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Didn't Ma.gnolia have an API, CC licensed content etc. etc? Some of the data stored there was recoverable due to being archived elsewhere but, I think, on the whole the entire datastore was lost when their servers died. http://www.cloudave.com/link/magnolia-effect-should-we-trust-the-clouds Not to say that APIs are bad, far from it, but they aren't a get out of jail free card in case of data loss. Jim O'Donnell Senior Web Developer National Maritime Museum Park Row Greenwich London SE10 9NF DDI: 020 8312 6517 Fax: email: [log in to unmask] >-----Original Message----- >From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >Behalf Of Dan Zambonini >Sent: 08 May 2009 15:32 >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: 'Every Object Tells a Story' > >Hi all, > >To me, these feel like perfect examples to illustrate the 'central >repository' vs 'open APIs' debate. > >Had these projects exposed full, rich, obvious APIs (perhaps >they did, in >which case this argument is invalid!), then the valuable >content may - and >probably would - now be in multiple other locations, sustained >forever more >(of course this would also rely on the content having the relevant >licensing: Creative Commons, etc). > >Thanks, > >Dan > >PS Apologies if this argument was part of what Nick was making >below; his >post was far beyond my intellectual capability. > >---------------------------------------- >Dan Zambonini >Box UK >Internet Development and Consultancy > >t: +44 (0)29 2022 8822 >f: +44 (0)29 2022 8820 >e: [log in to unmask] >w: http://www.boxuk.com >---------------------------------------- > > >On 08/05/2009 15:09, "Nick Poole" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> Hi Janet, >> >> The answer is, I'm afraid that there are too many projects, >and possibly not >> enough critical judgement in the funding process. Most of >these projects have >> been funded on a largely exploratory basis, and too little >thought and >> investment has gone into the organisational and strategic >context in which >> they will sit. >> >> The result, in my experience, is good work which lacks the >surrounding >> infrastructure to make the transition from project to service. These >> developments are still regarded as incidental to the core >mission of most of >> their organisations, many of whom will only have got >involved in the project >> in the first place in the hope that it will release some >useful funds and >> generate some political credibility. >> >> This is a critical and central problem of trying to engineer lasting >> development using project funding. The funder's ambition is >to deliver work >> which contributes towards a central strategic objective. The >organisation's >> ambition is to secure money to do work which contributes to their own >> objectives, based on their knowledge of their audiences and >collections. >> Whether the two sets of priorities coincide is a very hit >and miss affair and >> 'smart' funders like the JISC Digitisation programme, which >aim to provide >> investment to support organisations in achieving both sets >of outcomes, are >> relatively few and far between. >> >> Could 'Every Object Tells a Story...' have evolved to be the >basis of a >> national collaborative online museum? Possibly. But for it >to have done so >> would have required a sustained strategic commitment and >investment. Making >> this ongoing commitment would have required 5 other projects >elsewhere to be >> turned down (all of which, incidentally, might also deliver something >> amazing). >> >> I very much hope that in the next few years we will move >towards a tiered >> funding structure which aims both to seed-fund innovative >exploratory work and >> to incubate the best products and services via sustained investment. >> >> All best, >> >> Nick > >**************************************************************** >For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, >visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk >**************************************************************** > This message has been scanned for malware by WebSense Mailcontrol for the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich **************************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk ****************************************************************