While not strictly an exhibition, this online database of a collection made me so crazy that I had to write about it anyway. I am currently taking a course in the Textile Department of Human Ecology, as part of this course we are required to use their collection database. Innocent enough, right?
Collection Principles
None are indicated, the viewer has no idea what the collection's goals are, how the items came to be given to this department, or any other information besides that given in the object file. Other than a brief blurb on the homepage about the diversity of the collection, we have no idea what is in there unless we search item by item.
Object Characteristics
Aside from generally poor picture quality, no ability to zoom in, and no multi-views of the garments is the problem of accession numbers- there are two of them. An "original accession number" and a regular "accession number" - this baffles me.
Also, amazingly, often when you click on an image you are linked to a different image, with no explanation. (That is when the image isn't broken, which 70% are).
Metadata
Oh my. This is what made me crazy, and this is why I had to write about the database. Not only is information incredibly incomplete (if any is given at all) but, the database is CHANGEABLE BY THE USER!!! By any user- no log in necessary. All fields can be edited, including accession numbers.
No one knew this until I pointed it out yesterday! I have no idea how long this database has been online, though the phrase "long before I got here" has been thrown around by several people.
Intended User
Apparently, the students of TXA 355 D, though in the end I had to just walk around through closets of garments looking for my objects. I can honestly not guess at who else might find this database useful.
Note:
The images above are screenshots I took so I could illustrate the problem for the class's TA.
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