Dear Taryn;

You're not going to find one universal database program that all museums are
using--the museum community just isn't built that way.  However, most modern
databases (the relational kind, anyway) are fairly similar, and if you learn
how one works, you should be able to pick up on most others fairly easily.
I have formal training in Access, but I was able to make the transition to
Oracle and Paradox when my changing duties required it.

As for the choice of Access as a database to learn, I have to say it's
worked for me!  I've worked with three institutions that have used Access
for their collections management, and I understand that the British Columbia
Museums Association was for some time (and likely still is, although I'm not
quite sure) advocating the use of Access for museum collections management.
It's not perfect (no database ever is), but I think you would do well in
learning Access.  As I say, it's worked for me.


Tim McShane, Collections Manager
West Parry Sound District Museum



____________________________
Thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own, and do not necessarily
reflect those of my employer.

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