Digital update
The Digital Content Action Framework is now nearing the end of its second year of implementation. Here are some of the things we have done to support the sector to implement it over the last 12 months:
- The creation of the Digital Advice Service for members. We have partnered with two recognised service providers with the relevant expertise to deliver free, best practice advice to members on all aspects of digital activity.
- In the Summer 2009 training programme we introduced two new training courses for members, ‘Building Accessible Websites’ and ‘Developing eLearning Resources’. These were well-received, reflected in the inclusion in the current programme of ‘Developing eLearning Resources from Scratch’.
- Supporting members to benefit fromtheir own pages in our new website. In October 2009 we ran a series of Website Workshops for members to come along and see how to get the most from their presence on our website. The workshops proved popular and have resulted in a significant increase in updates to the member pages of the website.
- In September 2009 we launched the MGS blog as an additional means of communication with members and the public. A pilot project, we will be evaluating the blog’s effectiveness over the next few months.
- Alerting members to opportunities to participate in social media activities and partnership projects. Recent ones have included, Britain Loves Wikipedia, Twitter’s Follow A Museum and the BBC / British Museum initiative A History of the World. To sign up to the email list to receive notice of these types of opportunities and developments, send an email to the Development Manager (Digital Access).
- Continuing involvement with cross-sector initiatives such as the Strategic Content Alliance and Digital Access Scotland to identify and work to resolve barriers to access to content.
- Provide access to relevant training and advice through strategic partnerships. Our ongoing partnership with the Collections Trust has been refined to maximise the potential of our organisations to support members in the areas of collections and digital. An event celebrating this partnership is taking place in March 2010.
- Continued support of the JODI awards to enable Scottish museums and galleries to participate in this award scheme which celebrates the use of digital technology to widen access to information, collections learning and creativity for disabled people.
- Providing online access for members to an increasing number of member case studies on different aspects of digital activity. View all case studies.
Over the next year we hope to continue to focus on ways in which our members can provide greater access to and make most potential of their content. Potential initiatives include:
- Exploring how we can support members with their use and understanding of collections management software.
- Promote further opportunities for members to contribute to collaborative projects and boost their online presence through initiatives such as Glow and Europeana. We are currently looking into piloting collection level description data within the Culture Grid.
- Investigating how we might support local authority members in making best use of the opportunities for promotion and engagement with audiences offered online and in particular, social media.
If you are an MGS member and you have any thoughts on what else you would like us to do to support actions around the Digital Content Action Framework, or to discuss development and funding for a digital project, please contact the ICT Development Manager.
