dear John,
Many thanks for this. This is exactly why we think SPECTRUM needs to evolve to encompass digital and physical collections, knowledge and information management within a coherent framework.
Most museums are sitting on what has now become a significant body of raw digital material, much of which is 'unmanaged' in a preservation and access sense.
At the moment, much of this is content *about* the Collection. In 5-10 years it will *be* the Collection. In exactly the same way as the last generation developed documentation to promote accountability, preservation and findability of the physical collection, we have to adapt curatorship, conservation and documentation practice to accommodate what is essentially an unprecedented flowering of new collecting. Even though our collections will increasingly be binary (and looking ahead, socially-derived), it makes the need to manage them more acute.
SPECTRUM will evolve to incorporate Digital Asset Management, Rights and Access Management, narrative interpretation and context. Alongside this, we are lobbying hard to try and ensure that performance management in museums acknowledges the role of digital curation and open content distribution.
I really hope we can call on MCG members to help us with what looks like a formidable task!
All best,
Nick
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
-----Original Message-----
From: "John Williams (NMC)" <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Museums Computer Group <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:31:46
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Museums Computer Group <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: What really are the primary roles of ICT in Museums
Thanks for an interesting reply Kate !
Your comment about the shape and form of data is definitely important.
We, like many others I guess, have seen an explosion in the amount of data that we need to store. Much of that is multimedia and most of that is currently images. Now we're seeing a demand for 3D images and high definition video. Add that to the existing information and it's no great surprise that we concluded we need to plan some form of information management system.
Our data is spread across many different platforms. Collection data in the Collections Management System, Email in the Exchange information store and Office documents across a variety of personal, shared and project drives few of which are properly indexed,
Managing that information is definitely becoming one of the major strategic strands for the next few years.
I'm also interested to explore how ICT can best collaborate in the development of innovative interpretation. Many's the MCG meeting where I've sat listening to other delegates bemoan the lack of support that they get from their ICT departments. Much of that is probably ICT's preoccupation with security but there still seems to be a disconnection between what the users want and what ICT can - or is allowed - to provide.
Regards,
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kate Byrne
Sent: 08 February 2012 12:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What' are really the primary roles of ICT in Museums
Interesting question John.
Actually I don't think the core roles have changed since the first bits became bytes:
1. ICT collaborates with others (colleagues from other disciplines, volunteers, whoever) to produce systems to help carry out the organisation's mission. Emphasis on collaboration and mission rather than on what the technologies of the day happen to be.
2. ICT keeps an eye on new technology/research that could be exploited for the organisation's gain in the future. Definitely not exclusive to the ICT team, but they may have a usefully different perspective. (For me, more natural language processing and semantic web stuff are the future.)
3. The only one that is primarily ICT's responsibility: they keep in mind through all developments the shape and form of the data, in whatever medium, to ensure it is easy to access, manipulate, recombine etc, and safely preserved. Curiously, this is the one ICT sometimes seems to lose sight of.
I'm out of touch as I'm no longer an ICT manager in cultural heritage but I doubt these things have changed. I hope not anyway.
All best,
Kate
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