Humanities Data Dictionary Of The Canadian Heritage Information Network

This guide proposes specific approaches to the documentation of the object name and related fields for users of online databases following the Humanities Data Dictionary of the Canadian Heritage Information Network. While based on the Humanities Data Dictionary, the guidelines being proposed in this paper also stem from years of in-depth research, analysis and discussion among CHIN staff, specialized documentation research consultants, and client working groups. The objective of this guide is to establish detailed standards that will improve the retrievability of collections information from the Pictorial and Artifact Retrieval and Information System through management of vocabulary control and data content. Although the guide is a response to many of the concerns, needs and questions arising from the desire of CHIN users to develop a system of object name standards that can be shared, it will be helpful to museums and heritage-related organizations working with different computer systems.

The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) site provides the heritage community with access to professional resources, with a particular focus on skills for creating, presenting and managing digital content. Products and services include online courses on image digitization and automated collections management systems; information about professional events and career opportunities; research and reference tools; a national inventory of nearly 4 million museum objects; intellectual property publications; bibliographies and data dictionaries. Develops standards for museum documentation.