This is in response to your inquiry about museum software posted on Museum-L.
Between 1995-2000 the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN)
conducted a series of reviews of collections management software for
museums. As a result we have published a three-volume set of our
Collections Management Software Review.
The Review contains detailed evaluations of twenty-eight commercially
available collections management software packages. It outlines the
software's suitability to museum discipline, collections size, museum
functions, and hardware and software environment. It also analyzes vendor
reliability, support requirements, customization possibilities, costs, and
more. The software evaluations were performed by CHIN staff and a team of
museum professionals, including registrars, curators, and IS staff from all
sizes and disciplines of museums throughout North America.
Knowing that each museum has different needs, the Review is not meant to be
a recommendation of specific software but a tool for museums looking at
moving to in-house collections management systems.
We recently developed a training course to assist with the continuing task
of choosing and maintaining collections management software as a one-day
course. This course is now available through subscription over the Internet
for institutions to complete at their own pace as they go through the
process of selecting software. These modules will help you define your
requirements, plan, budget, select and install software, convert data, get
your system running, and ultimately maintain your system. All you need is
an Internet connection! It?s easy-to-use; it allows you to set your own
pace of learning. It also keeps you in touch with your instructors and
other museum professionals through e-mail.
The Collections Management Software Selection Course and the Collections
Management Software Review (on-line) is available for $149 on our Web site
by subscription (www.chin.gc.ca).
Other available (hard copy) products:
Product Profiles containing detailed reviews and statistics for each of the
28 products evaluated. Price: $25.00 each.
Criteria Checklist is meant to identify most functions that can occur in a
collections management system. This checklist contains over 500 functional
requirements from which museums can choose when documenting their own
requirements for a new software system. With changes to reflect individual
circumstances, the criteria checklist will provide a base from which you
can work when defining your needs. Price: $25.00
If you would like to discuss collections management software or have any
further questions, please feel free to contact me at 1-800-520-2446. For
further information on the software review, as well ordering information,
please visit the CHIN web site at http://www.chin.gc.ca.
Sincerely,
Diane Bowden
Technology Assessment
Canadian Heritage Information Network
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