Hi Public Art Network!

 

I am in the middle of overhauling the collection management system for the City of Mercer Island’s public art collection. I recently completed phase I, which involved working with our GIS team to update our master collection list and create an internal database of all works of art that we then translated into a public-facing Public Art Story Map. We launched the story map last week and have received a lot of positive feedback. I hope to use this resource not only to engage the public but also to educate and build awareness among City staff to avoid issues related to the collection in the future.

 

Now I turn my attention to our hard-copy files. I’m reaching out to you all for advice or best practice related to classifying records. Our current record numbers stem from an old digital collections management system we contracted out to create. However, we are no longer using that system now that we have our internal database. These record numbers also do not align with the accession numbers originally assigned to works of art. I plan to create a streamlined filing system with new record numbers that are uniform across all our platforms.

 

How do you all assign record numbers? Do you identify based on accession date? Or some other numbering system?

 

I greatly appreciate any insight you all can provide. Thanks!

 

Sarah Bluvas

Arts & Culture Coordinator

Mercer Island Parks and Recreation 

sarah.bluvas@mercergov.org | 206.275.7864 | 2040 84th Avenue SE | Mercer Island, WA 98040

 

The mission of the Mercer Island Arts Council is to nurture, promote, and support high-quality cultural arts activities for the community. Learn more on the Arts Council website.

 

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