Standardizing Collections Record Data for Increased Understanding of Glass Collections Across the Smithsonian Institution.

The information contained in museum collections catalog databases is an invaluable resource for understanding and caring for collection items. The identification and grouping of items in a collection based on criteria such as location of manufacture, use, or materials composition allows for items at greater risk for long term preservation issues to be more appropriately monitored and cared for. However, identifying these items can be difficult, particularly when the collections data or terminology included in collections catalogs and databases vary significantly between items or across collections. This paper discusses the process and results of a data consolidation and cleaning campaign that was undertaken by the Smithsonian's Glass Deterioration Working Group. This work was done in order to develop a consistent database of glass and glass-containing collection items that is able to be effectively queried for items of particular concern or interest from a preservation standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]