GOOD PRACTICE FORM FOR NOMINATIONS

We propose to start the activity of the workgroup on 'good practice' proposing an initial set of some main areas where to put the nominations. In particular we think to start with the basic issue of digitisation itself.
Each project can be 'nominated' for more than one area, following your evaluation of the most important features contained in the example.

AREAS for nominations of 'good practice' for on-going projects on digitisation:
1.	Preservation of physical objects via digitisation and electronic surrogates.
2.	High quality of the digitisation process.
3.	Metadata and Thesaurus.
4.	Usability of project results.
5.	Management of the process and workflow
6.	Accessibility including copyright issues and web sites

For each project please specify:

•	Area of 'good practice' where you like to nominate your project (you can put more than only one area):  Preservation of physical objects (Movable objects) and accessibility. 
       MatrizNet is a re-utilisation of Matriz – Inventário e Gestão de Colecções    Museológicas  which is a software, for collections management, available in Market)

•	Name: MatrizNet

•	Responsible body and/or any specific : IPM, Instituto Português de Museus
Co-ordinating body/mechanism:   

•	Contact person: Drª Inês de Freitas

•	Web site: www.matriznet.ipmuseus.pt

•	Description of the project, objectives and priorities:

MatrizNet materializes a major goal defined by the Portuguese Institute of Museums in what concerns its policy towards research and disclosure of the collections safeguarded by its museums.

•	The main technical features for what you consider the project a 'good practice' example:

The Portuguese Institute of Museums (IPM) conceived software for the computerization of museums collections. This program, Matriz, was conceived in accordance to international standards for the documentation of museum objects (ex: Getty Categories for the Description of Objects of Art; CIDOC Categories) and was installed from 1995 in the 28 museums that are coordinated by the IPM. In 2000 the software was updated in its content and technological platform. The program was built as a partnership between a state agency and a private firm.

The availability of information about IPM museums collections arises as an aftermath of the research and critical review of inventories that has taken place with the introduction of Matriz - Inventário e Gestão de Colecções Museológicas, a software for documentation and management of museum collections.  The task of critical review of inventories and respective digitisation was taken by, permanent staff and also by people hired for this effect.

•	Long term sustainability strategy:

As a constraint for the pursuing of this project one must refer the lack of a means of communication (network) within the Institute and its museums that compromises the sustainability and accessibility of the project. Because of this there is also a constraint in what concerns a central thesaurus and implementation of metadata.

•	Accessibility by users via local network or Internet (describe modalities and IPR issue from a technical point of view):

MatrizNet http://www.matriznet.ipmuseus.pt/ was developed to be the public interface of Matriz - Inventário e Gestão de Colecções Museológicas, this way making available on the internet, catalogue information about the collections of the museums coordinated by the Portuguese Institute of Museums.  MatrizNet may be accessed through two profiles, general public and researcher, corresponding each of them to a simple or advanced search and to greater or lesser information about an object.
We believe that the free access to catalogue information that we are now providing, will contribute to establish a new link between the public and the museum through the possibility of knowing more about an object and the possibility of cross searching information among the collections of different museums, in an invitation to direct contact with the heritage that our museums safeguard, research and divulge.

•	Problems encountered : As there is no means of communication (network) within the Institute and its museums, there is   a constraint in what concerns a central thesaurus and implementation of metadata.

Comments: 

Figures and documents enclosed:

Document annexed.

I agree this information could be published/

                            X Yes
                               No

Organisation & person completing the questionnaire

•	Formal name of organisation:
Instituto Português de Museus

•	Type of organisation:
State agency in dependence of  the Portuguese Ministry of Culture.

•	Field of action:	Archive / Library / Museum / Foundation / others ….
Museum

•	Address: 
Instituto Português de Museus
Palácio Nacional da Ajuda
Ala Norte, 4º andar
1349-021 Lisboa

•	Name of director:
Professora Doutora Raquel Henriques da Silva

•	Name and role of person completing the questionnaire:
Drª Inês de Freitas

•	Tel: 00351 21 365 0800

•	Fax: 00351 21 364 7821

•	Web site: www.ipmuseus.pt

•	E-mail: mail@ipmuseus.pt

Date: 24 April 2002