(I can't view Nick's slides at work so apologies if this point is already made elsewhere)

I agree with Trevor, I reckon both approaches are a good idea (and even better if integrated somehow - you do a blog post about an object, a link to that post gets added to that object's online record, for a simple example).

But there are circumstances where curators can't create a narrative; local history related images is a good one. Looking through stats I have routinely seen examples of visitors browsing hundreds of images per visit.

Those visitors are bringing their own narrative to bear (most likely family history researchers) and persevere in spite of not having a "friendly" or digestible way of accessing that information. And yes, specialists are also part of that audience.

I think online search set up so it is trivial to integrate narratives would be a great tool to have.

And going back to the theme from the last MCG conference - it is also possible that your users can add value to your raw data, or at least you can set yourself up to allow that to happen.

Perry

-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Reynolds, Trevor
Sent: 09 April 2014 13:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MCG] Online collections and visitors

You need both.  Curated objects on a museum website add great value and are what curators are all about.  They are what many visitors to museum websites will really value (just as many visitors to museums will really value the public exhibitions).

It is a bit more obvious if you think about  a public library website.  Lots of visitors (myself included) will really value the librarians recommendations, information about new publications, etc.   However if I've just read the latest J K Rowling and really liked it I want to be able to see what else the library has by her that I can borrow.  I don't want that search to be limited by what the librarian thinks is good.

Similarly in the museum context you've found a really great article about a lawnmowver on the curated part of a museum website.  You've found a lawnmower in you're grandfather's shed that's not the same.  You might want to see whether the museum has one of these, so you also need to be able to search there whole collection.

The other audience for whole collection databases (even where there is not much information) is the research audience.  If you are considering doing a PhD or applying for a research grant, or doing some research as a hobby how do you find out what collections would benefit from your attention or could be included in your project?  Perhaps you are looking at the distribution of a certain model of sewing machine you want to be able to search the entire inventory of lots of museums.

Trevor Reynolds
Collections Registrar, English Heritage
tel: +44 (0) 1904 601905.  37 Tanner Row, York, YO1 6WP

-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Ellis
Sent: 09 April 2014 11:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MCG] Online collections and visitors

I see Nick Poole just posted this:

http://t.co/9HTlM9IUQN

..in which he talks about "..moving from creating digital images and database records to editorialised, narrative content"

..he's a good chap, Nick..



_____________________________


*Mike Ellis *

Thirty8 Digital: a small but perfectly formed digital agency:http://thirty8.co.uk <http://thirty8.co.uk/>

* My book: http://heritageweb.co.uk <http://heritageweb.co.uk/> *



> Oluwatoyin Sogbesan <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 8 April 2014 20:30
> Hi Mike,
>
> I have benefitted from this discussion as my research is focused on
> the potentials of digital technology in the representation of museum
> collections.
>
> In addition to Tony's more 'stories /less is better/ curated', it will
> be more interesting and rewarding if such visitors can participate in
> the interpretation of those important collection.
>
> As they might have a prior experience or relationship with the object
> which will also add to the resource of the museum about specific objects.
>
> Cheers
> Toyin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> Mike Ellis <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 6 April 2014 10:34
> Thanks Elena, really interesting - again..!
>
> To everyone else: do you research before putting your collections
> online? How, and what has this shown you about user wants and needs?
>
> Does Tony's "more stories / less is better / curated" resonate with
> your users? I know it does with me..
>
> cheers
>
> Mike
>
>
> Elena Villaespesa <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 4 April 2014 03:27
> Hello Mike,
>
>
> Yes, the survey was shown to people after they had visited at least 3
> pages and spent at least 10 seconds on a page. There are some data at
> the end of the report that compares the respondents profile with GA
> data. The objectives of this survey were to understand better how
> people use the online collection and get people's feedback so that's
> why we decided to target people who had spent some time on the
> website, especially for new visitors who are not familiar with it.
>
>
> Bounce rate is approx. 50% on average for collection pages but it
> really varies by traffic source and there are other variables to take
> into account. Bounce rate is much higher from social media sites and
> online newspapers for example because the behaviour is to follow the
> link and then go back to your wall, feed or news site. And then
> regarding Google traffic there are some differences too, especially
> between people searching specifically for Tate content or people that
> end up on the collection because they are searching for art terms.
> This is what the SEO people call branded vs non branded traffic but
> unfortunately GA does not show this data anymore in the reports. For
> example, some people search on Google directly for "Tate Ophelia
> Millais" so they arrive to the page they want and once they get the
> info they leave but probably they have the same motivation as someone
> who comes to the Tate website and then search for Ophelia or browse
> the site to get to the artwork page. So it's useful to combine
> analytics, surveys and other tools.
>
>
> Regarding your second question, this is actually a hard one. I guess
> it depends on the percentage of people who come to plan a visit vs
> other purposes (audience needs) but also on the museum's objectives.
> Based on another survey we've done, this one on the whole website,
> approx. half of the visits are not related to the gallery visit but
> other purposes such as research, download images, get some
> inspiration... The Tate website would not probably have this big
> amount of this type visits without having put the collection online,
> or bounce rate would be much higher because there is no content to
> look at. But it's also true that 17% of people came to the online
> collection to see what's on display so there is a basic need to cover
> for those who are planning a visit.
>
>
> So probably the best thing to do is some research first as the results
> from a smaller organisation may be or not similar to ours. ;-)
>
>
> Elena
>
>
>
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> Richard Light <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 3 April 2014 14:53
>
> Blog /style/, but ideally organised so that the resulting rich
> descriptions become part of, or are accessible from, their underlying
> collections database.  It would be a great pity to do all that work
> and waste it as a web-only resource. :-) If nothing else, the
> collected stories could become the next must-have coffee table book.
>
> Richard
> Tony Crockford <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> 3 April 2014 12:06
>
> I'd like to see smaller institutions creating curated collections -
> blog style.
>
> e.g. a decent story about their important/interesting objects. maybe
> one a week, one a month, or whatever is manageable - it'll soon become
> a valuable and interesting online resource.
>
> As an Internet user I'd rather see a few detailed and interesting
> stories than hundreds of images with sparse metadata.
>
> For many the online objective should be to treat the 'collections'
> part of their website as a curated exhibition, with unlimited space to
> exhibit a few items in great detail.
>
> I think the future is all about stories from the past.
>
> :)
>
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