Dear Glyn
In Australia, we use a plethora of computer software for museum
collections.  However, there are two standardised packages that I am aware
of, the one used here in Victoria and the other which has been developed
through the Queensland Museum.

In Victoria, catalogue sheets for objects and for images and comprehensive
cataloguing manuals with simple listings such as classification or
materials are distributed free to all small museums, and these are
supplemented by training workshops which introduce collections management
systems and cataloguing, are low costs and are run by Museums Australia
(Victoria).

Arts Victoria, who originally developed this system, also contracted a
software company to develop software to align with the existing manual
system.  This software, known as Inmagic DBTextworks, is now sold and used
by many small museums in Victoria, and continues to be supported by this
office simply because it is a ready made package which aligns with our
other standards.  The software costs around $1,200AUS, which is expensive,
but has many good attributes, such as a huge text capacity, reporting
abilities, a variety of interfaces, and the ability to scan images into the
database with collection information.

The Queensland model is quite like the Victorian model, in that they have
developed accessioning principles, cataloguing worksheets and provide
collections management information, an extensive classification system and
SOFTWARE.  This package is available for approx. $700 from the Queensland
Museum.

They are both collections management systems which are presented as a whole
package, and are worth looking into.....

Hope this information is of assistance.

Regards
Adrienne Leith

Museums Australia (Victoria)
Level 16, 222 Exhibition Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
GPO Box 4936
Melbourne VIC 3001
AUSTRALIA

Tel:    +61 3 9651 6768
Fax:    +61 3 9651 6773