1 Reviewing Machine-Readable Systems in Museums KE EMu Users, 2 June 2008 Julian Tomlin

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3 Contents The Project Technologies Case Studies Benefits and Drawbacks Decisions, Decisions, Decisions Workshop - 30 June Links

4 The Project London Museums Hub –Part of wider research into access to collections Brief –Machine-readable technologies –Chiefly in museums –Focus on collections management Methodology – lists; conferences; CMS user groups –Site visits (referred to in case studies) Today providing summary, with reference to KE EMu

5 Technologies Chiefly 1D, 2D barcodes, RFID tags

6 Ashmolean Museum ‘The Decant’ - moving 250k objects to 1k locations, with 16k containers Barcodes, with in-house database 9 data stations, each with 2-4 staff Workflow –basic cataloguing, barcoding, photography Data loaded into MuseumPlus (new CMS)

7 Petrie Museum Conservation audit of 80k objects Barcodes chosen, RFID rejected –RFID estimate of £24k Labels positioned in crystal boxes, or placed in open boxes Aim to supplement/ replace display labels –not fulfilled as labels too big

8 Manchester Art Gallery 2D (QR) codes –Trial with Revealing Histories display –Link to web pages with text, audio, inviting user content –Example of web page for mobile phoneExample of web page for mobile phone

9 Children’s Museum, Indianapolis RFID –Walker Arts Center –collections management –planned for visitor access –ARTiFACT TRAC™ software –data stored on the tag RFID tags –encapsulated Washi-Wrap™ –tie-on tags Live link planned –to KE EMu

10 MVWISE Web interface to KE EMu –Uses PDA’s web browser –Developed by Museum Victoria, Melbourne –MvCIS (Collections Inventory System) leading to MVWISE (Wireless Input System) Live updating of data Uses barcodes but RFID reading supported

11 Benefits and drawbacks Accuracy, speed of data entry Perception of organised, secure storage Success in large-scale collection moves Reliance on certain staff, lack of take-up Importance of training, support, procedures Costs –comparison of technologies, staff time Longevity –technology, physical

12 Decisions - environment

13 Decisions - barcodes or tags?

14 Decisions - readers, software

15 More … Workshop - 30 London Transport Museum –Researching our online audiences –Current and potential use of web statistics –Measuring the use of collections –Machine-readable labelling for collections management and access Bookings workshop/ workshop/

16 Links etworks/sustainable_storagewww.collectionslink.org.uk/find_a_network/regional_n etworks/sustainable_storage mvwise.museum.vic.gov.au/Home.htm /Presentations/03_MVWISE.ppswww.emuusers.org/Portals/0/Melbourne 2005/Presentations/03_MVWISE.pps

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