"Seek and ye shall find“: Using Controlled Vocabularies to Enhance Access to

Cultural Information

Erin Coburn Head, Collection Information &

AccessJ. Paul Getty Museum

Getty Museum Local Thesauri ~

• Local terms (generic headings) and terms from established vocabularies and authorities

• Serves as access points to the collection in the Museum’s Collection Information System (TMS), GettyGuide public access system (kiosk), and the collection on the Web

Generic headings used to facilitate browsing for non-scholarly audienceGeneric headings used to facilitate browsing for non-scholarly audience

Re-purposing local object type thesaurus on getty.eduRe-purposing local object type thesaurus on getty.edu

Hierarchy of local thesauri used in META keyword tag to assist Hierarchy of local thesauri used in META keyword tag to assist users with searching users with searching

Subject Access: Description, Identification, or Interpretation?

Description: Nude woman reclining on a goat-headed creature with a winged child shooting an arrow at them, while another child holds a torch.

Identification: Venus, Cupid, sea monster, putto

Interpretation: allegory of Lust - Venus entwines her fingers in the creature's beard representing erotic intent, while the monster licks her hand in response. Cupid is poised to shoot an arrow at Venus, while in the background a putti adds to the amorous imagery by holding a flaming torch, meant to suggest the burning ardor of desire.

John Deare, Venus Reclining on a Sea Monster with Cupid and a Putto, English, 1785 - 1787, J. Paul Getty Museum

Identification – What do you see?

El Greco, El Greco, Christ on the CrossChrist on the Cross, 1600 - 1610, Spain, J. Paul Getty Museum, 1600 - 1610, Spain, J. Paul Getty Museum

Creating access points for the non-scholarly audience

How We Live vs. Genre or Everyday Life

Henri Rousseau, A Centennial of Independence, French, 1892, J. Paul Getty Museum

Conclusion