The scope of our data
MDS will hold four levels of collection-related data. Here we describe the scope of each level as a guide to what users can expect to find as the repository grows over the coming months and years.
Who can use MDS data?
From spring 2024 there will be an interface can anyone access, but in the meantime the initial users will be those museums sharing data with us, and organisations we’re working with to test our export workflows in a range of use cases.
While we expect most to be licensed for any non-commercial use, often with attribution, each source museum will have full control over how much of its data is visible and the terms on which it is licensed.
Use cases
They say the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Bringing data into MDS is that first step, not just of one journey but of many, by countless data users, over decades to come. We’re already working — at various scales — on collaborations that will show the game-changing potential of MDS to transform the way we all work with collections data.
Using data FAQs
Here you’ll find answers to many of the questions you might have about sharing data with MDS. This section will grow over time, so if the information you need is not there yet, just ask.