The Challenges of Developing a Collection of Primary Information, Media Sources and a Virtual Collection of Architectural and Artistic Works: An Experience at the Universidad Catolica de Chile

The Faculty of Architecture and Fine Art. of the Pontificia Universidad Ca Chile has proposed the challenge of developing a Chilean and Latin American Multimedia1 File of Works of Art and Architecture. This archive is a system composed of: Collections of primary information sources: blueprints, slides, documents, videos, and others. A virtual collection. A database which allows the access to real as well as virtual collections. This project is based on the need of preserving and widespreading information concerning the patrimony of works of Architecture and Arts Latin-American Heritage. Furthermore, it gives account of the challenges set forth in the project's designing and executing processes, through the exposition of its methodological focus, description of the designed activities, products, and contents, and of the offered services. Q Archives & Museum Informatics, 1 995 The Challenges of Developing a Collection 1. General Context of the Project 1.1. Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts, Pontificia Universidad Catblica de Chile On the occasion of the centenary of the Architectural Faculty, the University decided to launch a1 series of efforts aiming, on one side, the consolidation of the already accomplished goals, and on the other, the chance of projecting them to the future. Our Faculty is the fruit of the last one hundred years of study on the following disciplines: Art, Architecture, Design, Urbanism, and Urban and Regional Planning. The proposal for the centenary is the development of a specialized Information Center in the various disciplines of the Faculty, based on: the cultural values of the current Library, which is one of the most important in the country and Latin America; the research activities, and the editorial task, including three magazines and their editorial committees, plus the publication of six annual publications. This task is set forth at a time when there is awareness of the actual need of strengthening the educational and cultural development in our country. These are considered as absolutely essential goals to attain the consolidation of the economic development, and to preserve the cultural values inherent to an opening process and an internalization of the economy and communications. Since the information existing in books and magazines cannot meet for itself the minim needs required for teaching and research in the above mentioned disciplines, the Faculty tends to increase and integrate the information concerning the works of the Chilean and Latin-American Artistic and Architectonic patrimony. 1.2. Information Center The goal of the Center is "creating and producing", so as to "preserve and widespread" patrimonial and up-to-date national and Latin American productions in these disciplines. This action gives permanency to the idea that has sustained them, and also allows the present and future generations the access to information concerning the great works these disciplines have produced. The Center is the integration of the books, magazines, and thesis collections, and of a Multimedia File of works of Architecture and Art, interacting with the research, teaching, editorial, anc extracunicular activities of the Faculty. (9 Archives & Museum Informatics, 1995 142 Hands On Hypermedia & Interactivity in Museums ICHIM'95 MCN'95 2. Definition of the Multimedia File of Works of Architexture and Art The project contemplates the development of a multimedia1 file that registers and keeps the information concerning Works of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Craftsmanship. Furthermore, it should transfer the information to several objective receivers of the educational system of the country. These purposes came up from the statement of the following questions: What is the current situation concerning the collection of information about the different Works of Architecture and Art? What specific works would there be information registered about? What information -and in what sourcesis required to get to know a work of Architecture or Art through still visual representations? How can the information concerning artistic an architectectural patrimonies be preserved and widespread? * Current situation of work information: The amount of existing available information about works of Architecture and Arts Heritage is very limited, and its circulation is very poor. The few existing archives are hard to access, and their material is poorly preserved. * Selection of Works It was established that the selection of works included in the archive should hlfill the following requirements: Material currently available at the Faculty, product of research and publications. Ifthese materials have not been kept in the archive, they are bound to deteriorate, and therefore, will not be accessible for the users. Institutional decisions of what is "preservable", related to national priorities. Information concerning works of Art and Architecture existing in international organisms: Direction de Archivos y Museos, Ministerio de Obras Pcblicas. O Archives & Museum Informatics, 1995 143 * The contents of information needed to collect per work Work of Art: Data concerning the work as well as the author; a set of visual representations of the whole, and of some important enhanced parts Bibliographical References Work of Architecture: Data concerning the work and its author; a set of blueprints, drawings, and documents; a set of photographic representations that gives account of the whole and its Pa'-@ Bibliographical References * The media source that each type of information requires: Filing cards of the Works Filing cards of the Authors Documents Blueprints and Drawings 35-mm slides Videotapes References of books and specialized magazines. * Collections of primary media sources necessary to develop and store Drawing Collection Filing Card System Slide Collection Photo Collection Videotape Collection Documents * The different aim users to whom access privileges are necessary Related disciplines researchers University teachers School teachers University students of the related disciplines School students General users Q Archives & Museum Informatics, 1995 144 Hands On Hypermedia & Interactivity in Museums ICHIM'95 MCN'95 * The available technology Multimedia1 Databases Digitizing of the blueprints, slides, and videotapes. Specific Goals * Production of information in primary media sources to create a collection of blueprints, drawings, documents, files, slides, photos, and videotapes as a part of the database. * Digitizing the information to create a virtual collection * Development of an image database that allows effective access, and integrating the different sources of the material, each for the various user levels, keeping the safety of the primary sources, which would only be accessed by qualified researchers. * Putting this database to the disposition to the different educational levels, as a way of promoting cultural development Project Staff A multi-disciplinary staff was conformed for the development of the project, formed by: -Faculty Teachers -University Computing Services Engineers -University Library Staff Methodology It is defined that the project requires the implementation of 3 independent lines of work: Elaboration of contents in primary media sources, and development of a virtual collection. Development of a database Products and transference of information to different segments of users. Concerning the execution of the project, the decision was the application of a helical development methodology in which the three lines of work are set off simultaneously. This simultaneous activity generates an overall prototype of the system, which allows having a complete vision of the problem