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