1. CLDs, stewardship, resource discovery and collections management (hmm…catchy) Nick Poole ICT Adviser Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries

2. Contents: Introduction Update on Cornucopia CLDs and the Resource Stewardship strategy The NOF-digitise portal Contact

3. Introduction...

4. Cornucopia update The data: –Full collections descriptions for Registered museums in WM and SW –Complete records for Yorkshire museums –Almost complete records for North West museums –Further regions (incl. North East) soon to be underway –Special library collections from LASER to be added shortly… –Links to ARCHON on way...

5. Cornucopia update The database: –Currently Index+ client and database –Migrating to MySQL & PHP –Created an Access/MySQL client combining collections description and facilities mapping (ask me for a copy) –Enabling exporting of metadata through different channels - RDF/RSLP/XML –Enabling online editing/updating

6. Cornucopia update Further developments… –Collections descriptions for all 1800+ Registered museums by the end of next year –Further descriptions for special library collections and some archives –Cornucopia as one of the key elements of the Peoples Network interface - delivering collections descriptions through UK public libraries –Development of metasearch facility with the 24 Hour Museum and partners –Culture Online…?

7. CLDs and the Stewardship Strategy Stewardship describes the entire range of demands and responsibilities associated with the management of cultural heritage collections, whether books, manuscripts, objects or digital material. –Doesnt stand alone – part of a wider, integrated framework –Development and use of collections - building on work done by RSLP/JISC –Using CLDs to manage subject collections in diverse institutions (eg. maritime collections in UK museums) –CLDs demonstrating delivery of Best Value –http://www.resource.gov.uk/action/stewardship/preserv01.asp –a thoroughly sensible document

8. The NOF-digitise portal MySQL (probably) database of collections-descriptions entered by projects Indexed using a standard terminology and/or location Searchable by users Will direct users out to project websites from a central point Thinking about Curriculum Online - using NOF-digi CLD metadata to point to learning resources online

9. Why are you here…..?

10. Contact Nick Poole ICT Adviser Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries 16 Queen Annes Gate London SW1H 9AA Email: nick.poole@resource.gov.uk Website: http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk

11. Collection Level Descriptions: a valuable resource? Heather Williamson Crossroads Project Collection Description Focus, Workshop 4 8 November

12. Improving access to museum, library and archive collections Developing a model for a web-enabled database of collection level descriptions –open source (non-proprietary) –incorporating online editing/updating Due to complete March 2003.

13. Improving access for users: –in discovering collections –via summarised results (collection level vs. item level) –in gaining access information Promoting the existence of resources –across the domains & across the region –increased public awareness and interest Interoperable/standardised –RSLP CLD Schema adopted.

15. Free text (dc:description) Example collection level description Time (dcq:temporal) People (cld:agentName) Subject (dc:subject) Place (dcq:spatial) Title (dc:title) Location. (cld:address)

16. Sharing information across domains and localities Provide institutions with information about their collections –summary of holdings Aid in collection management –inform strategic planning –help assess priorities for item-level cataloguing Unexpected benefits! –from users –and for staff.

17. Public evaluation version of database Evaluation of the Crossroads product (across all domains) –staff –end-users Final report (March 2003).

18. Heather Williamson Crossroads Project Manager heather.williamson@dial.pipex.com Tel: 0121 303 3533 www.crossroads-wm.org.uk