This document summarizes Sarah Gillis' presentation on applying the FRBR conceptual model to cataloguing photographic archives at the Worcester Art Museum. It discusses challenges in integrating metadata for analog and digital images and implementing a unique identifier system. It proposes a new file naming convention using prefixes to distinguish image types and origins. The presentation explains how FRBROO can be applied to the museum's collection management system to better link object records and media. Conceptual models help facilitate data sharing between cultural heritage institutions now and in the future.

1. FRBR and TMS:
Applying a Conceptual
Organizational Model for
Cataloguing Photographic Archives
Presentation By:
Sarah Gillis
Assistant Registrar for Image Management
WORCESTER ART MUSEUM

2. Worcester Art Museum

3. Worcester Art Museum
• Collection: ~38,000 objects
• Encyclopedic Collection
• Almost 2/3 of collection digitized
• Create nearly triple the amount of images in
comparison to collection size

4. Value of Photographic Archives
• Early documentation of objects within the
galleries
• Before Treatment photography
• Sometimes only current existing photography of
an object

5. DCC Curation Lifecycle Model

6. The OAIS Reference Model

7. Delivery
Information
Package
TMS
(Internal Access)

8. Delivery
Information
Package
eMuseum
(Public Access)

9. Archival Information Package (AIP)

10. DCC and OAIS

11. Challenges:
• Integrating various layers of metadata
• Once digitized, how do I to distinguish between
the born-digital and digitized images of art
objects
• The application of a unique identifier system to
these analog and digital instances
• Initiate rethinking by introducing new methods
of image access to staff at the Worcester Art
Museum.

12. Unique Identifiers for Image Files…
• Old Method:
ObjectNumber_anythingelse.jpg
– e.g. 1913.45_scannedBW.jpg
• Not a bad file naming system, but can
get muddled once multiple digital images
are produced.
• Need to implement a more simple, yet
distinctive organizational system.

13. File Name Organization
Prefix What is represents
DP Digital Photograph
DNG Digital Negative
SL Slide
BWP Black & White Print
NG Negative
GNG Glass Plate Negative
CR Color Reproduction (transparency)
XR X-Ray
CON Conservation Image
If this represents a physical image, the digitized rendition will share the
shame filename, but with a ‘D-’ as an additional prefix to acknowledge
that this is a digitized item.

14. Unique Identifiers for Image Files…
• New Method:
BWP + 758 + .jpg
What is the origin of the
image file?
Black and White Print
Sequentially assigned
number.
File type
(automatically
created)

15. Unique Identifiers for Image Files…
• New Method:
D-BWP + 758 + .jpg
What is the origin of the
image file?
Black and White Print
Sequentially assigned
number.
File type
(automatically
created)
Digital Rendition of Print

16. Unique Identifiers for Image Files…
• New Method:
DP + 3058 + .jpg
What is the origin of the
image file?
Born-Digital Photograph
“Digital Photograph”
Sequentially assigned
number.
File type
(automatically
created)

17. Unique Identifier Naming Convention

18. "Why aren't we keeping the object number in
the image file that it represents?"
Because the image is not the object which has
received its own unique identifier (object
number), but is a representation of the object

19. TMS Access Guidance

20. Functional Requirements of
Bibliographic Records (FRBR)
• “ontology that captures and represents the
underlying semantics of bibliographic
information [which] facilitates the integrating,
mediation, and interchange of bibliographic and
museum information.”*
*Page 10, FRBR: object-oriented definition and mapping from FRBRer, FRAD and FRSAD, version 2.0, International Working Group on FRBR
and CIDOC CRM Harmonisation.

21. FRBRER Group One
Person
(Conception of Idea)
(Drafts/Sketches)
(Final Product; Object)
(copies)
Entity-Related FRBR
(Artist/Creator)

22. FRBROO
• LAMs are all “memory systems” focusing on the
same goal of sustainability into the digital future
• LAMs ensure that the analog components are
not left behind
• All conceptual models require content standards
for cataloguing in order to survive

23. Object-Oriented Functional Requirements of
Bibliographic Records (FRBROO)
Work Elaboration
Work Conception Expression Creation
Time
Produces an Idea Produces (simultaneously) an Expression
and Manifestation Production Type
Produces a Work

24. FRBROO Expression
Conceptual Level Physical Level
F28 Expression Creation
F14 Individual Work F22 Self Contained Expression F4 Manifestation Production
Type
Created a realization
of…
Created
Realized in a
Is created by
Created
Time
E65 Creation E12 Production

25. Application of FRBROO to TMS
F2 Expression
F28 Expression
Creation
F4 Manifestation
Singleton
E24 Physical
Man-Made Thing
F3 Manifestation
Product Type
F5 Item
E54 Dimension
E55 Type
E57 Material
E30 Right
Is example of
created
carries
created

26. FRBR and TMS
Media Module

27. FRBR
and TMS
Media Record

28. FRBR and TMS Media Record

29. FRBR
and TMS
Media
Record

30. FRBR and TMS
Media Record

31. Summary
• Cataloguing following conceptual models ensures
easier metadata crosswalks in the future
• Linked Data across various memory centers
(LAMs)
• If we do not take the time to ensure that all object
related media (analog and digital) are carefully
catalogued and linked within our CMS, we will not
be doing justice to the collection for future
stakeholders.

32. Acknowledgements
• Contributors to my GoFundMe Campaign
• Gallery Systems
• Worcester Art Museum
• Joe Leduc (former Chief Registrar at WAM)
• IMLS Museums for America Grant

33. References
• Harvey, R. (2010). Digital Curation: a how-to-do-it manual. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman
Publishers.
• Howarth, L.C. (2012) FRBR and Linked Data: Connecting FRBR and Linked Data.
Cataloguing & Classification Quarterly, 50, 763-776.
• IFLA Study Group on the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (1997,
amended 2009). Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records- Final Report.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.
• International Working Group on FRBR and CIDOC CRM Harmonisation. (May 2012).
FRBR object-oriented definition and mapping from FRBRER, FRAD and FRSAD (version
2.0) Published Working Draft.
• Peponakis, M. (2012). Conceptualizations of the Cataloguing Object: A Critique on Current
Perceptions of FRBR Group 1 Entities. Cataloguing & Classification Quarterly, 50, 587-
602.