UKOLN is supported by:

1
Collection-Level Description and Cross-Domain
Partnerships Bridget Robinson and Ann
Chapman Collection Description Focus
UKOLN is supported by
www.ukoln.ac.uk
A centre of expertise in digital information
management
2
Introduction to Collections Collection-Level
Description

• Collection Description Focus
• What is a collection
• What is collection-level description
• Why collection-level description
• Who is using collection-level description

3
Collection Description Focus

• Developing consensus
• Gathering information
• Building a community
• Facilitating dialogue
• CD Schema Forum
• Disseminating good practice
• Organising events
• workshops, briefing days
• Giving presentations
• Publishing articles and papers
• Developing training resources
• recommendations, guidelines, Online Tutorial

4
Collection Description Focus

• Supporting implementers
• point of contact, advice
• support for CLD in programmes
• Research Support Libraries Programme
• JISC programmes for building the IE
• JISC Learning Teaching (5/99) programme
• NOF-Digitise
• Resource regional cross-domain research projects

5
Collection Description Focus

• Supporting Strategic Initiatives
• Cross-Domain
• NOF Digitise
• Culture Online
• Museums
• Renaissance in the Regions
• Regional Agencies
• Libraries
• Peoples Network - connectivity
• Full Disclosure
• Archives
• Archives Hub, Access to Archives AIM25 etc

6
What is a collection?

• Collection
• an aggregation of items
• Aggregations of, e.g.
• natural objects fossils, mineral samples
• created objects artefacts, documents, records
• digital resources documents, images, multimedia
  objects, data, software
• digital surrogates of physical objects
  documents, images
• metadata catalogue records, item descriptions,
  collection-level descriptions

7
CLDs provide high-level map of landscape for
user, researcher, visitor.
8
Why Collection Description?

• Enables collections to be described, searched and
  retrieved across domains and thus transcends the
  boundaries of domain-specific cataloguing formats
  and standards
• Dr Clive Field

9
Bringing it together

• SCONE Scottish Collections Network
• Rascal- Research and Special Collections
  Available Online (Northern Ireland)
• Crossroads - collections related to the potteries
  industry in north Staffordshire
• Cornucopia UK database of museum
  collection-level descriptions (to be extended
  to add archives and special library collections)
• FiiL Find it in London

10
The Users

• The School Project
• The Romans
• Personal Interest
• Grandfather worked for Stothert Pitt
• Research
• Medicinal effects of spa waters at Bath

11
User wants to know

• Which collections are relevant to them?
• subject/coverage of items?
• type?
• legal status?
• conditions of access/use?
• etc
• What services make those collections available?
• location?
• access?
• etc

12
Describing collections

• Schema
• Structured way of holding data
• MARC, ISAD(G) and EAD, Spectrum
• Data
• Consistent details collected and held
• Indexing supports searching
• Different views for different users
• Record exchange, interoperability

13
Collection description schema

• Descriptive elements
• Title, description(s), collection type
  strength, dates of acquisition content
• Access points
• Concepts, items, names, places, dates
• Related resources
• Sub and Super-collections, catalogues, associated
  collections

14
Collection description schema

• Access to the collection (public view)
• Who when, restrictions, study facilities,
  educational visits, disabled access
• Administration (some not public view)
• Still collecting? Purchase/donation?
• Preservation, documentation
• Legal status, owner, collector, administrator

15
Collection description views

• Schools
• Minimal data, description A, visits and
  educational materials
• Researcher
• Most data, description B, study access
• Administrator
• All data, ability to edit records

16
Collections related to Bath

• 15 Museums
• at least 2 have library collections
• 1 Art gallery
• 5 Libraries
• 1 public, 3 academic, 1 private
• 2 Archives
• 1 public records office, university archive,
  others?
• Some collections contain sub-collections

17
A database for Bath

• c. 23 collection records
• archives, libraries, museums, art galleries
• varying access conditions
• c. 63 sub-collection records
• more detail about scope and contents
• Listings elsewhere
• Cornucopia lists 18 collections
• Visit Bath website lists 14 collections
• Overlap
• 12 listed on both resources
• 5 or more not listed on either

18
School Projects

• The Romans
• Roman Baths
• Bath Royal Scientific Literary Institution
• The Victorians
• Museum of Costume
• Museum of Bath at Work
• Bath Postal Museum

19
Stothert Pitt of Bath

• Museum of Bath at Work
• Bristol Industrial Museum
• and perhaps .
• Bath Record Office
• Surveys leases, Rentals rates
• Bath Public Library

20
Bath Spa waters

• Roman Baths
• Bath Record Office
• Bath District Health Authority
• Bath Royal Literary Scientific Institution
• Social history, library
• Bath Public Library

21
Whos using Collection Description?

• AIM25
• Archives Hub
• Cecilia
• Collections Navigator NHM
• Cornucopia
• Crossroads

22
Whos using Collection Description?

• EnrichUK.net
• ITAM MIMAS Collection
  Description
• Reveal
• The Science Culture website
• SCONE