NPS Media Inventory Database System

MIDS in 2005

MIDS presently reports on the content and condition of 14,797 pieces of National Park Service media.

These include:

• 861 Audiovisual programs
• 863 Exhibits
• 3,012 Historically furnished exhibits
• 373 Interpretive plans
• 390 Park brochures
• 12,009 Wayside exhibits
  

The National Park Service Media Inventory Database System (MIDS) reports on the content and condition of Servicewide interpretive media: Audiovisual programs, Exhibits, Historic Furnishings, Interpretive Plans, Publications, and Wayside Exhibits. Many MIDS records include PDF files for each interpretive media product, including audiovisual program scripts, long range interpretive plans, the text of official national park brochures, and complete digital versions of wayside exhibits. The text content of these PDF files is completely searchable and can be re-purposed for other media products.

MIDS gives parks online access to their interpretive media records 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Parks can ADD new media inventory records, UPDATE existing records, and DELETE obsolete records, providing National Park Service managers, park staff, and media specialists with up-to-date access to the content and condition of NPS interpretive media across the National Park System.

MIDS serves three primary purposes:

1. It provides NPS managers with a tool to evaluate both the content and condition of Servicewide interpretive media, and to quantify the "unacceptable" media presently in use.
2. It provides each park with a secure online tool to track and update their own interpretive media products.
3. It provides NPS managers and interpretive staff with access to the text content of interpretive media products, facilitating research and promoting a broader understanding of the interpretive messages parks are telling.

MIDS only accessible to NPS Network computers

The NPS Media Inventory Database System is only accessible to National Park Service staff using computers on the NPS Network. National Park Service staff may access MIDS to search, retrieve, and review media inventory records for all parks. Authorized park users may ADD new media inventory records, UPDATE existing records, and DELETE obsolete records for their own park.

National Park Service staff may request authorized access to MIDS by contacting the NPS Media Inventory Office at 304-535-6102.

NPS Media Inventory Database System »

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Media Inventory Database System »