Dear Ariela:



We have been using it for the past couple of years and it really is a beautiful piece of software. For managing museum collections, it does this very well. Administering the software can be tricky, but thankfully KE is usually pretty responsive to advice requests, and there's a very active and helpful user forum. You will need someone dedicated to care and feeding of the software, unless you're one of those lucky few with clean data... They also just added a couple of features for managing archival materials, which uses EAD.



On the downside, making modifications after purchase can be very expensive. We're in the unhappy position right now of needing the software to do much more than it currently can (we're trying to catalog our library, archive, and museum materials together), but the costs to modify EMu to do this are prohibitive to that project. Also, there's a steep learning curve with Crystal Reports, the program EMu uses to create reports and forms (TMS also uses it, I believe. Probably a few others). Thankfully, the user forum I mentioned above is pretty quick to respond! Also, make sure you have enough user licenses - we have three. As the administrator, I am almost always on, which leave two for the three registrars, the two curators, and the two or three interns. Not nearly enough. But I think that's true with any piece of software.



Overall, I highly recommend the company and the software. I don't recommend it if you are trying to centralize three different types of information, but they appear willing to develop those types of modules further, assuming someone is willing to pay for it. But for museum collection management, I give it an A+



Perian Sully

Collection Information and New Media Coordinator

Judah L. Magnes Museum





-----Original Message-----

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ariela

Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 7:24 AM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: [MUSEUM-L] KE Emu



Can you tell me a bit more about KE Emu?  I am at a museum that is looking

at KE Emu as a replacement for our current collections software.  What has

your experience been?



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