HELLENIC TELECOM ORGANIZATION S A : The OTE Group’s Telecommunications Museum in the new digital era

-Documentationanddigitizationof23,000items, part of the history of Greece's telecommunications

-New websitewww.otegroupmuseum.gr

OTE Group's Telecommunications Museum has completed the great work of the documentation and digitization of its collections. Now, everybody can access more than 600 digital archives on the new Museum's website www.otegroupmuseum.gr.

The OTE Group's Telecommunications Museum is one of the few Greek museums that have documented and digitized the majority of its collections. More than 23,000 items and files comprise the story of telecommunications and the country. The digitized and documented items of the collections include:

· 3,200 devices, items and instruments related to the history of telecommunications and the Greek technology development from the late 19th century until today.

· 13,500 telephotographs. The collection extends from 1949, the year of the beginning of the telephotographic service in Greece, until the late 1980s. The pictures cover milestones of Greek political, cultural and social history.

· 3,700 telegrams. They cover the period from 1860 to 1980 and the main volume was acquired through donations and purchases. Their content ranges from private to economic life and from Greek political to military history.

· 300archivematerials such as commercials, newspapers and magazines.

· 100 hours of films including advertising movies, educational films and shows, OTE corporate films and raw footage from political or social events.

· 2,300phonecards.

The documentation aimed at the identification of each object and of the archives belonging to the collection of the Museum, while selected items had detailed and extensive documentation. Alongside the work, the primary maintenance of the exhibits also occurred. The digitization included professional shooting and registration of each item in electronic format. The work was implemented in collaboration with scientists-documentalists, in line with the modern museological practices and lasted two years. The investment cost was covered entirely by the OTE Group resources.

Ms. Deppie Tzimea, OTE Group's Corporate Communications Executive Director, said: 'The documentation and digitization of our collections is alife timework for all of us. For the museum, sky is the limit for further interpretation and historic analysis of the documents and the management of its collections while the museum is placed on the world map of Museums. For the OTE Group, as it highlights its contribution not only in telecommunications but also in the technological, social, political and economic history of the country. Most important, for the general public in Greece and abroad, as it records and tells the history of telecommunications and gives open access to information and items unique to their kind. It is an investment in technology and innovation as a vehicle for a better world for everybody all.'

With this project, the museum was equipped with the MuseumPlus collections management system and the eMuseumPlus app, which organizes the collections digitally and make them accessible online on the new website of the Museumwww.otegroupmuseum.gr.

Through the new website, designed according to the standards of cultural sites, the visitors can be informed about the new museum-learning activities, the 2016-2017 educational programs for school groups or families and learn about the collections and museum's news. In the near future the www.otegroupmuseum.gr will be enriched with modern digital applications for the presentation of exhibits, such as virtual reality technology and videos from the museum's activities.