Digital image managers: a museum/university collaboration

Citation

(1999), "Digital image managers: a museum/university collaboration", Internet Research, Vol. 9 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/intr.1999.17209eaf.003

Digital image managers: a museum/university collaboration

Digital image managers: a museum/university collaboration

Principal researcher: S.K. Hastings, School of Library & Information Sciences, University of North Texas. E-mail: hastings@lis.unt.edu

Funded by: The Institute of Museum and Library Services and to the University of North Texas for the funds to make this project possible.

The University of North Texas in Denton (the School of Library and Information Sciences and the School of Visual Arts) and the African American Museum in Dallas, Texas are partners in a program designed to produce a cadre of experts for the field of digital image management. The School of Library and Information Sciences received a grant from the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services to build a digital imaging laboratory that will make the Museum collection available on the Web and provide fellowships for students in a Certificate of Advanced Study Program. The project includes the production of digital images, digital information database creation and management with a focus on advanced network and information technologies. The School of Visual Arts is contributing its expertise and experience in museum education, the use of computers in art and the digitization of images.

The production and management of digital images and the management of digital information are important skill sets for current and future library and museum information professionals. An integral part of the educational experience for the students enrolled in the program is the opportunity to work as interns at the African American Museum and other area museums. One result of the project is improved access to a majority of the museum's collection by making images and information about the collection available through the Web.

Proposed models

The project produces three models. First is the development of a model for training professionals in the creation, use and management of digital images. The project also produces a model of collaboration between museums and universities. In addition, the project provides the opportunity to assess the impact that improved access to a museum collection may have.

Information has become a critical resource in most facets of American society, and education for the information professions has become strategic for the development of a healthy information economy and the preservation of democracy. Digital image and information management is a subset of this much larger construct. In order to compete and lead in a global economic environment we must have experts capable of planning, implementing and managing projects that increase and improve access to our cultural heritage. This project produces a model for the education and training of digital image and information managers and focuses attention on the importance of digital information. In addition, the project brings attention to an excellent collection of African American art and helps improve access to the museum collection.

Part of the design and plan of action for the project focuses on gathering data to produce a model program of study for the management of digital images. Data are also collected to support the development of a model for how museums and universities may collaborate. The models produced should be useful to state-supported universities, schools of library and information sciences, and museums.

Design

The general approach of this project is based on a program of study to produce professionals with a specialty in digital image management. The plan of action is based on goals and objectives and periodic evaluation. The project also includes a summative evaluation report reflecting how well the project met measurable outcomes.

Goals and objectives

1. 1.

   To provide opportunities for professionals working in the fields of information organization, museum and library information management, and image storage and retrieval to add new tools, skills and knowledge needed to become experts in the management of digital images.

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     Implement a cross-disciplinary program of study that includes courses from the School of Library and Information Sciences, the School of Visual Arts, digital imaging laboratory experience and practical internship work at the African American Museum.

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     Identify and nationally recruit ten currently employed professionals to engage in a program of study that will provide the skills and knowledge needed to become experts in the field of digital image production and management. Students will graduate with a Certificate of Advanced Study by August 30, 2000.

2. 2.

   To build a digital image database that will provide Web access to art object images previously available in slide or photographic format only from the collection of the African American Museum.

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     Select, install, support and maintain a digital imaging laboratory. The lab contains workstations with slide and photograph scanners as well as a video-conference links to the museum.

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     Digitize 20,000 slides and photos or create digital images from the collection of objects by July 31, 2000.

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     Select collection management or database management software that can be adapted for use with digital images. Import data records or create records for the images and link these to digital images.

   • •

     Build and maintain the digital image database and design and maintain Web access for the collection.

3. 3.

   To produce a model for how academic and museum institutions may collaborate to support and maintain digital imaging laboratories framed by the following questions:

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     What direct and indirect costs are associated with the support and maintenance of digitizing laboratories?

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     What skills and knowledge are needed to support and maintain a digitizing laboratory?

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     How much time does it require to support and maintain a digitizing laboratory?

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     What are the variables in the management of a digitizing laboratory? What problems are encountered? At what level?

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     What are the outcomes of providing digitizing services?

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     What is the level of satisfaction with the project? From the museum's perspective? From the university's perspective?

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     What is the process of setting up the laboratory in general?

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     What recommendations can be made from our experience?

Activities to date

Fellowships have been offered to five international students and five national students. The fellows will begin the program of study in Fall 1999. Content development for the digital imaging lab course is ongoing under the direction of assistant project manager for the university, Mary O'Connor. Course modules for creating digital images, building digital image databases, using appropriate metadata tags and developing evaluation methods are targeted as part of the laboratory experience.

Benchmarking current museum data such as number and type of visitors, number and type of education programs and exhibit histories of museum objects has begun under the direction of assistant project manager for the museum, Dr Florence Mason.

The Digital Image Laboratory is configured and user manuals, documentation and policies are being developed. A Web-server and networked workstations with flatbed and slide scanners, a CD-ROM burner and a color laser printer serve as the main equipment in the digital image laboratory. The lab is connected to the museum by a V-Tel video-conference system and ISDN lines. A computer with a video-conference board is in place at the museum. The lab is administrated and maintained by the Schools of Library and Information Sciences and Visual Arts and the Academic Computing Services. Theresa J. Russell manages the lab, provides direct support for the lab and reports directly to the School of Library and Information Sciences LAN and technology manager. Access to the lab is restricted to students in the digital image management program of study.

Evaluation

Measures of success of the program of study include:

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  Statistics on the number of inquiries received and number of applications submitted versus the number of enrollees;

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  Profiles of all fellows including academic performance and placement information;

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  Career progress and accomplishments including publications, participation in professional associations, etc.

The overall plan for evaluation of the project has three parts:

1. 1.

   Primary evaluation for the project is based on meeting the measurable objects outlined in the goals and objectives of the design section above. Primary evaluation includes measures of success of the program graduates and provides opportunities to study the impact of well-prepared professionals in the field.

2. 2.

   Secondary evaluation collects data to produce models of the program of study and the cooperation and collaboration between museums and universities.

3. 3.

   The third level of evaluation is ongoing and tracks the impact of increasing access to a museum collection by providing digital images on the Web.

Summary

As an educational experience, one of the most unique features of the project is made possible by the cooperation between a museum and a university. Students digitize objects from the museum collection and build an image database available on the Web. The experience includes the use of videoconference technologies to enhance collaboration between the museum and the university. Students communicate with the museum staff, work on images and database information simultaneously and share experiences immediately. By linking the digital image laboratory and the African American Museum, students have every opportunity to learn from museum professionals as well as from university professors.

The project is a model for training professionals in the creation, use and management of digital images and may serve as a model of collaboration between museums and universities. In addition, the project assesses the impact resulting from improved access to a museum collection through the Web.

The project is ongoing and scheduled to conclude in Fall of 2000. Preliminary data reports and in-progress evaluations are available at the project Web site, linked from http://www.unt.edu/slis In the Spring of 1999, a test database was made available and the project plan was piloted by students in a Digital Imaging Laboratory course offered at the School of Library and Information Sciences. Comments and suggestions are encouraged and should be addressed to the author.