The National Burns Collection database: a tool for determining

preservation and digitisation priorities

Gordon DunsirePresented at Electric Connections 2005

AK Bell Library, Perth

National Burns Collection database

• Developed as part of the Distributed National Burns Collection Project 2004– 16 month Strategic Change Fund initiative to

encourage organisations to work together to improve stewardship of, and access to, artefacts associated with Robert Burns

• Over 8800 items recorded from 43 collections– Objects, books, manuscripts, images, etc.

• Web interface developed by Centre for Digital Library Research– Database query and simple thesaurus browse

CollectionsAbbotsfordAngus CouncilAyr Carnegie LibraryAyrshire Archives CentreBurns Cottage MuseumBurns House Museum, MauchlineDumfries and Galloway MuseumsDumfries Archives ServiceEast Ayrshire CouncilEast Dunbartonshire MuseumEast Lothian Council MuseumEllisland FarmEwart Library, DumfriesFalkirk MuseumGlasgow Museum ServiceGlobe Inn DumfriesGrand Lodge of ScotlandInverclyde CouncilInverclyde Council, McLean MuseumIrvine Burns ClubLodge Loudoun Kilwinning, NewmilnsLodge St. James Tarbolton

Mitchell Library, GlasgowMurison Library, DunfermlineNational Archives of ScotlandNational Burns Memorial HomesNational Galleries of ScotlandNational Library of ScotlandNational Museums of ScotlandNational Trust for Scotland, Broughton HouseNational Trust for Scotland, Souter Johnnie’s CottageNorth Ayrshire LibrariesNorth Ayrshire MuseumsPerth and Kinross Council MuseumScottish Borders Council, HawickScottish Borders Council, JedburghScottish Borders Council, PeeblesSouth Ayrshire Museum Rozelle HouseSouth Lanarkshire CouncilStirling Smith Art Gallery and MuseumUniversity of Dundee Archive ServiceUniversity of Dundee LibraryUniversity of Edinburgh LibraryUniversity of Glasgow LibraryWriters’ Museum

Thesaurus of object formats

• Based on the British Museum Object Name Thesaurus– http://www.mda.org.uk/bmobj/Objintro.htm

• Terms + two levels of grouping• Groups bring together objects of similar

types• Similar thesauri for image and text content

– Of objects, printed works, manuscripts, paintings, drawings, etc.

Object thesaurus

Example: Wood relic

Example: Skull cast

Preservation and digitization

• Similar object types can require similar conservation– Object format thesaurus brings them together

• Local conditions affect preservation of local collection– NBC database describes extent and condition

• Digitization requires prioritisation and development within a national framework– Image and text content formats identify themes and

ranges

Thank you

• NBC catalogue– http://www.scotlandsculture.org/nbc/Index.cfm

• Me– g.dunsire@strath.ac.uk