I've been following the discussion of the progress of museums in using
computers for various purposes with interest, particularly now that the
subject of information beyond images and exhibits has arisen.  Members of
this list might like to know that the Research Libraries Group (RLG),
which provides holdings information on library and archival collections
under a bibliographic database called RLIN (membership and use are
fee-based) was involved in research and development for a potentially
brilliant automated tool for museum collections management and data
sharing.
 
The tool was called AMIS (Automated Museum Information System)
and according to my skimpy information and understanding, would have
provided an integrated platform including forms for registration, inventory,
conservation records, loans, catalog and labelling info, etc., etc.  I
believe it was exhibited at Amerian Library Association, Society of
American Archivists, and AAM meetings.  It was based on SUN computers,
and, at least in the developmental stages, probably looked pretty
expensive to museum directors.  The project was eventually scrapped, I
believe because RLG could not get development funding.  An idea just a
little ahead of its time, and only a couple of years ago.
 
The Nov.-Dec. 1994 issue (No. 73) of the newsletter of the Commission on
Preservation and Access (staff is online at <cni.org>) reports that the
Museum Computer Network has recieved a grant from the US Dept of Commerce
to develop Cultural Heritage Information Online (CHIO), a project of the
Computer Interchange of Museum Information (CIMI) to develop a database
of multimedia folk art.  Contact John Perkins (16 Schooner Drive, RRI,
Boutiliers Point, NS, Canada B0J 1G0.  No e-mail address (and no futher
information) were given.  John was one of the originators of the Getty
Conservation Information Network, now the Canadian Heritage Information
Network  out of Ottawa.
 
I haven't seen this information on the list before -- sorry if it's
duplicative.
 
Karen
_________________________________
 
Karen Motylewski                                508-470-1010
Northeast Document Conservation Center          508-475-6021 fax
100 Brickstone Square                           <[log in to unmask]>
Andover, MA 01810                               Use KM in subject field