| In the world of museums it is the management of holdings that allows the museum to fulfill its pedagogic and preservation missions. A museum that can gear its cataloguing for the easiest and most comprehensive access will enable its curators, researchers and the public to interact with and gain the most from these items. This thesis includes: (1) A comprehensive study of computer systems (including databases and lexicons), i.e. what is available, what is used worldwide, pitfalls and pinnacles. (2) A thorough case study of the computerization process at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. (3) A didactic handbook for training the user to become a Collections Database Manager. It contains the "whos, whats, wheres, whys and hows" of choosing and implementing the right computer system to manage museums' holdings, with specific emphasis on how to accomplish this in a multilingual setting. (4) An analysis of the construction and use of a lexicon.; This thesis is comprised of two elements: theory and application. The theories concern computerization of encyclopedic museums worldwide and the application of this to a multilingual museum and its database. The first section includes a review of the problems and a review of the literature concerning computerization methods used in the computerization of museums. The second section includes guidelines for encyclopedic museums interested in the implementation of a database to aid in cataloguing its holdings. In order to apply these ideas to all museums the SAGE-K method was developed. This method is found in the second section, which can be used as a handbook. At the end of this section there is a chapter devoted to issues that develop in a multilingual environment. The additional complication of the multilingual issues found in the Semitic language regions is explored. An innovative solution to this challenge is proposed. This solution includes building a multilingual lexicon. The implementation of this lexicon within the database is reviewed in full.; The appendix includes examples of presentations used in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem that can help prepare other museums in the long process of acceptance and execution of the principles discussed. |
