Library software and museum software address separate needs. Library OPACs
do not include fields regarding donation or accession, exhibit use,
condition, and so forth. But by the same token, most museum software does
not use the universal MARC format that libraries depend on (though some
incorporate the ability to export to it, such as with PastPerfect) and no
museum software program I'm aware of uses the Z39.50 standard libraries
employ for resource sharing. In other words, there are pitfalls in both
directions.

Good luck with your project, whatever your institution ends up deciding.

--
Toniann Scime
Librarian, Amherst Museum
3755 Tonawanda Creek Road
Amherst, NY 14228
Phone: 716-689-1440
Fax: 716-689-1409
[log in to unmask]
http://www.amherstmuseum.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Bonni-Dara Michaels
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2006 9:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] museum, library and archives

whatever course you pursue in terms of "combining" your collections, select
your collections management software with care.  library programs are not
sufficiently robust to handle the needs of a museum.

Bonni-Dara Michaels
Collections Curator
Yeshiva University Museum
15 West 16th Street
New York, New York 10011
tel: 212-294-8330 x 8815
email: [log in to unmask]

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