1. The National Burns Collection database: a tool for determining preservation and digitisation priorities Gordon Dunsire Presented at Electric Connections 2005 AK Bell Library, Perth

2. National Burns Collection database Developed as part of the Distributed National Burns Collection Project 2004 –16 month Strategic Change Fund initiative to encourage organisations to work together to improve stewardship of, and access to, artefacts associated with Robert Burns Over 8800 items recorded from 43 collections –Objects, books, manuscripts, images, etc. Web interface developed by Centre for Digital Library Research –Database query and simple thesaurus browse

3. Collections Abbotsford Angus Council Ayr Carnegie Library Ayrshire Archives Centre Burns Cottage Museum Burns House Museum, Mauchline Dumfries and Galloway Museums Dumfries Archives Service East Ayrshire Council East Dunbartonshire Museum East Lothian Council Museum Ellisland Farm Ewart Library, Dumfries Falkirk Museum Glasgow Museum Service Globe Inn Dumfries Grand Lodge of Scotland Inverclyde Council Inverclyde Council, McLean Museum Irvine Burns Club Lodge Loudoun Kilwinning, Newmilns Lodge St. James Tarbolton Mitchell Library, Glasgow Murison Library, Dunfermline National Archives of Scotland National Burns Memorial Homes National Galleries of Scotland National Library of Scotland National Museums of Scotland National Trust for Scotland, Broughton House National Trust for Scotland, Souter Johnnie’s Cottage North Ayrshire Libraries North Ayrshire Museums Perth and Kinross Council Museum Scottish Borders Council, Hawick Scottish Borders Council, Jedburgh Scottish Borders Council, Peebles South Ayrshire Museum Rozelle House South Lanarkshire Council Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum University of Dundee Archive Service University of Dundee Library University of Edinburgh Library University of Glasgow Library Writers’ Museum

4. Thesaurus of object formats Based on the British Museum Object Name Thesaurus –http://www.mda.org.uk/bmobj/Objintro.htmhttp://www.mda.org.uk/bmobj/Objintro.htm Terms + two levels of grouping Groups bring together objects of similar types Similar thesauri for image and text content –Of objects, printed works, manuscripts, paintings, drawings, etc.

5. Object thesaurus

6. Example: Wood relic

7. Example: Skull cast

8. Preservation and digitization Similar object types can require similar conservation –Object format thesaurus brings them together Local conditions affect preservation of local collection –NBC database describes extent and condition Digitization requires prioritisation and development within a national framework –Image and text content formats identify themes and ranges

9. Thank you NBC catalogue –http://www.scotlandsculture.org/nbc/Index.cfmhttp://www.scotlandsculture.org/nbc/Index.cfm Me –g.dunsire@strath.ac.uk