1. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Quality Framework and Guidelines for Cultural Web Sites Isabelle Dujacquier Ministry of the French Community of Belgium Minerva Quality Working Group

2. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Genesis of European Quality Criteria The Lund Principles -4th April 2001- Identifying added value conditions for European content. The Resolution Culture and the Knowledge Society - 21st January 2002- To encourage "quality-initiatives" in cultural web sites. The Brussels Quality Framework -11th December 2001- A tableau de bord -frame- to make quality more objective, applicable and measurable. Setting up the Minerva Quality Working Group (MQWG) This first step is going on within the Minerva QWG

3. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites The Minerva Quality Working Group : Objectives and Methods To produce tools to help cultural entities to reach Quality in online communication To produce European tools that consider and respect specificities of the different countries, of all European cultural communities A European Editorial Committee set up within the Minerva Quality Working Group: Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, UK

4. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites The Minerva Quality Working Group : Results Ten Principles - draft version (short and long versions). A guide for the development of cultural access points that celebrate European cultural diversity by providing high quality access for all to digital cultural content. The explanations of Principles. To be drafted in the next months. Self-assessing the Quality. The quality principles will be described through criteria which will be used to measure the principles themselves. The Handbook for Quality in Cultural Websites, Improving quality for Citizens. A working document and also a work in progress.

5. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Cultural Website Qualité Principles - Draft version (Short) Transparent Effective Maintained Accessible User-centred Responsive Multi-lingual Interoperable Managed Preserved A quality cultural website celebrates european cultural diversity by providing access for all to digital cultural content. A quality website must be:

6. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Be transparent, clearly stating the identity and purpose of the website, as well as the organisation responsible for its management. Select, digitise, author, present and validate content to create an effective website for users. Implement quality of service policy guidelines to ensure that the website is maintained and updated at an appropriate level. Be accessible to all users, irrespective of the technology they use or their disabilities, including navigation, content, and interactive elements. Be user-centred, taking into account the needs of users, ensuring relevance and ease of use through responding to evaluation and feedback. Cultural Website Quality Principles - Draft version (Long)

7. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Cultural Website Quality Principles - Draft version (Long) Be responsive, enabling users to contact the site and receive an appropriate reply. Where appropriate, encourage questions, information sharing and discussions with and between users. Be aware of the importance of multi-linguality by providing a minimum level of access in more than one language. Be committed to being interoperable within cultural networks to enable users to easily locate the content and services that meet their needs. Be managed to respect legal issues such as IPR and privacy and clearly state the terms and conditions on which the website and its contents may be used. Adopt strategies and standards to ensure that the website and its content can be preserved for the long-term.

8. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Handbook for Quality in Cultural Websites, Improving Quality for Citizens. The working Group has worked in order to draft: A Handbook which should be considered as A working document. And also as a "work in progress. A Handbook which creates a FRAMEWORK that can guide the process of formulating quality issues on the CULTURAL level. Currently, its objective is creating awareness on the principles of quality in cultural web sites

9. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Handbook for Quality in Cultural Websites, Improving quality for Citizens. Future steps…

10. Parma, 21st November 2003Minerva European Conference : Quality for cultural Web sites Thank you for your attention. For more information : isabelle.dujacquier@cfwb.be http://www.minervaeurope.org/