• Creating content
• Delivering content
• Preserving content
• Sharing content
• Digital update
• Digital advice service
• Digital FAQs

Delivering content

Digital content can be diverse in both its delivery and its subject matter.  Whatever your delivery route, here are some of the common considerations in bringing your content and your audience together.

• Evaluation / audience research
• Collection level descriptions
• Digital copyright
• New technology
• Accessibility

Evaluation / audience research

A sound knowledge of the needs and preferences of your target audience is fundamental to the success of any digital project.  Ensure that you build user testing and a programme of evaluation into any of your digital activities.  Our report Museums, Galleries and Digitisation focuses on the measuring the impact of digitisation projects. To download the report follow the link to the right of this page.

Collection level descriptions

Collection level descriptions (CLDs) are useful in a variety of contexts including online access to museums and galleries.  We advocate using CLDs and promote opportunities to utilise them in initiatives like Europeana and Culture Grid.   During 2010 we will be investigating opportunites to support our members in contributing CLD data into Culture Grid. For advice on CLD creation and implementation use our digital advice service. For further information about collection level descriptions and their uses see the following websites:

• Collections Link offers a useful overview of CLDs
• SCONE, the Scottish Collections Network provides online descriptions of collections held in Scottish museums, libraries and archives

Digital copyright

Copyright can be a complex area for the sector. We offer advice and training and contribute to sector discussion, working towards a sustainable copyright policy for museums and galleries.  See conferences and courses for current training opportunities. The following websites offer useful resources around copyright:

• Collections Link has a section devoted to copyright including information on digital copyright
• Members can access free best practice advice on copyright through the digital advice service
• Web2rights is a JISC-funded project developing toolkits for projects funded within the JISC programmes in their engagement with next generation and Web2.0 technologies
• Creative Commons (CC) is a worldwide organisation that offers copyright alternatives (beyond the traditional 'all rights reserved') for content developers

New technology

The use of new technology to engage audiences is an exciting prospect for the sector.  However more research and good evaluation is required to enable organisations to select the best approach for them.  We support the innovative use of new technology through our grants programmes and provide access to example projects through our case studies, such as the Hunterian iPhone app case study below.

Accessibility

Accessibility in the digital context covers technical, physical and intellectual access.  The websites below offer useful advice about accessibility and accessibility standards. You can find more information about access in the Learning and Access section.

• The JODI awards are an annual award scheme for museums, galleries, libraries, archives and heritage venues that use technology to provide access to collections and learning for disabled people
• The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) works with organisations around the world to develop strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities