For some time now, the Museum of Western Colorado in Grand Junction has been
seeking a collections management software package.  We now have the
opportunity to write a grant to acquire one.  Over the years we have
evaluated a number of products including those produced by Willoughby (we
have a version of Snap) and Questor.  So far, Questor seems to be a better
alternative as many of the repositories we are working with have installed it.

At the risk of starting a new discussion, we would like to know if anyone
can help us with the following:

1.  What do you say to staff members who want to customize an off-the-
shelf dbms package and save big bucks.  We've already gone this route at a
basic level with dbase and Alpha 5.  Currently the Museum owns Access and
Paradox, and is using Access to manage one of its collections.  One of our
staff, who is a computer consultant, really believes we should be using
Access. (My belief, arrived at by years of discussion with others,
classes, and readings, is not to create a customized system for variety of
reasons.  These include wasted staff/consultant time in setting up the
system to begin with, lack of support and written documentation.  If you
disagree, why?)

2. Regarding Questor, we did an informal poll and found that Argus is
being used by the largest percentage of museums we received responses
from.  Is anyone out there using Advanced Argus for Windows?  Most of our
regional colleagues we contacted are using the earlier version.  We
need to hear from those who are using the newer version.  Are there
satisfied Willoughby users out there who disagree?

3. Does anyone have any knowledge of the upgraded National Park Service
software.  I was told by the Registrar, who helped to develop it
originally,  not to consider it as we would have to use the NPS numbering
system.

4. Is the Smithsonian still using its own custom designed system?

I haven't been monitoring Museum-L as closely as I should have the last
few months.  So, if this information exists already, please let me know
where I can find it, and I beg your pardon for bringing this up again.

Please reply to me at [log in to unmask], on, or off the list.
I can be reached at 970-242-0971 ex. 209 (voice).

My thanks for your help!
Judy Prosser-Armstrong, Librarian/Archivist
(formerly a registrar and collections manager)