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Implementation of EMu at the Natural History Museum: A Personal Perspective

This piece offers an insightful reflection on the transition to EMu at the Natural History Museum (NHM) from the mid-1990s. It details the need for a comprehensive museum-wide database solution, highlighting challenges such as collection management, digital information provision, cost control, and data security. The pilot project (2002-2003) tested the migration of 135,000 records, ultimately leading to a three-year implementation plan. Various departments faced challenges in communication and adaptation, emphasizing the importance of cultural change and effective training in the process.

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Implementation of EMu at the Natural History Museum: A Personal Perspective

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  1. EMu in the NHM: A personal perspective Darrell J. Siebert Dept. of Zoology

  2. Origin in mid 1990s • A need for a Museum wide database solution • Management of collections • Provision of collections information in a digital age • Cost control • Data security (Agreement and implementation only reluctant)

  3. Pilot Project (2002 – 2003) • Test migration of a dataset of 135,000 records • Period of use – would users be comfortable with EMu? Answers: “Yes” – but this view was somewhat naïve!

  4. 3 Year Project to install EMu at NHM • Initially conceived as a 5 year project – Dir. of Sci. said he would fund a modular 3 year project • 5 6 months projects to install in Sci. depts.:Mineralogy; Entomology; Palaeontology; Zoology; and Botany • 1 6 months project to bind it altogether (web design, etc.) at the end

  5. The NHM MOA Programme • Hired a Project Manager (from outside) • Hired a database professional (1/2 time on the project • Formed a Programme Committee

  6. Cultural Change • Engaged a course in Managing Cultural Change • Getting us to work together • Getting us to communicate with each other Not entirely successful -- the people who decided they didn’t need this training are the ones who needed it the most (and still do)!

  7. My Role: a Programme Resource • Experience in installation and use of EMu • Entomology • Palaeontology • Attempts to improve ‘support’ modules of EMu • Taxonomy --- Entom, Palaeo, Zool • Parties • Sites --- Botany has lead Helped to move to EMu rather than just re-create extant systems in EMu

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