Sam Owens and Cass Fino-Radin present the outcome of the latest collaboration between Glenstone and Small Data Industries: the debut of a new user-friendly app for automating and managing fixity checks and uploading incoming acquisitions in media collections. This ambitious project was only possible thanks to a foundation of many years of collaboration. It exemplifies what is possible when trust between conservation, IT, and outside consultants has been actively cultivated.
Small Data developed the app to meet the specific needs of Glenstone's team. As with many art museums, Glenstone faced challenges in identifying tools that were both easy for collections staff to use and cost-effective. Existing tools in the digital preservation field were designed mainly for libraries and archives. As such, they are often either too complex, requiring advanced technical expertise, or prohibitively expensive because they were intended for large-scale institutional use. Glenstone needed a solution that would be accessible, capable of handling the specific needs of its collections staff, and scalable for future growth.
This app offers a streamlined approach to collections staff interaction with, and oversight, of digital collections storage. It is manageable for institutions of all sizes and requires minimal technical expertise to implement while offering robust, scalable features for those who need it.
Key aspects of the presentation will include discussion and exploration of:
- The context of the project at Glenstone and the needs that were to be addressed
- The collaborative process including the importance of long-standing professional relationships and effective communication in the design and software development projects.
- The challenges and rewards of such collaborations within the context of art museums, including insights for institutions considering similar projects.
- Live demonstration of the app, providing an overview of its functionality and user interface.
- Reflection on the history and sustainability of software development in cultural heritage contexts.
Our presentation will share insights into how this project has met Glenstone's specific needs, providing solutions for accessible digital preservation in an art museum context. We will reflect on the collaborative design and software development process, the history of solving similar challenges in the cultural heritage space, and details on the public release.
By sharing this experience, we hope to introduce this new tool to attendees and also inspire institutions that may be considering collaborative projects involving software development in the context of collections management. We'll emphasize how such projects can lead to solutions that not only solve immediate problems but also contribute to the broader field of digital preservation in art collections.
