Collections Trust
Encyclopedia
The Collections Trust is an independent charitable organisation which works to improve the management and sustainability of cultural collections in the United Kingdom
. The Collections Trust has offices in London
and Cambridge
, and its work is supported by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
(MLA) and Museums Galleries Scotland
.
The new Mission in 'OpenCulture: Unlocking the Potential of Collections', the Strategic Plan for 2011-14 is:
. International activities include the development of localised versions of the SPECTRUM standard in the Netherlands
and Flanders
. The Collections Trust is also responsible for delivering the UK's contribution to Europeana
in partnership with the MLA.
The MDA's Directors have included Wendy Sudbury (appointed in 1989) and Louise Smith (appointed in 1997). The MDA was formally re-launched under a new identity as the Collections Trust by Chief Executive Nick Poole (appointed in 2004). The Collections Trust launched the Collections Link website in May 2006.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Collections Trust has offices in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, and its work is supported by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is a non-departmental public body in England and a registered charity with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museums, libraries and archives...
(MLA) and Museums Galleries Scotland
Museums Galleries Scotland
Museums Galleries Scotland, until 2008 the Scottish Museums Council, is a membership organisation offering support to museums and galleries throughout Scotland...
.
Mission
The Mission in 'Making the Connection', the Collections Trust's Strategic Plan for 2008-11 was to:The new Mission in 'OpenCulture: Unlocking the Potential of Collections', the Strategic Plan for 2011-14 is:
Standards
The Collections Trust is a publisher of professional standards, including the SPECTRUM standard for Collections Information Management. The Trust has also collaborated with the British Standards Institution to sponsor a joint Code of Practice for Cultural Collections Management.Publications
The Collections Trust publishes a series of books under the title A Practical Guide to..., addressing various areas of Cultural Collections Management.International
The Collections Trust works internationally, both independently and in partnership with the International Council of MuseumsInternational Council of Museums
The International Council of Museums is an international organization of museums and museum professionals that is committed to the conservation, continuation and communication to society of the world's natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible.- Overview :Created...
. International activities include the development of localised versions of the SPECTRUM standard in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. The Collections Trust is also responsible for delivering the UK's contribution to Europeana
Europeana
Europeana.eu is an internet portal that acts as an interface to millions of books, paintings, films, museum objects and archival records that have been digitised throughout Europe...
in partnership with the MLA.
History
The organisation was established as the Museum Documentation Association (MDA) in February 1977. The early team at the MDA were led by Martin Porter and included researchers Andrew Roberts (who later became head of the MDA) and Richard Light. Early achievements of the MDA included the production of the Social History and Industrial Classification Scheme (SHIC) in 1983 (in partnership with the SHIC Working Party), the MDA Data Standard in 1991, and the SPECTRUM standard in 1994.The MDA's Directors have included Wendy Sudbury (appointed in 1989) and Louise Smith (appointed in 1997). The MDA was formally re-launched under a new identity as the Collections Trust by Chief Executive Nick Poole (appointed in 2004). The Collections Trust launched the Collections Link website in May 2006.
See also
- Museums, Libraries and Archives CouncilMuseums, Libraries and Archives CouncilThe Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is a non-departmental public body in England and a registered charity with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museums, libraries and archives...
- Museums Computer GroupMuseums Computer GroupThe Museums Computer Group is a British group which provides a forum for discussion between museum, gallery, archive, and higher education professionals who work with computers and new technologies.-Overview:...
- UKOLNUKOLNFormerly known as The United Kingdom Office for Library and Information Networking, UKOLN is a centre of expertise in digital information management, providing advice and services to the library, information, education and cultural heritage communities...
- Museums AssociationMuseums AssociationThe Museums Association is a professional organisation based in London for museum professionals and museums in the United Kingdom.The association is the oldest museum association in the world and was started in 1889 by a small group of museums to protect the interests of museums and galleries...
- Institute of ConservationInstitute of ConservationThe Institute of Conservation is the lead voice for the conservation of cultural heritage in the UK, with over three thousand individuals and organizations in membership, including professional conservators in all disciplines as well as others who share a commitment to improving the understanding...