A presentation by Siân Wynn-Jones, Heritage Collections Manager at BT Archives, given at the Connecting Collections event, 5 March 2010, BT Centre, London.

1. Contemporary Collecting in Partnership: a reality matrix Siân Wynn-Jones, Heritage Collections Manager, BT

2. Connected Earth Founded in 2001 Dispersed collection Virtual experience CECG - industry and heritage specialists Network of 11 partners Cross connexions conference Galleries Curatorial tools and support

3. Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings (Warwickshire) BT Archives Goonhilly Visitors’ Centre Institute of Telecommunication Professionals Milton Keynes Museum Museum of London (Capital City gallery opens May 2010) Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester) National Museum of Scotland Porthcurno Telegraph Museum Science Museum (London) www.connected-earth.com Connected Earth Partners

4. Amberley Avoncroft NMS MoSI

5. The Collection

6. Contemporary collecting Communications technology change so fast Communications merging with computing 10 heritage repositories 10 different acquisition policies duty of care which type of objects tell the story longer term view CECG BT’s Heritage Policy & commitments specialist knowledge of communications industry (TLAs) more immediate view

7. Timeline approach Internet 1980s JANET Downloads via Ceefax TAT-8 ETACs Size reductions First consumer Internet connection DTTV discussions FLAG/Global crossing WAP mobiles Digital GSM and CDMA to 3G Digital divide VOIP 1990s 2000s

8. The Matrix

9. Objects

10. Summary of learning points Wide net of contacts but target areas of knowledge Stick to themes think grid Facts stories objects Use for planning and progress Network if you don’t ask, you can’t get

12. Heritage Collections Manager

13. BT Group plc