Creating Collection Level Descriptions in the Crossroads Project

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Creating Collection Level Descriptions in the
Crossroads Project

• CD Focus Workshop 2
• 8 February 2002

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The Crossroads Project

• Development of cross-domain database for the
  library, archive and museum collections of the
  West Midlands
• Funded by Resource (Cross-Domain Fund)
• Principally to improve access
• Wide target user group

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How will it be done?

• Development of a database model
• Creating the right specification
• Appointment of a database developer
• Database content
• Pilot database focus chosen pottery industry of
  North Staffordshire
• Scoping survey used to identify collection
  holders
• In-depth mapping follow-up to survey

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Slipware Collection

• Description
• Collection of 17th and early 18th Century
  slipware, including the rare Slipware Owl Jug,
  discovered by the TV programme The Antiques
  Roadshow in 1990.
• Circa. 175 pieces in the collection
• Date range c. 1640 - 1750

• Location Details
• Potteries Museum Art Gallery
• Bethesda Street, Hanley
• Stoke-on-Trent ST1 3DW
• http//www.stoke.gov.uk/museums/pmag
• Email museums_at_stoke.gov.uk
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• Visiting Information
• Mon Sat 10.00am 4.00pm Sun 1.00pm 4.00pm
• Open to the public. Entry is free.

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Collection Description Schema

• Based on RSLP CLD Schema
• Interoperable, Accessible, Sustainable
• Little emphasis on collection management issues
• Broadly a more basic structure

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Reusability of Collection Descriptions

• Organisations currently involved
• Future projects - once created, they will be
  available for anyone to reuse
• As a management tool
• Reusability of existing collection descriptions?

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The Challenges

• Cross-domain/cross-authority project
• Diversity of collection description packages used
• Unified thesaurus for the database?
• Duplication of effort

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In Practice 1

• Perception of collections differ
• differ between domains (e.g. library)
• even between staff in the same institution
• underestimation on number of collections
• Unified thesaurus seems a difficult goal
• Different standards used across
  domains/institutions. (MARC, EAD etc.)

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In Practice 2

• Ownership of CLDs by collection managers/owners
• Concept of a regional gateway to collections can
  cause problems
• Needs sign-up at the highest levels

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Current Progress

• Survey - over 60 response rate
• In-depth mapping visits
• 50 (and counting!) collections identified and
  described
• Diverse range of collections located
• Database specification about to be circulated

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The Future

• Appointment of database developer
• Database evaluation
• Project completion in August 2002
• Expansion of the project to include all subject
  areas all of the West Midlands?

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For more information

• Heather Williamson
• Crossroads Project Officer
• heather.williamson_at_dial.pipex.com
• Tel. [phone]
• www.crossroads-wm.org.uk

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• www.crossroads-wm.org.uk