Photograph from the collections of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Flickr CommonsLook at this great Flickr Commons project. Common Ground is a real-time global meet-up of the instiutions featured on The Commons and their users. The project centres around a user-curated slideshow which will be assembled using collection images voted for by the public (follow the instructions on the link above and have a go yourself!). Each institution will be projecting the slideshow on the exterior of their buildings for viewing by the widest possible audience (imagine Hamer Hall at night covered in luminous collection images - what a profile-raiser!) Users will also be encouraged to follow Flickr discussion to find out about times and places they can meet up in person.
If you look at the images many of them are not that exciting on their own. What they have in common is that they are out of copyright, under-utilised and possibly under-researched by the isntitutions that own them. Positioning them on The Commons has given these images a whole new lease on life and given the public an exciting new way to interact with and appreciate them.
Have a think about what collections we have that could benefit from this kind of profile and get back to me!
Caz
If you look at the images many of them are not that exciting on their own. What they have in common is that they are out of copyright, under-utilised and possibly under-researched by the isntitutions that own them. Positioning them on The Commons has given these images a whole new lease on life and given the public an exciting new way to interact with and appreciate them.
Have a think about what collections we have that could benefit from this kind of profile and get back to me!
Caz
Wow! Where do we begin!? This opens up so much potential for new exposure. Will we be the first institution in Melbourne (indeed Vic) to register, thus leading the way?
ReplyDeleteApart from our massive photo collections (LR & the like) can we also use the professional photos taken of collection items? Anyhow, we probably have more than enough scope with our photo collections for now. Will get the thinking cap on to see where to start.
A great discovery Caz. Very exciting!
Thanks for your comment Heather. I have registered our interest in joining the Flickr Commons but haven't heard back yet. As you can see we would be in very esteemed company! I think the main aim of the Commons is for historical out of copyright material but we can upload other photographs anytime we like on the normal Flickr site or under Creative Commons which is a different sub-section. I'm thinking perhaps we might start there rather than wait for our invitation to the Commons!
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