British Museum plans to digitize its entire collection of more than 8 million items

The British Museum has announced its endeavor to digitize its vast collection of over eight million items, ensuring their perpetual preservation and facilitating virtual access for the global populace.

One catalyst propelling the British Museum’s digitization initiative appears to be the ongoing issue of theft of its artifacts. In a report from August this year, the museum disclosed that several thousand items had been stolen, encompassing more than 1,500 historical relics.

However, digitizing these artifacts not only safeguards specific items from potential damage during exhibition but also mitigates the risk of future unavailability for display. Moreover, treasured items requiring meticulous protection can still be accessible to the public online without physical exhibition, reducing the probability of theft during display.

The museum’s interim director, Mark Jones, believes that as more individuals acquaint themselves with the digital content of the museum’s collection, it could enhance the chances of recovering stolen artifacts through public alerts.

Yet, the monumental task of digitizing the museum’s eight million artifacts is estimated to span over five years, with potential costs exceeding 12.1 million dollars. Given the museum’s current financial constraints, external investors willing to champion this venture are being sought.

Initiating this digital transformation in 2020, the British Museum has already digitized approximately half of its collection, with a significant portion accelerated during the pandemic.

Beyond the British Museum, several institutions worldwide are progressively digitizing their collections. This not only preserves the visual essence and pertinent data of artifacts but also grants more flexible access to those unable to visit in person or academic researchers requiring convenient access.

Prior to this, Google had incorporated a substantial portion of the British Museum’s collection into its Arts and Culture service, though it represents only a fraction of the entirety.