Couldn't agree more, Jim. I'm happy to hear from someone who was at the launch.

MartinRyan, I don't know that the answer is always money. It is often a question of setting priorities.

The case of digitizing a collection and putting it online has been a vexing one for many a museum and archive, because the library collection technology is changing quickly, and it is hard to know which way to go. My personal opinion is, the ITMA lacked expertise more than money.

That said, there are a lot of resources available to do this sort of thing, and in Ireland, no shortage of very capable people who would go willing to volunteer to get the job done. Ireland also has great support for the arts institutionally, through the Arts Council, just as you mention.

And as I said, the problem isn't just with ITMA archive getting it's digital act together in a nation with enviable financial and institutional support for arts organizations and one of the best educated technology sectors in Europe.

I think it is the old guard resisting change.