Museum websites

While digitalization of cultural organizations is in full swing and growth, it is common knowledge that websites can be used as a beacon to expand the awareness and consideration of their services on the Web. Nevertheless, recent research results indicate the managerial difficulties in deploying strategies for expanding the discoverability, visibility, and accessibility of these websites. In this paper, a three-stage data-driven Search Engine Optimization schema is proposed to assess the performance of Libraries, Archives, and Museums websites (LAMs), thus helping administrators expand their discoverability, visibility, and accessibility within the Web realm. To do so, the authors examine the performance of 341 related websites from all over the world based on three different factors, Content Curation, Speed, and Security. In the first stage, a statistically reliable and consistent assessment schema for evaluating the SEO performance of LAMs websites through the integration of more ...

While digitalization of cultural organizations is in full swing and growth, it is common knowledge that websites can be used as a beacon to expand the awareness and consideration of their services on the Web. Nevertheless, recent research results indicate the managerial difficulties in deploying strategies for expanding the discoverability, visibility, and accessibility of these websites. In this paper, a three-stage data-driven Search Engine Optimization schema is proposed to assess the performance of Libraries, Archives, and Museums websites (LAMs), thus helping administrators expand their discoverability, visibility, and accessibility within the Web realm. To do so, the authors examine the performance of 341 related websites from all over the world based on three different factors, Content Curation, Speed, and Security. In the first stage, a statistically reliable and consistent assessment schema for evaluating the SEO performance of LAMs websites through the integration of more ...

While digitalization of cultural organizations is in full swing and growth, it is common knowledge that websites can be used as a beacon to expand the awareness and consideration of their services on the Web. Nevertheless, recent research results indicate the managerial difficulties in deploying strategies for expanding the discoverability, visibility, and accessibility of these websites. In this paper, a three-stage data-driven Search Engine Optimization schema is proposed to assess the performance of Libraries, Archives, and Museums websites (LAMs), thus helping administrators expand their discoverability, visibility, and accessibility within the Web realm. To do so, the authors examine the performance of 341 related websites from all over the world based on three different factors, Content Curation, Speed, and Security. In the first stage, a statistically reliable and consistent assessment schema for evaluating the SEO performance of LAMs websites through the integration of more ...

Art museums are institutions with the general purpose to acquire, preserve and provide access to the works of art. 1 Thus, they have the unique ability to decide which art works will represent man's finest works, shaping -in this way -an aspect of society's understanding of the past. Hence, their role is of extremely importance and art museums intentionnowadays isto provide to their public, not just an aesthetic experience, but educational outcomes too.

ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ

Η παρούσα εργασία μελετάει το ρόλο του σύγχρονου μουσείου μέσα από ένα δείγμα τριών ιστοσελίδων υπαρκτών μουσείων τέχνης (real museums on digital). Παρουσιάζει τα αποτελέσματα από την παρατήρηση των ιστοσελίδων, σε σχέση με την δομή και τα τεχνολογικά εργαλεία που χρησιμοποιούν για την διευκόλυνση της προσβασιμότητας του κοινού. Τελικός σκοπός είναι να προτείνει μοντέλα και καλές πρακτικές που μπορούν να εφαρμοστούν στην περίπτωση της ιστοσελίδας του νέου Μουσείου Σύγχρονης Τέχνης Κύπρου.



ABSTRACT

This paper studies the role of the modern museum through a sample of three websites of existing art museums (real museums on digital). It presents the results from the observation of the websites, in relation with their structure and the technological tools they use to facilitate the accessibility of the public. The ultimate goal is to propose models and good practices that could be applied in the case of the website of the new Museum of Contemporary Art of Cyprus.

Si presentano i risultati dell'indagine sulla visibilità online del patrimonio culturale siciliano (realizzata nel volume "La visibilit@ sul web del patrimonio culturale siciliano. Criticità e prospettive attraverso un survey on-line con Guida multimediale ai musei siciliani sul web"), soffermandosi sulle principali criticità e illustrando le potenzialità non adeguatamente sfruttate della comunicazione culturale sul web.

The exhibition of the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard at Birmingham Museum and Gallery is reviewed along with the accompanying publications ‘The Staffordshire Hoard’ and ‘Beasts, Birds and Gods: Interpreting the Staffordshire Hoard’ and the dedicated Staffordshire Hoard website. The exhibition is praised for its innovative approach in developing flexible displays, which can adapt to the findings of ongoing research, but criticized for the unclear juxtaposition of reconstructed and original artefacts, and cramped space within the ‘Treasury’. The publications are considered excellent, combining beautiful photography with modest cost, whilst the website is a useful additional resource containing a detailed gallery of photographs of use to both the serious scholar and student.

KEYWORDS
ANGLO-SAXON, EARLY MEDIEVAL, STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD, HOARDS, MATERIAL CULTURE, ANGLO-SAXON ICONOGRAPHY, MUSEUM STUDIES

In this paper, we analyse trends of the first wave of museum websites (from the 1990s to the early 2000s) to understand how the characteristics of the Internet (specifically the World Wide Web), of museum staff, and museum audiences shaped the adoption of technology and new forms of participation and what they can tell us about engagement for museums of the future. The early development of online museum resources parallels the development of the EVA conference, which was establishing itself at a similar time.

In this paper, we analyse trends of the first wave of museum websites (from the 1990s to the early 2000s) to understand how the characteristics of the Internet (specifically the World Wide Web), of museum staff, and museum audiences shaped the adoption of technology and new forms of participation and what they can tell us about engagement for museums of the future. The early development of online museum resources parallels the development of the EVA conference, which was establishing itself at a similar time.

Keywords: Museum collections. Museum websites. Digital history. Digital preservation. Open source. Virtual museums.

Resumo [PT]
O cruzamento entre a arte e as tecnologias digitais tem vindo a afirmar-se, progressivamente, como um tema fundamental na cultura contemporânea. Um pouco por todo o mundo, multiplicam-se as exposições, os festivais, as conferências e as publicações relacionadas com a arte digital e em rede. Paralelamente à criação de novos espaços especificamente dedicados a estas práticas artísticas, os museus de arte contemporânea já existentes confrontam-se também com os desafios associados à aquisição, conservação e divulgação de obras de arte nativas digitais. Neste contexto, o presente artigo procura discutir até que ponto os principais museus portugueses de arte contemporânea têm vindo a dar visibilidade à arte digital, em particular através dos seus websites institucionais.

Abstract [EN]
Out of the algorithm. The relative (in)visibility of digital art in contemporary art museums

The crossroads between art and digital technologies has gradually become a key theme in contemporary culture. Throughout the world, exhibitions, festivals, conferences and publications related to digital and network art are multiplied. Parallel to the creation of new spaces specifically dedicated to these artistic practices, existing contemporary art museums are also confronted with the challenges associated with the acquisition, conservation and dissemination of digital native works of art. In this context, the present article seeks to discuss the extent to which the main Portuguese museums of contemporary art have been giving visibility to digital art, in particular through their institutional websites.

Understanding our audiences is a key element in the design of the digital experiences we offer. Our digital strategy principles aim for an approach that is audiencecentered and insightdriven. But what does this mean in practice? How can we move from the data and insights to inform our digital plan and decide on priorities? As part of my role as a digital analyst, I act as an audience advocate, championing the voice of our visitors among the digital team and across the gallery, allowing us to respond to their needs. Here is an example of how we are applying our most recent audience research data to our digital plans.

The concept of the distributed multimedia information resource
«Digital Encyclopedia of the Hermitage. Volume 1. Archaeology»
The project of scientific cooperation between the Siberian Feder
al University (Krasnoyarsk) and the State Hermitage Museum. The
encyclopedia contains biographies of staff of the museum, information on collections of the museum, information on archeology history  in  Russia.  Digital  objects  are  connected  with  points  of  Yandex-map, rollers of YouTube, various websites. The encyclopedia is
adapted for viewing from mobile gadgets.
Key words:
scientific cooperation, Hermitage Museum, Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk), online encyclopedia, Digital Encyclopedia of the Hermitage, archaeological websites, museums
projects

Информационное обслуживание в век электронных
коммуникаций
— 2018: XIII Всероссийская научно-практическая
конференция «Электронные ресурсы библиотек, музеев, архивов»,
1–2 ноября 2018 г., Санкт-Петербург : сборник материалов / ЦГПБ
им. В. В. Маяковского ; ред.-сост. И. Е. Прозоров. — Санкт-Петер-
бург : ЦГПБ им. В. В. Маяковского, 2018. С.

"La valorizzazione culturale e museale attraverso le nuove tecnologie costituisce un tema innovativo ed in costante evoluzione per chi si occupi, oggi, sia di economia, marketing e gestione museale che di comunicazione, fruizione e valorizzazione museale, all’interno di una più ampia strategia per il rilancio economico territoriale. Partendo da un inquadramento teorico sulla "Economia della cultura e della comunicazione", il volume pone una particolare attenzione agli investimenti e ai progetti realizzati, in particolare nell’ultimo decennio, dall'Unione Europea e dal Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali italiano nella valorizzazione della cultura e delle istituzioni museali. Dopo un’analisi dell’evoluzione del "museo" ed un inquadramento sulla sua storia legislativa italiana, con un respiro ampiamente interdisciplinare la ricerca si concentra dapprima sugli aspetti di economia, comunicazione e marketing museale poi sulle nuove tecnologie, di cui si parla diffusamente, e sulle potenzialità espresse (o ancora da esprimere) nel campo dell'offerta museale. Sono analizzati numerosi esempi di musei, di siti web museali, di musei virtuali e vengono evidenziate molte "eccellenze" tecnologiche prodotte in Italia (eccellenze che ricadono essenzialmente nell'ambito dei musei virtuali archeologici), poi, nello specifico, descritte tutte le tecnologie applicabili nel settore dei beni culturali (dai multitouch screen ai dispositivi portatili) e, nello specifico, rivolte sia alla fruizione museale remota, che alla fruizione in mobilità (tra cui i dispositivi legati all'applicazione dell'augmented reality, sfruttata in molti esempi di archeologia virtuale). Vengono analizzate, infine, le grandi potenzialità, comunicative ed economiche, fornite dai siti web e dai social networks, con le più recenti tendenze di comunicazione legate al social-tagging o al geo-social tagging.


Museum and cultural development through new technologies is an innovative and constantly evolving issue. Starting from a theoretical framework on the "Economics of Culture and Communication", this volume pays particular attention to investments and projects, particularly in the last decade, that the European Union and the Ministry of Heritage and Culture Italian has been making for the enhancement of culture and museums. With a widely-ranging interdisciplinary this research focuses on the aspects of economy, marketing, communications and new technologies for museums. There are analyzed numerous examples of museums, museum websites, virtual museums and many "excellent" technologies produced in Italy (expecially within the virtual archaeological museums), then, specifically, are described all the technologies used in the field of cultural heritage (from the multitouch screen to mobile devices, including devices relating to the application of augmented reality, used in many examples of virtual archaeology). Finally the volume analyzes the great potential provided by museum web sites and by social networks, with the latest trends of communication, as social-tagging or geo-social tagging."

"Proponendosi come naturale ‘evoluzione’ del precedente lavoro intitolato “Il museo contemporaneo, fra tradizione, marketing e nuove tecnologie” (Aracne, Roma 2011), il volume inquadra inizialmente le problematiche riguardanti le ICT e il loro utilizzo nella fruizione e valorizzazione culturale. Si esaminano il fenomeno di Internet, le molteplici forme di digital divide ed il ruolo delle tecnologie del Web 2.0 a livello socio-culturale, con una particolare attenzione al sorgere della nuova branca di studi definita netnografia. Dopo un’analisi degli investimenti e dei progetti realizzati dall'Unione Europea e dal Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali italiano nella valorizzazione della cultura e delle istituzioni museali attraverso le tecnologie digitali, la ricerca si concentra sulle nuove tecnologie e sulle loro potenzialità nel campo dell'offerta culturale e museale. Partendo dalla classificazione delle molteplici definizioni di museo virtuale e di mostra virtuale, sono analizzati numerosi esempi di musei, di siti web museali, di musei e mostre virtuali; si affrontano, poi, il concetto di ‘museo partecipativo’, il ruolo dei social networks nella comunicazione culturale e quello dell’utente (prosumer) nella partecipazione alla produzione culturale. Sono descritti i dispositivi e le tecnologie applicabili nel settore dei beni culturali, utilizzati sia nel campo della fruizione museale remota ed in presenza (dal sito web ai palmari, dalle installazioni multimediali agli effetti speciali), che nella fruizione di tipo mobile. In quest’ultimo caso, si analizzano le tecnologie delle ‘etichette’ intelligenti (dalle tags RFId, ai QR codes, alle Microsoft e Custom tags, per finire con la tecnologia NFC). Sono analizzate, inoltre, le potenzialità, comunicative ed economiche, fornite dai social networks e dai geo-social networks. Il volume si conclude con un’ampia rassegna delle molteplici attività svolte dal motore di ricerca Google nel settore della digitalizzazione del patrimonio culturale, dei suoi softwares e delle loro applicazioni ed interazioni nel settore, da Google Maps a Google Art Project.

This volume is the natural 'evolution' of the previous work entitled "The contemporary museum, between tradition, marketing and new technologies" (Aracne, Rome 2011). The volume initially examines the phenomenon of the Internet, the multiple forms of digital divide and the role of Web 2.0 technologies in social-cultural life, with particular attention to the rise of a new branch of studies called netnografia. The research focuses on new technologies and their potential in field of cultural comunication and valorisation. Starting from the definitions of virtual museum and virtual exhibition, numerous examples of museums, museum websites, virtual museums and exhibitions are analyzed; then, the concept of 'participatory museum', the role of social networks in cultural communications and the user's (prosumer) participation in cultural production. The book describes devices and technologies applicable in the field of cultural heritage, from the website to handhelds, from multimedia installations to special effects. Technologies of 'intelligent labels' (RFID tags, QR codes, MS tags, Custom tags, ending with the NFC) are also analyzed and, in addition, the potential provided by social networks and geo-social networks. The volume concludes with an extensive review of many activities carried out by the Google in digitization of cultural heritage, from Google Maps to Google Art Project."

"We consider the provision of museum Web sites with respect to gender issues from a number of different perspectives. Design issues for Web access, the use of technology such as Web logs by women, together with some more specialist interests such as on-line gaming are covered. The differences in various cultures are also considered. In particular, the situation in a selection of Spanish, Italian and Russian language museum Web sites is presented. We include a small survey of potential visitors who are members of the British Computer Society BCSWomen specialist group. It is hoped that the discussion here and in the forum itself could feed into a larger study in this area to see how museums can minimize any gender discrimination on their Web sites, increasing accessibility in the process.
"Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition."
        - Timothy Leary (1920-1996)

Keywords: female issues, gender studies, museum Web sites, on-line gaming, Web design, women's rights, Web
"

In this paper, we analyse trends of the first wave of museum websites (from the 1990s to the early 2000s) to understand how the characteristics of the Internet (specifically the World Wide Web), of museum staff, and museum audiences shaped the adoption of technology and new forms of participation and what they can tell us about engagement for museums of the future. The early development of online museum resources parallels the development of the EVA conference, which was establishing itself at a similar time.

В тезисах рассматривается зарождение концепта виртуального музея, а также его последующий транзит в современное состояние. В литературе анализируются виртуальные музеи в сравнительно узкой исторической перспективе, их история связывается в основном со Всемирной паутиной (WWW) и присут-
ствием в среде Интернет. В данном материале показано, что концепт виртуальных музеев зародился еще до цифрового поворота в музеях, принятием и адаптацией информационных технологий к музейной деятельности. Виртуальные музеи прошли свой путь становления как «надстройки» к реальному музею, существенно расширив возможности и функции музеев. В тезисах представлены следующие крупные этапы развития концепта виртуальных музеев: это движение музеев за свои границы и использование средств массовой информации для этих целей (газет, радио и телевидения), развитие музейного мультимедиа и транзит виртуальных музеев в Интернет-пространство.
Ключевые слова: виртуальный музей, музейные мультимедиа-ресурсы, музейные функции, Всемирная паутина.

Versión española English version Sitios Web de museos de Cataluña: Análisis y propuesta de evaluación Autor: Ricard Monistrol, Cristòfol Rovira, Lluis Codina Situación en la jerarquía: Inicio -> Números publicados -> Núm. 4, mayo 2006 -> Museos URL de esta página: http://www. ...

Versión española English version Sitios Web de museos de Cataluña: Análisis y propuesta de evaluación Autor: Ricard Monistrol, Cristòfol Rovira, Lluis Codina Situación en la jerarquía: Inicio -> Números publicados -> Núm. 4, mayo 2006 -> Museos URL de esta página: http://www. ...

While digitalization of cultural organizations is in full swing and growth, it is common knowledge that websites can be used as a beacon to expand the awareness and consideration of their services on the Web. Nevertheless, recent research results indicate the managerial difficulties in deploying strategies for expanding the discoverability, visibility, and accessibility of these websites. In this paper, a three-stage data-driven Search Engine Optimization schema is proposed to assess the performance of Libraries, Archives, and Museums websites (LAMs), thus helping administrators expand their discoverability, visibility, and accessibility within the Web realm. To do so, the authors examine the performance of 341 related websites from all over the world based on three different factors, Content Curation, Speed, and Security. In the first stage, a statistically reliable and consistent assessment schema for evaluating the SEO performance of LAMs websites through the integration of more than 30 variables is presented. Subsequently, the second stage involves a descriptive data summarization for initial performance estimations of the examined websites in each factor is taking place. In the third stage, predictive regression models are developed to understand and compare the SEO performance of three different Content Management Systems, namely the Drupal, WordPress, and custom approaches, that LAMs websites have adopted. The results of this study constitute a solid stepping-stone both for practitioners and researchers to adopt and improve such methods that focus on end-users and boost organizational structures and culture that relied on data-driven approaches for expanding the visibility of LAMs services.

In the final scene of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", a crate containing the object of Indiana Jones' quest is wheeled into an immense warehouse for indefinite storage and questionable research access. Unfortunately, this fate is not all that far from reality. Collections of archaeological and ethnographic materials ranging from stone axes, broken potsherds, and carved monuments to baskets, ceremonial masks, and skin canoes have been held by museums collections since the Renaissance. However, their inestimable value and unique conservation and curatorial requirements often conspire to remove them from the reach of all but the most diligent scholars. The potential of the Web to enhance the quality of research on archaeological and ethnographic collections is enormous. This paper will examine ways that one can use the Web to enhance research and improve access to a variety of materials; while there are many other resources for archaeology available on the Web, this paper focusses on museum-related sites. It will also explore the potential of the Web for innovative research strategies. Digitization of catalogs, associated documents, and images to help one locate and study collections and specific artifacts are just one approach. Others include the connection of devices to the Web, such as cameras and microscopes, the creation of virtual reference collections, and the establishment of research networks that will enhance the identification and analysis of material culture. This paper will also consider the role the Web could play in issues of cultural property, contributing to and in many ways intensifying ongoing debates of ownership, curation, conservation, and repatriation of sensitive materials.