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Has anyone seen this article on the BBC website today? Wikipedia are starting to respond with some very interesting points . . . http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8156268.stm Tony New Media Officer & Photographer Government Art Collection 0044 (0)20 7580 9123 www.gac.culture.gov.uk -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ottevanger, Jeremy Sent: 17 July 2009 10:48 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: NPG / Wikimedia Perhaps it's more about principle versus practical*. There are arguments either way if you take an approach based on principles e.g. that people should/shouldn't have an inalienable right to access and reuse content in public ownership. There are arguments either way if you take a practical approach concerning the economics of the issue, and how CH or other non-profits balance the needs of their public with their responsibility to remain financially viable and capable of performing more digitisation etc. These are two separate debates about the same dilemma but often we take an argument from one debate and use it to batter an argument from the other debate, which gets us in a muddle. Personally I pretty much have to sit on the fence until I can figure out whether principle or practical is more important to me, since I favour contradictory arguments for each. Some days I feel principled, some days I feel unprincipled. That doesn't mean I'm ever especially practical. Cheers, Jeremy * or, since practical is a principle, a clash of principles Jeremy Ottevanger Web Developer, Museum Systems Team Museum of London 46 Eagle Wharf Road London. N1 7ED Tel: 020 7410 2207 Fax: 020 7600 1058 Email: [log in to unmask] www.museumoflondon.org.uk Spectacular new £20 million Galleries of Modern London opening at Museum of London in spring 2010. Find out more at www.museumoflondon.org.uk Before printing, please think about the environment -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Powell Sent: 17 July 2009 10:28 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [MCG] NPG / Wikimedia Mike, I'm slightly confused... the letter does make a suggestion (albeit somewhat implicitly) for how "*best* to continue to make/save/equalise money in this networked environment", namely the hosting of medium resolution images by Wikipedia with proper attribution and links thru to (potentially paid-for) high resolution images hosted by the institution. It also gives some anecdotal evidence that this approach provides a sustainable way forward? In that sense, the letter does seem to address the issues that you want to see addressed. Are you disagreeing that this is a possible, and sensible, way towards addressing the changed "economics"? I agree this isn't quite about "free vs paid" but it is about how real costs are met most effectively. Right? Andy ________________________________ Andy Powell Research Programme Director Eduserv [log in to unmask] 01225 474319 / 07989 476710 www.eduserv.org.uk efoundations.typepad.com twitter.com/andypowe11 -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Ellis Sent: 17 July 2009 09:56 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: NPG / Wikimedia Hi Mia That's a good open letter, but the line that stands out to me is this one: "Digitization and the Internet are changing those economics" This is the core point. I don't think this is (or can be) a "free vs paid" argument which - once again - it seems to be being polarised into. The fact that "institutions need money" doesn't really need to be said. Of course they do. The fact that we (all, not just cultural institutions) are unclear about how *best* to continue to make/save/equalise money in this networked environment should surely be the focus...? Anyway. You're on holiday and I have work to do. Mike Mike Ellis Professional Services Group Eduserv [log in to unmask] tel: 01225 470522 mob: 07017 031522 fax: 01225 474301 www.eduserv.org.uk -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mia Sent: 17 July 2009 01:44 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: NPG / Wikimedia I've been avoiding this thread because I'm one of those people on holiday, but wanted to share this link to an 'open letter' on the Wikipedia Signpost on "Working with, not against, cultural institutions". It's definitely worth a read, and suggests that the looming stand-off between Wikimedia and cultural heritage institutions could be resolved: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2009-07-13/Open_letter For what it's worth, I've also blogged on the issue: http://openobjects.blogspot.com/2009/07/npgs-response-to-wikimedia-kerfuffle.html (Apparently I'm not very good at being on holiday!) cheers, Mia -------------------------------------------- http://openobjects.org.uk/ **************************************************************** For mcg information visit the mcg website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk. To manage your subscription to this email list visit http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email.shtml **************************************************************** **************************************************************** For mcg information visit the mcg website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk. 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