Mary,
I am someone who is the main person working on basically the same kind of
project.  The main beinfits that we have seen is the vast improvement in
keeping track of the collections, updataing the accuracy of the records to
reflect what the museum actually has in its collections instead of simply
what the records say you should have, etc...  I think that these would be
the main benifits in any museum setting.  The program that we use is
PastPerfect.  In addition to collections management, it can also be used
for digital membership management.  I don't see how collections management
would be used directly for outreach or programming, although if you have
better control over your collections, you will probably be able to offer
better collections based programs.  The project I am working on also
adresses gaps that should be filled in the museum's collections in order
to have a complete or more representational collection.  Part of that
aspect of the project also allows for review of existing collections for
possible deaccessioning of multiple/duplicate objects to a
programatic/education collection.
Feel free to contact me off list with further questions.

Beau Harris
Registrar
Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802) 748-2372
[log in to unmask]




> Good morning colleagues - -
>
>
>
> Mount Vernon will soon be starting on a ten year collections management
> database project and I have two issues I am hoping the list can help
> with.
>
>
>
> 1)       We need to fund the project, including all of the data entry,
> researching, digital imaging etc. We are working with the development
> department on the usual sources of funding, but does anyone have
> information on lesser known funding sources for this type of project
> that you would be willing to share?
>
>
>
> 2)       There is always a need to prove the worth of this project in
> the eyes of management and the board - - does anyone have examples of
> how your collections management database was successfully used for
> outreach purposes? What kinds of programming was it and what kinds of
> audiences were reached? Any information we can use to illustrate how the
> database is useful for more than collections management functions would
> be most appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thank you in advance for any assistance, and please feel free to contact
> me off-line.
>
>
>
> Mary Margaret
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________
>
> Mary Margaret Carr
>
> Collections Manager
>
> George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
>
> P.O. Box 110
>
> Mount Vernon, Virginia  22121
>
> 703-799-8638
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
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