Post on 24-Sep-2020
So you’ve been given a database…
Rachel Panella
Assistant Registrar for Data Management
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Introduction
Content creator in EMu for 2 years
EMu since 2005
Database was managed by one person for over 10 years
Data problems
Stigma
First Steps
Winslow Homer (1836–1910)Crossing the Pasture, 1871-1872Oil on canvasAmon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas1976.37
Roadmap
Learn everyone’s role
Figure out some problem areas to focus on and create a multiyear plan for larger endeavors
Change perceptions
Improve your skills
Who is using the database?
Are they authors or seekers of information?
What group are they in? What are their permissions?
What workflows do they use that involve EMu?
What reports could help their daily work?
Survey
W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978)[Documents on table], 1955-1956Gelatin silver printAmon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, Gift of Shana Smith Rasmus, Preston Hollow, New YorkP1990.29.23
What do you ask?• Identify types of users: Authors or Seekers
• What system do they use to access collection information? KE-Lite, EMu, Website
• Are you able to access the data need for your job using EMu?
• Are there data fields, landing pages, reports, etcthat you wish were available in EMu?
• Is data being consistently entered into EMu?
• Do you currently feel that you have the skills needed to use EMu?
• Are there parts of EMu you would like to have more training on? If yes, what?
• Would you like to attend a quarterly meeting to learn different ways to use EMu?
Sour Patch Parents [Digital Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3qtx4c
How do you ask?• Meet with departments
• Meet in person
• Get them to open up
Philospher Kitteh [Digital Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttps://cheezburger.com/8075628032/philospher-kitteh-struggles-with-the-big-questions
What do you do with the results?• Prioritize
• Timeframe to complete
• Stakeholders
• Skills needed
• Monetary cost
• Create a multi-year plan
• Align with organizational priorities
• Do it again!
Office No Idea [Digital Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttps://tvgag.com/gag/i-knew-exactly-what-to-do/
Changing Perceptions
Ask for input
Ask how the system can help them and make suggestions
Work with employees to train them and answer questions
Turn their experiences from negative to positive
Get investment from fellow employees in the database
Training & Beyond
Unknown[Fire department, Aspen, Colorado], ca. 1907Gelatin silver printAmon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, TexasP1976.11.9
The more you know
Axiell Help
Axiell Training
Listservs
Crystal Reports Training
Stack Overflow
Call to Action
• Create a knowledge base available to all EMu users
• Allow users to upload documentation and reports
• A searchable forum for questions
William M. Harnett (1848–1892)Attention, Company!, 1878Oil on canvasAmon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas1970.230
Rachel Panella
Assistant Registrar for Data Management
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
rachelp@cartermuseum.org