Recording Physical Access to Collections (2008)

Title: Recording Physical Access to Stored Collections: London Museums Hub
Author: Stuart Davies Associates
Year: 2008
Pages: 57
Type of document: Report
Link: http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/...
Download: http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/... (pdf, 709 Kb)

From the Summary:
This study was commissioned by the London Museums Hub to investigate current and potential future ways to collect data on how stored collections are accessed and used. The project was developed because currently there is no common system for recording the use of stored collections either within institutions themselves (e.g. to support research work) or by the wider public.

Table of Contents (short version):
1. Introduction
2. Methodology of the project
3. Questionnaire findings on current methods of collecting data on stored collections
4. Discussion of issues
5. Recommendations
Appendix 1: List of the London hub museums and their major departments
Appendix 2: Information on non-hub museums responding to the questionnaire
Appendix 3: People consulted as part of the research
Appendix 4: List of items that The National Archives scores in the ‘Access and the User Experience Section’ of their self-assessment questionnaire.


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Reviewing Machine-readable Systems (2008)

Title: Reviewing Machine Readable Labelling Systems for Collections Management and Access
Author: Julian Tomlin
Year: 2008
Pages: 70
Type of document: Report
Link: http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/...
Download: http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/... (pdf, 1.68 Mb)

Description:

The Hub commissioned this review of the use of machine-readable labelling systems across the heritage sector to evaluate the benefits of this technology both as a collections management tool, and as a means of providing user access to collections information. The study focuses on the use of machine-readable technologies eg Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and bar coding as methods to control object movements, update locations, enhance security and facilitate access to information associated with an object or collection of objects.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction and Brief
2. Technological overview
3. Review
4. Potential for implementation in the partner museums
Decision-making aids

Appendices
A. Case Studies
1. The Ashmolean Museum of Art, Oxford
2. The Children‟s Museum of Indianapolis (TCM)
3. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
4. Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
5. Great North Museum, Newcastle
6. MVWISE
7. Manchester City Galleries
8. National Museum of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
9. Norfolk Museums and Archives Service
10. The Petrie Museum, London
B. Database of Past, Present and Future Installations and Suppliers
C. Acknowledgements
D. Images


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