Sharing Local History Online

bill_hecht By bill_hecht The Post-Standard
on August 02, 2010 at 3:47 PM, updated August 03, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Some local history museums freely share their collections online other refuse.
The Skaneateles Historical believes its part of their mission to "share". Not just small low resolution images but huge digital images. Same can be said for the Frontenac Historical in Union Springs and the Rural Life Museum in King Ferry. Others such as the History Center in Ithaca, Onondaga Historical, The Cayuga Museum and the Seward House either will not place images online or only very small versions. And if they do they are copyrighted and if one wants to use them there can be huge fees.

The arguments for such restrictions and fees are:
- The cost of storage materials such as boxes and files
- building maintenance
- electric, heat, dehumidification etc.
- cost of archiving and web sites
- "we might want to publish these images ourselves"
- we make money from the sale of images

Reasons to share.
1-If the documents and images never see the light of day day then who benefits?
2- When documents and images are freely available on the web in small and large versions, the old timers out their that can help identify them and fill in the gaps.
3- The more one shares the more one gets back. Why should anyone donate time, money or items to a museum that keeps all or most of their collection under wraps? Instead of hiding this stuff away one would think a museum would embrace the technology to meet the mission of their NY State Charters. To reach out to their members and the whole community to donate their insights, items and money. More can be gained in sharing than can be gained from fees from publishing rights or the occasional publication.
4- If, god forbid, the museum was to burn or be destroyed in a flood the digital scans could live on.

Would you donate to a museum that will not 'share' ?