Sharing collections infrastructure for best value and impact.
Manchester Council and Manchester Museums had a problem in common: big collections with rich documentation, spread across several databases, with poor public access and little engagement.
To place their collections firmly in the public eye, we used the power of Knowledge Integration’s CIIM middleware to align their data models. We brought in not only data for objects, but also for events, people, stories, rights, media and taxonomy.
Objects, exhibitions and stories take centre stage, and the other data enriches those records. Stories use objects, and rich object records lead users back to the stories.
Having experienced working on an online collection search facility several times before with different external development companies, I know how difficult it is and how things can not go to plan when the external company in question is not familiar with the museum and gallery sector. You end up with disappointment and a lingering feeling of if only… TMP are a different breed. They know Museums. They know Galleries. They are aware of the varying documentation systems and standards that exist when dealing with cultural collections. This already cuts out the need for lengthy explanations for why things are the way they are and that data has to be a certain way. TMP listened to everything we had to say and found solutions to achieve what we needed and wanted. For the first time I’m proud of what has been created and this is just the first step, I’m already looking forward to an ongoing development relationship to further enhance the core release.
– John Peel, Collection Information Manager for Manchester Museum
Quick facts
- A bespoke CIIM
- Custom data model
- Cost-effective partnership
Look out for..
- Licensing funnel for users seeking images to reuse
- Stories and trails from the collection
The flexibility and extensibility of our platform made all this possible. We built a bespoke solution for the museum group on top of TMP’s powerful capacity to integrate all kinds of museum data.
This Golden Mummies of Egypt story shows how narratives and objects come together in a rich user experience.
