ABSTRACT
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) holds Scotland's national monument record, which is accessible through the online database Canmore. This paper considers how the records held by RCAHMS have developed over time, mirroring wider changes in attitudes to conservation and cultural heritage. The information within the Canmore database comes from a wide range of sources, and places are not only recorded because they embody traditional heritage values – such as architectural form – but also because they are given a value by a community. This can include values related to intangible cultural heritage. In creating a 21st century record, it is important that there are no barriers to accessing the information held within Canmore. The paper considers a number of barriers to comprehension and suggests ways that these may be countered.
