Adrian Hine, Digitisation Manager, Science Museum Group The Science Museum is moving its world-class science, technology and medicine collection from Blythe House to a new custom-built collections facility in Wiltshire. The move requires us to complete a full inventory, barcode, pack and move all 320,000 objects in the collection whilst working in the labyrinth of rooms in a Victorian building. The eclectic collection, ranging from scientific instruments, pottery, chemicals, technology objects, antiquaries and ethnography material throws up many challenges of dealing with a heterogeneous collection and hazardous materials. In order to succeed we are completely overhauling current working practices; designing new efficient workflows, improving existing systems, enhancing data and using barcoding technology.

1. One Collection: Escaping
the Labyrinth
Adrian Hine, Digitisation Manager,
Science Museum Group

2. Science Museum Group

3. • An extremely eclectic collection.
• Estimated 320,000 objects at Blythe House.
• Science, information & communication
technology, engineering & medicine.
• Wellcome medical collection on permanent
loan (114,000 objects).
Science Museum Collection

4. • In Dec. 2015 the Government announced collection move out of
Blythe House (SCM, V&A & BM).
• £40m funding for the Science Museum to move to a new facility
at Wroughton.
• This was the catalyst for One Collection and opened an
opportunity to:
• Improve the care for our world-class collection.
• Provide better access (both physically and digitally).
• Enhance the public perception of, and engagement with,
the collection.
• Consolidate a large proportion of the SMG collection and
manage it as a single collection – ‘One Collection’.
One Collection

5. Collection Moves Project
Two primary objectives
(1) Move the collection
• Relocate c. 320,000 objects from
Blythe House to Wroughton
• Relocate ca. 20,000 at Wroughton
(2) Digitise the collection
• Cataloguing
• Imaging
• Moving is the perfect opportunity to
undertake digitisation!

6. Digitisation
Starting position
• 200,000 Catalogue records - 2/3 of collection
• <20,000 objects with high quality images
(1) Cataloguing aims
• Inventory record for *all* objects
• Fuller cataloguing for 75%
• Records to meet cataloguing standard
• Use of barcodes for tracking objects
(2) Imaging aims
• Record-level image for 50% of objects
• Limited high-quality photo-studio images
• 360°photography for selected objects

7. Blythe House
• Opened 1903
• Shared with V&A and BM
• Small & medium object store
• 18km of racking
• 270 cupboards
• Holds majority of SCM collection

8. Wroughton
• 545 acres
• 10 hangers across site
• Free standing and high racking
• Large & medium object store
• Library & archives

9. • More than a storage building! Flexible spaces to meet the
needs of different users (the public, researchers and staff).
• Decision is being made NOW where it will be sited at
Wroughton.
• It will be significantly larger than existing space - c.27,000 m2.
• Hold 340,000 objects (ca. 80% of SMG collection by number
and over 50% by volume).
• Modified standard warehouse construction.
• Balancing conservation requirements and accessibility.
The New Facility at Wroughton

10. • Labyrinth of rooms: 5 floors, >100 rooms, many small &
cramped working.
• Variety of storage types: racking, drawers, cupboards,
boxes, free standing, wall mounted, ceiling mounted.
• Lack of WiFi currently – installing now.
Challenges – Storage at Blythe

11. Challenges – Storage at Wroughton
• End of life hangers
• High racking
• Inaccessible objects.
• Lack of WiFi currently

12. • Large number of objects
• Fragile objects
• Heavy & bulky objects
• Hazardous objects
• Packed objects
Challenges - Objects

13. • All the ills of past documentation will be revealed.
• Undocumented objects – ca. 100,000 objects with no catalogue
record.
• Poor records/incomplete records.
• Un-numbered part records.
• Unlabelled objects.
• Mystery objects.
• Poor and incorrect locations.
• Historic loans.
Challenges - Documentation

14. • Existing systems & processes are not geared up for mass
digitisation and will not deliver the scale required.
• Existing systems:
• Mimsy - Collection Management System
• iBase - DAMS
• Changes to our systems:
• Rapid data entry into Mimsy
• Rapid image ingest process
• Integrate Mimsy and iBase
Challenges – Systems & Processes

15. Main stages:
• Inventory
• Photography
• Cataloguing
• Object ID & disposal
• Packing
An Integrated Workflow

16. • Workflow has to be industrial-scale.
• Aim to complete digitisation in 2 years.
• Partitioned into specialist workflows:
• Inventory cataloguing (4 minutes per object)
• Imaging (5 minutes per object)
• Cataloguing
• Mix of paid staff and a large volunteering
programme.
Mass Digitisation Workflow

17. Provisional Schedule
New Storage Building at Wroughton
Enabling works (utilities, site prep etc.) Summer 2017
Build starts Spring 2018
Completion Spring 2020
Collections move – Blythe
Preparation, planning, system improvements Autumn 2017
Pilot improved system and digitisation Winter 2017
Hazard management and digitisation starts Early Spring 2018
Packing starts Late Spring 2018
Moving starts Spring 2020
Completion Spring 2022
Collections move – Wroughton
Preparation, planning, hazard management etc. Early 2018
Moving starts Autumn 2019
Completion Autumn 2021
Hand over keys to Blythe to DCMS Summer / Autumn 2022