We have  a three part criteria for determining what  goes into the
collection...

1> 'landmark' type of computer systems

2> computing devices  that are visually interesting or entertaining

3> things from my past or that have amused me.
( it's good to be the king)


Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC

Please check our web site at
 http://www.smecc.org
to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
buy, and by all means  when in Arizona drop in and see us.

address:

 coury house / smecc
5802 w palmaire ave
glendale az 85301




----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin MacLean" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 4:33 PM
Subject: Question re. computers & contemporary collecting


> Our institution is soliciting advice in order to decide what course of
> action it should take with regard to accessioning future technology
> collections.
>
> Past (pre- '97) curatorial thinking was that the our facility should limit
> technology collecting due to the rate at which it evolves and its
potential
> to dominate shrinking storage space. Existing thought, however, is that
> technology, predominately computers, have an important place in our
cultural
> collections.  In addition, technologies are valued only as long as they
> cutting edge, which was yesterday, with the result that objects (eg. game
> systems) are quickly disposed of in favour of the faster, more impressive
> ones.  The question is where do we draw the line?
>
> What is the viewpoint of your facility re. contemporary collecting?  Do
you
> have a cut-off date re. contemporary collecting and how would you approach
> the processing of a large computer collection?  Do you have a policy
solely
> related to collecting the technologies which have dominated the last 25
> years.
>
> Good luck answering.  Kevin
>
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