Digitization for the visibility of collections
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-06-2022-0024 |
| Published date | 27 December 2022 |
| Date | 27 December 2022 |
| Pages | 73-80 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Collection building & management |
| Author | Lara Corona |
Digitization for the visibility of collections
Lara Corona
Department of Humanities, Universitat Internaçional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Abstract
Purpose –This study aims to provide an overview of the usage of stored collections in museums located worldwide. To achieve this purpose, some
results gathered across five continents through a survey conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 are set out.
Design/methodology/approach –Museums hold collections so that people can benefit from them. Items need to be preserved as well. To achieve
this purpose, a considerable portion of museum collections is kept in storage. Consequently, museums that can show a significant part of their
whole collections are few and far between. This scenario implies collections, the “very heart”of museums, are not accessible to the general public.
In addition, the lack of space and the poor documentation exacerbate the scenario in terms of accessibility. This study aims to provide an overview
of the usage of stored collections in museums located worldwide. In order to achieve this purpose, some results gathered across five continents
through a survey conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 are set out. The research figures show that only 5% of museum stored
collections are accessible to the general public. To enhance the accessibility of stored collections, museums have been adopting some strategies.
Amongst them, some museums have opened up visible storage, lent or exchanged their ite ms. Despite their contribution to overcoming the burning
issue related to the accessibility of stored collections, these strategies imply a physical presence of visitors so as to enjoy collections. Digitization of
collections is one alternative strategy adopted by a plethora of museums to increase the accessibility of collections. This solution boasts many
advantages inasmuch as it overcomes many of the typical disadvantages of the other strategies, such as geographical constraints. Moreover, people
can enjoy collections, and museums can ensure the adequate preservation of them. Thus, the digitization of items is the epitome of accessibility
since, potentially, all collections can be made accessible, and museums can take care of them simultaneously. The study highlights the benefits of
digital access and compares it with physical access. In addition, the research sheds light on how documentation supports collection management
and increases accessibility.
Findings –The research figures show that only 5% of museum stored collections are accessible to the general public. To enhance the accessibility of
stored collections, museums have been adopting some strategies. Amongst them, some museums have opened up visible storage, lent or exchanged
their items. Despite their contribution to overcoming the burning issue related to the accessibility of stored collections, these strategies imply a
physical presence of visitors so to enjoy collections.
Research limitations/implications –The findings of this study are based on quantitative analysis. Therefore, this study might be integrated with
interviews’with visitors. It would be interesting to shed light on people’s opinions concerning what museums are doing in the digital realm, such as
the digital content in terms of the number of items, quality of images and ease of searching.
Practical implications –This study might provide practical implications for museums and people. One important contributio n is the awareness of
how the appropriateness of collections management plays a crucial role in preserving collections and making them accessible to the public. Another
possible implication is that museums can enlarge their visibility through digital content, both because they have not digitized and due to the
dimension of their digital content. This goal might be achieved by sharing the staff with speci fic expertise with other institutions or recruiting
volunteers and involving local communities in common tasks (so that professionals could dedicate themselves to more skilled undertakings). An
alternative might be to network with local universities so as to benefit from practitioners in the digital field. Last but not leas t, these findings could
raise the awareness that museums are facing the problem of making stored collections accessible, thereby increasing the trust in museums from the
general public.
Social implications –Digitization of collections is one alternative strategy adopted by a plethora of museums so to increase the accessibility of
collections. This solution boasts many advantages inasmuch as it overcomes many of the typical disadvantages of the other strategies, such as
geographical constraints. Moreover, people can enjoy collections and museums can ensure the adequate preservation of them. Thus, the digitization
of items is the epitome of accessibility since, potentially, all collections can be made accessible, and museums can tak e care of them simultaneously.
Originality/value –The study highlights the benefits of digital access and compares it with physical access. In addition, the research sheds light on
how documentation supports collection management and increases accessibility.
Keywords Digital collection, Digitization, Collection’s accessibility, Museum accessibility, Museum storage, Stored collection
Paper type Research paper
The current issue and full text archiveof this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9326.htm
Collection and Curation
42/3 (2023) 73–80
Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326]
[DOI 10.1108/CC-06-2022-0024]
© Lara Corona. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is
published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence.
Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of
this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to
full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this
licence maybe seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
Received7 June 2022
Revised 20 November 2022
Accepted 3 December 2022
73
To continue reading
Request your trial