2005 CIDOC Introduction

Introduction to the International Committee for Documentation of the International Council of Museums (ICOM-CIDOC)

This page introduces the work of ICOM-CIDOC

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Introduction

CIDOC is the international focus for the documentation interests of museums and similar organisations. It is a constituent committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), established during the 1950 ICOM General Conference in London. CIDOC now has over 750 members from 60 countries, including over 400 voting members. These members include documentation specialists, registrars, computer managers, system designers, advisors and trainers.

If you are not already a member, CIDOC would welcome your involvement in its work. Membership of CIDOC itself is free. However, to be eligible for membership you must join ICOM. For further information about ICOM membership, see the main ICOM Web site. For additional details, see the CIDOC membership page or contact, the CIDOC Secretary.

Benefits of membership include:

• receiving an annual Newsletter
• taking part in research and other initiatives organised in Working Groups
• contributing to publications
• attending and contributing to annual conferences
• involvement with ICOM's presence on the Internet

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A Voice for CIDOC

Mission Statement

CIDOC provides a forum for discussing and providing advice on the application of documentation standards, and information and communication technologies, for the gathering, management and sharing of the knowledge carried in heritage collections.

Objectives

The following objectives will be used by the Board as a basis for developing an action plan aimed at fulfilling its mission.

• Provide effective advocacy and advice for CIDOC's members and for ICOM, ensuring benefits for, and participation from, all areas of the membership and promoting an understanding of international and cross-cultural issues.
• Represent the community in relevant discussions and projects (those relating to the documentation, presentation, and dissemination of museum information), influence the process of standards development and ensure that appropriate standards are made available to the membership.
• Ensure that the representation, expertise and resources of CIDOC are channeled effectively reflecting the changing information environment.

*Presented for approval to CIDOC members at annual business meeting on September 10, 1999.

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Newsletter

A bilingual annual newsletter has been published by CIDOC since 1989, except for 1999 when it was not published. This includes news from the Board; reports from the Working Groups; reports of previous conferences; contributions related to the theme of that year?s conference; and papers by individual Committee members. Copies are distributed to all members.

If you are interested in contributing an article to the next issue, contact: Virgil Stefan Nitulescu, Romania (vnitulescu@cdep.ro), CIDOC Editor.

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Working Groups

Committee members are welcome to join one or more of the Working Groups, details of which are given on a separate page.

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Publications

CIDOC has produced a number of publications in recent years. Most of these publications have been developed by one or more of the Working Groups. Copies are available to members and in some case through ICOM.

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Conferences

The Committee organises an annual conference, details of which are given on a separate page.

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Internet services

CIDOC has developed a number of Internet services; overall co-ordination is provided by an Internet Working Group

In addition, CIDOC provides support to ICOM in the development of Internet services for the overall ICOM community.

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Standards policy developments

CIDOC is working with a number of bodies to pursue the development and adoption of museum information standards . These bodies include:

• the Getty Research Institute
• the Consortium for the Computer Interchange of Museum Information (CIMI)
• the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

AHIP and CIDOC have prepared a brochure about developments in international museum and cultural heritage information standards .

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Committee management

CIDOC is managed by a Board , elected by the membership at the ICOM Triennial Conference.

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The museum information profession and CIDOC

Further background about the development and role of the Committee and the growth of the museum information profession is given in a separate paper.