This web guide is intended for museum professionals who are approaching the threshold of digital access for their collections. Libraries and museums have long inhabited parallel universes that are slowly but surely converging. With the advent of the Internet and World Wide Web, and the expansion of digitized information, questions, opportunities, and problems of access to and preservation of collections are becoming similar for both types of institutions.
The expenses involved in crossing this digital threshold require knowledge of both general system principles and careful scrutiny of the particulars of the businesses that supply collection management software.
Choosing Museum Collection Management Software Despite its 1991 origins, this essay by Robert Baron is an excellent non-technical introduction to the issues to be considered when considering collection management software. Be sure to read the section in the outline: "Museum Systems vs. Business Systems"
Mouseia Online resource center for museologists and museum professional. Note in particular a series of white papers devoted to collections issues, including several collections guides from Robert Baron; and these extensive bibliographies, directories, and organization links from around the world.
RLG (Research Libraries Group) is a not-for-profit membership corporation of over 160 universities, national libraries, archives, historical societies, and other institutions with remarkable collections for research and learning. Standard setter for the next-generation resource-sharing environment. Extensive links to member institutions.
International Council of Museums, French based, vast, intriguingly Euro-vague.
American Association of Museums Large umbrella organization. Note their "Museum Marketplace" which is an online directory. Search under "computer software" category for related business contacts.
Museum Computer Network is a nonprofit organization of professionals dedicated to fostering the cultural aims of museums through the use of computer technologies. Portal to their special interest groups in digital imaging, standards and controlled vocabulary, and others.
IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Studies) : the one US federal agency devoted to museums and libraries, extensive grants particularly in digitization of collections. Note in particular: A Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Collections
Canadian Heritage Information Network Canadians do their museums well; their metadata and standards page. Again from CHIN, the Review represents the third edition in an ongoing series of evaluations of collections management software for museums. Its intention is to outline the suitability of specific software to museum discipline, collections size, museum functions, and hardware and software environment. Downloadable PDF. Also worth noting from CHIN: their online training course to choose and implement collections management software. Adlib Museums from Adlib Information Systems: European collection management software, demo download good for comparison to US vendors.
PastPerfect software that has been around for many years.
Cuadra Associate 's flagship product STAR is an award-winning multi-user, multi-purpose, customizable client-server software package with the power and flexibility to manage information collections of all types. Typical STAR applications include management of special libraries, technical information centers, museums, archives, central files and records centers and competitive intelligence units.
Gallery Systems : their EmbARK is a cross-platform, fully-customizable collections management image database, offering comprehensive cataloguing, loans, exhibitions, and public access modules. KE Software, Inc Canadian, KE EMu manages all aspects of a museum's collection, management and other related information while providing extensive retrieval facilities within the museum and to external patrons.
Re:discovery Over 450 sites in the United States and Canada, representing a wide range of institutional types including the National Park Service, use Re:discovery to manage their collections. Willougby Associates Limited Illinois company known for "MultiMimsy" and the newer "io" collection management systems.
ARCHIMUSE Site for annual international conference on museums and the web, has archives of past conference presentations.
Nonprofit Software Index is a resource for nonprofit organization's seeking software for their operations.
New York Foundation for the Arts Humanities and arts portal. Note in particular the "Nonprofits & Technology" and "Software" headings. Techsoup.org excellent technology/nonprofit portal with emphasis on regional contacts
Created by Chris Hall, CLIS 748 Summer I, June 2002
Software Vendors and Consulting Firms
Other Web Resources