CULTURAL OBJECT COLLECTIONS IN MEMORY INSTITUTIONS IN THAILAND:

Ruethai Nimnoi, S. Sudarshan Rao

Abstract


Memory institution is a generic term used to describe an institution that has the responsibility to collect, care for, and provide access to the human record - for example, museums, libraries, and archives. They are responsible for organizing, maintaining, preserving, and transmitting cultural and intellectual information in any formats for the reference of future generations. With the advantages of modern technology, memory institutions increasingly digitize their collections to serve their users’ need and facilitate their users’ ability to discover information remotely at anytime. As metadata is one of the most critical components of digitizing, archival processors, library catalogers, and museum registrars apply the concept of metadata to arrange their digital information resources. In addition to metadata as an organizing tool, the archive, library, and museum communities have to keep up with changing user demands in a digital environment. Users need relevant information without the limitation of material type or the location of the object they ask for. This study, therefore, investigates the current state of metadata practices for cultural object collections in archives, libraries, and museums in Thailand with particular focus on the National Museum, the National Library and the National Archives of Thailand. The study revealed among the current state of metadata practices for cultural object collections, problems and factors regarding cataloguing cultural object collections in archives, libraries, and museums in Thailand. Semi-structured interviews method was adopted for the study. A curator, a librarian and an archivist from the three memory institutions who constituted the target population were purposively sampled. By investigating metadata practices for cultural object collections, the study may improve our understanding of the current state of metadata practices of in Thailand. The findings for related information could be used as basic facts in developing metadata schema for management of original and digitized Thai Cultural Objects.

Keywords


Memory institution; Cultural object; Metadata practices; Thai Cultural Objects; Metadata schema

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