Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Online Collections

The GettyGuide kiosks have been translated to the Explore Art section of their website which allows visitors to access the collection in a digital format from home. Online visitors can browse by artist, type of art, or by theme or topic. There is also a Collection Overview that allows visitors to get in-depth information about the various Getty collections and a Video Gallery featuring videos about the museum's collection, techniques, conservation, and exhibitions, and includes many interviews with artists and curators. One of the most interesting features is their Getty Bookmarks. With this users can mark objects as they come across them on the website and later use the bookmarks to create a printable map of the physical museum indicating where all of the items are located. Essentially, users can create their own customized tour to bring with them to the museum. This is a great example of how remote access to collections can actually serve to increase in-person visits to a museum.

(click image to visit the Getty's website)

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