A presentation that outlines the platform I created at the Magnes, in Berkeley, California, to generate, publish and share collection-based digital content, by integrating the institutional website, the collection database, and online social media (Web 2.0).

1. MAGNES: NEW DIGITAL INITIATIVES
FOSTERING THE INSTITUTIONAL VISION
ENSURING COLLECTION STEWARDSHIP
IMPLEMENTING SOUND BUSINESS MODELS

2. FOSTERING THE INSTITUTIONAL VISION
The history of the Jewish Community in the American West
and the Global Jewish Diaspora continues to be told:
To a wider audience, Through a sustainable model
ENSURING COLLECTION STEWARDSHIP
Collection care, services, access and marketing
are streamlined and become part of the same process:
Resources are focused and aligned with the institutional vision
A MEASURABLE BUSINESS MODEL
A nimble and innovative Collection staff is the protagonist of all processes
Collection work is effective and measurable

3. WEBSITE :: DATABASE :: WEB 2.0
DIGITAL INITIATIVES ENSURE THAT MAGNES COLLECTIONS ARE
PRESENTED :: FOUND :: ACTIVATED

4. ONLINE PRESENCE
With digital images from the
collection, Magnes staff can
instantly generate curated online
exhibitions via the Jewish Digital
Narratives platform.
Nine exhibitions were created
with this platform since the
program was inaugurated in
September of 2008.
(This is a sample entry from an online
exhibition based on the Israel Bonds
Collection. And yes, it is Cary Grant in the
photograph.)

5. EASE OF ACCESS
The Jewish Digital Narratives
platform allows to integrate the
Magnes website with popular
online platforms like Flickr, and
thus to gain visibility in the “Web
2.0.”
The “Web 2.0”
(Facebook, Flickr, Google
Maps, etc.) is a new digital
language, understandable
across cultural barriers.
(This is a sample entry from anFlickr
page. And yes, it is Cary Grant in the
photograph.)

6. GLOBAL VISIBILITY
The Jewish Digital Narratives
platform allows to publish digital
images from the Magnes
collection on popular sites like
Flickr.
In turn, this promotes the
visibility of the Magnes by
gaining valuable online “real
estate” in Google searches.
(This is a sample Google Image Search
with the keywords “Milhaud” and “David”:
Magnes results appear along those of
important online vendors, like
Amazon, and often are featured among
the first 3-5 “hits”).

7. INSTANT PUBLISHING
The Web offers a widely
accessible publication
platform, that is about to replace
traditional books and journals.
Digital images are easily
published online, where they are
accessible to millions of users.
(This is a sample from the Magnes Flickr
page, with images from the Israel Bonds
Collection, ca. 1950-1960)

8. ONLINE DATABASE:
AN INTEGRATED PLATFORM
Collection
preservation, catalog, access, a
nd publication are streamlined
within the same process.
(This is a sample from the new IDEA
database, highlighting the Isabel Wiel
Collection.)

9. ONLINE DATABASE:
UNIQUE COLLECTION
INFORMATION
The new IDEA database allows
unique access to
Archive, Library and Museum
holdings with
one, global, keyword search.
(This is a sample from the new IDEA
database, using the keyword
“Dinkelspiel”: paintings and archival
papers are retrieved with only one search)

10. ONLINE DATABASE:
ACCESS TO DIGITAL IMAGES
The new IDEA database allows
direct access to digital images of
the items in the collection, with
one, global, keyword search.
(This is a sample from the new IDEA
database, using the keyword “Ketubbah”:
many of the over 200 Jewish marriage
certificates in the Magnes collection have
already been digitized and are available
online.)

11. ONLINE PUBLICATION
Magnes staff can instantly share
information based on digital
images from the collection via
the new Opensource blog.
The new blog is followed daily
by hundreds of viewers. (Top
post generated 339 views).
(This is a sample entry from the
opensource blog, by dr. Lara
Michels, about Edward Bransten)

12. DIGITAL PRODUCTION
The creation of digital images
from the collections directly
engages the existing Magnes
staff:
• Curators
• Coll. Information Manager
• Digitization Technician

13. ONLINE COMMUNICATION
Collection Services are easily
accessible online.
A new Rights and Reproduction
request form was recently made
available on the website.
An average of ten researchers
contacted the Magnes
Reference Desk each month via
the online Research Information
Form since it was published on
magnes.org.

14. CREATING A SUSTAINABLE
MODEL
A streamlined workflow allows a
small professional staff to
measure the visibility of the
collection, also in terms of
revenue.
Rights and Reproduction
licensing fees increased by
300% during FY09.
(Digital Production Workflow Chart).

15. MEASURING SUCCESS
Online visibility can be
monitored.
Magnes images on Flickr were
viewed over 16,000 times since
the launch of the Jewish Digital
Narratives platform in
September of 2008.
(Metrics from the Magnes account on
Flickr).

16. DIGITAL PR
Digital content is easily
marketable online.
500 Facebook members
currently receive live updates
about the Magnes. This online
“community” is constantly
growing.

17. ONLINE MARKETING
Digital images from the
collection can instantly generate
merchandise.
(This is a sample entry from the Magnes
online store on zazzle. com)

18. ENGAGING PARTNERSHIPS
Since 2007, the new digital
programs of the Magnes have
generated
•an unprecedented access to
the collection
•a growing number of
prestigious academic
partnerships (USC, NYU, UC
Berkeley School of
Information…)
• promising philanthropic
support (Haas Fund, Toole
Media Fund…)
(Users from three continents discuss
Magnes content online).