Personally, Europeana always makes me think of this excellent experimental novel by Patrik Ouredník:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Europeana-History-Twentieth-European-Literature/dp/1564783820/
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Ellis
Sent: 24 January 2011 14:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MCG] Does Europeana make you think culture?
"Most people will always try Google first"
Yup. Or Wikipedia. Or....wherever else...
I agree with all the points about marketing and building quality content rather than just huge lists of STUFF.
I think the bigger problem is that although I agree with Linda that having a single point of search is theoretically A Good Thing, this rapidly becomes Yet Another Single Point Of Search, and before you know it we're all portalled up to the eyeballs with endless mini-aggregations of these points of theoretical single points of search. Once we get there, we're back at the start: endless, silo'd resources spread over a vast internet, with no real web audience ever likely to find the stuff that only we know is important.
Basically, I really struggle with the whole "build another thing" approach as people like Nick know already - if we were really looking for value to the end user, the money would have been better spent on Wikipedia and Google partnerships and training all those institutions on how best to do SEO.
I know that theoretically the "output" isn't necessarily just this enormous catalogue, but I suspect users won't get it until and unless these outputs become more embedded in real lives. Nick - is the "service" you talk of really what we see now, i.e a search box and some results? Because if it is, I think that's a major disappointment.
ta
Mike
Ps. Did you notice I didn't mention the "interesting" Europeana logo... :-) *
*damn, I mentioned it
Mike Ellis
Research & Innovation Group
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-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Linda Ellis
Sent: 24 January 2011 13:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Does Europeana make you think culture?
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
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-----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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