In the last few years, blockchain technology and NFTs have been the subject of much research in different sectors ranging from informatics, to medicine, to economics. Although it is most often ...associated with cryptocurrencies, due to its features of immutability and durability, this technology has found its place in various fields, including GLAM institutions. This article will review the literature from 2017 to 2022 dealing with blockchain and NFTs in the heritage sector. Topics covered, proposed models, and projects will be highlighted. Archives are currently leading the research into the use of blockchain technology and have already developed models such as TrustChain. However, libraries, museums, and galleries are also beginning to show an interest in the new technology and its potential benefits. Therefore, we also approached the GLAM sector as a whole, to emphasize the importance of the joint development on the advancement of shared approaches and protocols in utilizing blockchain technology to enhance the trustworthy management and preservation of digital resources. This is particularly important because GLAM institutions care for a shared heritage and serve a common audience. In the second part of the article we will discuss the proposed uses of the technology and highlight still unexplored topics that should be elaborated in further research. The aim of this paper is to make a synthesis of previous research and bring the potential of blockchain technology and NFTs closer to experts in the heritage field, given that they are still quite unknown.
This paper presents the critical role of digital humanities methods in safeguarding, research, and revitalisation of intangible cultural heritage. The study explores digitisation methods through a ...documentation and data management perspective, advocating for data standards that facilitate data interoperability at structure, content, value, and encoding levels. This paper critically analyses existing data standards and conceptual reference models, considering their potential and limitations for documenting and representing intangible cultural heritage. The typology of entities and processes related to intangible cultural heritage is presented and elaborated. Mapping identified entities and processes to individual classes in the CIDOC-CRM model is discussed to support the publication of data and semantic interoperability in the Semantic Web context.
PurposeThe study aims to paint a representative picture of the current state of search interfaces of Swedish online museum collections, focussing on search functionalities with particular reference ...to subject searching, as well as the use of controlled vocabularies, with the purpose of identifying which improvements of the search interfaces are needed to ensure high-quality information retrieval for the end user.Design/methodology/approachIn the first step, a set of 21 search interface criteria was identified, based on related research and current standards in the domain of cultural heritage knowledge organization. Secondly, a complete set of Swedish museums that provide online access to their collections was identified, comprising nine cross-search services and 91 individual museums' websites. These 100 websites were each evaluated against the 21 criteria, between 1 July and 31 August 2020.FindingsAlthough many standards and guidelines are in place to ensure quality-controlled subject indexing, which in turn support information retrieval of relevant resources (as individual or full search results), the study shows that they are not broadly implemented, resulting in information retrieval failures for the end user. The study also demonstrates a strong need for the implementation of controlled vocabularies in these museums.Originality/valueThis study is a rare piece of research which examines subject searching in online museums; the 21 search criteria and their use in the analysis of the complete set of online collections of a country represents a considerable and unique contribution to the fields of knowledge organization and information retrieval of cultural heritage. Its particular value lies in showing how the needs of end users, many of which are documented and reflected in international standards and guidelines, should be taken into account in designing search tools for these museums; especially so in subject searching, which is the most complex and yet the most common type of search. Much effort has been invested into digitizing cultural heritage collections, but access to them is hindered by poor search functionality. This study identifies which are the most important aspects to improve.
Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the importance of museum documentation in paper form, which includes various types of documentation related to museum objects, and to explore its position and ...role in the context of comprehensive documentation of cultural heritage. The next objective is to understand the attitudes of the curators towards paper-based documentation and to provide insight into existing practices and the needs of the curator regarding paper-based documentation. The purpose of the research is to examine the adequate forms of its integration into the documentation system in terms of adherence to the principle of continuity of museum documentation and to explore the possibilities of speeding up and improving the process of computer-based registration and cataloguing of museum material through the digitization of paper-based documentation.Methodology/approach: This paper will provide a theoretical and legislative framework related to preserving the continuity of museum documentation. A blueprint for future empirical research, which will be conducted in two stages, will be presented. In the first phase, an exploratory qualitative research method (focus group) will be applied. In the second phase, a quantitative methodology (survey) will be implemented. The survey method will test research questions on a larger sample of curators so that the results can be generalised to the curator population in Croatia.Results: A relevant theoretical framework and literature review are provided, as well as examples of digitization and integration of paper-based documentation at the Zagreb City Museum. The plan of the empirical research is presented in detail.Research limitations: As the topic is under-researched, exploratory research will identify key thematic units and issues for quantitative research.Originality/practical implications: The originality of the paper is reflected in the fact that this is the first time that the role of paper-based documentation has been explored in detail. The applicability of the research is high because it can be replicated in other countries or in an international context. Thus, it can provide valuable guidance in determining priorities related to digitization of old documentation and its integration into museum information systems. This paper explores and elaborates on the benefits of digitizing old documentation to increase the level of computer-based cataloguing, that is, reduce documentation backlogs and establish the continuity of museum documentation.
Cilj ovog rada je pružiti pregled ključnih smjernica, standarda te načela vezanih uz muzejsku dokumentaciju, a koji se odnose na uži kontekst registracije zbirki kao kulturnog dobra. U radu se ...problematizira i mogućnost jednorazinske (pojedinačne i skupne) i višerazinske obrade za grupe muzejskih predmeta. Osim relevantnih teorijskih i stručnih promišljanja ovaj rad bi trebao poslužiti i kao podloga za buduće praktične smjernice i priručnike.
Browsing through topics in online catalogues is often the first step in the information-seeking process. Therefore, subject analysis and indexing are vitally important and also closely connected to ...the subject access to information. The aim of this paper is to analyse and compare the subject terms from different knowledge organization systems, used for subject retrieval in online catalogues of museums and cultural heritage institutions, in order to better understand and improve browsing interfaces. Preliminary research and mapping will be conducted on subject terms collected from three sources: (1) the Art UK platform, (2) the Tate's website, and (3) the Art & Architecture Thesaurus. The mapping between the previously mentioned subject vocabularies resulted in the identification of various levels of matching. Based on the analysis and interpretation of mapping results, a few suggestions, aimed at ensuring the functionality and convenience of browsing in the context of online catalogues of collections held in museums and heritage institutions, are offered.
Za provođenje informatizacije i općenito uvođenje novih tehnologija i inovativnih praksi ključna je stalna izobrazba. MDC se postavio kao središnje mjesto prijenosa informacija, znanja i vještina o ...informatizaciji muzeja putem brojnih predavanja, radionica, seminara i stručno-znanstvenih skupova s jedne strane, a s druge strane s pomoću svojih zbirki i fondova te mrežnih stranica koje zajedno tvore potrebnu stručnu, znanstvenu i istraživačku informacijsku infrastrukturu. U vezi s užom temom ovog rada od svih zbirki i fondova MDC-a potrebno je izdvojiti Registar muzeja, galerija i zbirki RH, na koji se naslanjaju brojne usluge i samo mrežno sjedište MDC-a, te knjižnicu MDC-a kao jedinstvenu specijaliziranu knjižnicu ovakvog oblika u Hrvatskoj, a i šire.
The research and educational project Discovering the Old Dubrovnik Cathedrals was launched in 2015. Its activities were focused on the study of archaeological finds originating from the site of two ...consecutive medieval cathedral buildings under the actual Baroque Cathedral in Dubrovnik. The archaeological excavations at the site were undertaken after the earthquake of 1979, and the resulting finds have not been studied since. The primary activity of the educational project that so far involved over 40 students was the study of stone and glass fragments, as well as fragments of wall paintings and pottery. Out of approx. 3000 stone fragments, 250 were selected for detailed cataloguing, analysis and indexing. A metadata record was created for each object and each record was accompanied by multiple photographic representations of the fragment. Whole-part relationships between records allow the structuring and simulation of certain architectural units (e.g. the Romanesque ambo). Another important result of the project is the development of structured terminology via multilingual thesaurus (equivalence, associative and hierarchical relationships have been established among concepts). The aim of the article is to present an application of data processing in the field of digital art history and in the broader context of digital humanities.
The paper elaborates the model of collaborative terminology contribution to the Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) through the cooperation of university teachers, students and museum professionals. ...The elaborated model can accelerate the otherwise time-consuming process of developing multilingual thesauri through greater student engagement while achieving multiple educational goals on real-world tasks. This model includes a statistical selection of the most frequent Croatian art and heritage domain terms and their links to relevant AAT concepts (accompanied with references to relevant literature and lexicographical sources). This process is conducted by students. Subsequent quality control methods include peer-checking and teacher supervision. Mapping of Croatian and English terms for specific concepts was further implemented through semantic technologies (SPARQL queries). Concepts that are particularly demanding are examined by scholars and museum professionals in the corresponding field. After the quality check, the terms would be included in the AAT and made available to open access as Linked Open Data (LOD), provided by the Getty Research Institute. The methods of quality control and student engagement are applied from crowdsourcing projects methodologies, but they were revised and improved concerning the specific needs and requirements of the educational context.
Uvodnik Kocijan, Maja; Zlodi, Goran
Muzeologija,
12/2019
56
Web Resource
Odprti dostop
Tematski broj časopisa Muzeologija posvećen je digitalizaciji te izlazi ususret izazovima koje projekt e-Kultura donosi u cilju da se dobije uvid u postojeće projekte i dobre prakse, a sve kako bi se ...potaknula veća aktivnost u digitalizaciji, suradnja te prijenos znanja i iskustava.
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