Overview
In the same way that technology has revolutionised modern society, it is revolutionising every aspect of collections management.
The past decade has seen a huge investment in the development of the ‘digital offer' in museums, archives and libraries. It has enabled practitioners to build their skills, to digitise significant parts of their collections, and to develop websites and online services which promote access to collections.
Digitisation is being applied to a wide range of areas within cultural organisations, including:
- Audience engagement
- Marketing and product development
- Impact evaluation
- Enabling access to and interaction with collections
- Re-interpretation of collections
- Recording collections-based knowledge
- Care and conservation of collections
- Efficient organisational management
The opportunities presented by technology are tremendous. However, technology in itself is not a cure for bad planning or a lack of clarity about strategic aims and purpose. The Collections Trust is committed to helping cultural organisations minimise the risks in using technology, while maximising the opportunities it offers.
For up-to-date information about the Collections Trust's digital work, visit http://www.openculture.collectionstrustblogs.org.uk.
