Distributed Access to Canadian Cultural and Natural Heritage:
Case Studies
Mark Graham
Canadian Museum of Nature
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
Gerald Fitzgerald
Canadian Museum of Nature
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
Bruce McGillivray
Provincial Museum of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Session: Distributed Access to Canadian Cultural and Natural Heritage: case studies
Tuesday, August 22, 13:30 - 14:30
This session will focus on distributed access issues from both a natural history museum and a multidisciplinary museum perspective. Speakers will discuss topics such as locating various resources, new initiatives and other related issues.
Mark Graham will describe a new, on-line research survey that will collect up-to-date information about natural history institutions, including collections information and research activities. The results from this survey will eventually be accessible via the Web. This brief talk will explore the survey questionnaire and report on progress to date.
Gerald Fitzgerald will present a new initiative, FishNet, that involves accessing natural history collections information, fish data in this case, in a distributed environment.
Bruce McGillivray will discuss the biggest challenge in managing a multidisciplinary institution, i.e., not to assume all programs and collections are alike. Even within seemingly similar disciplines databases have a distinct look. Curators in these disciplines have different ideas about the need for and value of digitization of collections resources. Bruce will also discuss the development of ‘Virtual Exhibitions’ and the linkage of their databases with other institutions in a distributed environment and how the focus should not be on the product but on the goal of providing public access to collection resources.
About Mark Graham:
Mark Graham received a Ph.D. in experimental biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1985. His research interests include the effects of temperature and toxicants on the physiology of fish and aquatic invertebrates. He tenured a NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Biology Department of Simon Fraser University before becoming the Curator of Fishes and later Director of Operations at the Vancouver Aquarium. In 1996 he began with the Canadian Museum of Nature where he is the Director of Research. For the past 13 years he has used his expertise and position to focus attention on the conservation of biological diversity and the promotion of environmental awareness and health.
About Gerald Fitzgerald:
Gerald R. (Jerry) Fitzgerald received his B.A. in Zoology from the University of Western Ontario in 1968 and his M.Sc. in Pure Sciences from the University of Durham, England in 1971. He is accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators. Having worked at the Canadian Museum of Nature for almost 30 years in a variety of capacities, he is presently the Director of Collection Services Division. On becoming a senior manager, he was tasked with establishing the Collection Division. That involved defining and implementing an organisational and policy frameworks, and standards of practice and performance. He has served the museum community in a variety of leadership roles including President of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, President of the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators, CMN representative to Heritage Preservation and Association of Systematics Collections. He has lectured and published widely and has conducted conservation assessments of museums of varying sizes. His current interest centres around strategic management of large, diverse collections.
About Bruce McGillivray:
W. Bruce McGillivray received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1981. Since 1989, he has worked as the Assistant Director, Curatorial at the Provincial Museum of Alberta. Bruce is responsible for managing 20 staff, allocating an operating budget of $1.5m among 12 programs and providing vision and leadership in the acquisition, documentation and interpretation of Alberta’s natural and cultural heritage. His role is to lead a team of 10 scientists and research historians ensuring a balance of products including academic papers, exhibitions and collection building and preservation. Most of the work is funded externally through grants, partnerships and corporate support. Bruce is personally responsible for the preservation of the Museum’s collections through management of the Conservation and Collections Management programs. As the Museum’s Designated Acting Director, he serves in the capacity of Director from 2-3 months per year. Bruce also manages the Information Technology unit at the Provincial Museum. As a member of the Museum Executive, he has served the Museum in its transition from a fully government-managed branch to a mixed private- and public-sector facility with incorporation of business principles in the management of the Shop, Restaurant, Facility Rentals, and delivery of Publications, Blockbuster Exhibitions and Information Dissemination.
