Hi Mark,

I am with Kristie here, it is MUCH easier to use the nomenclature that is already built into PastPerfect (especially if you are cataloging man made objects).

We attempted to cross reference our PastPerfect records with our OPAC and it was a disaster. Even with the EZMarc system offered by PastPerfect it was still a total nightmare. The Marc fields for the OPAC do not map over well at all with regards to objects and images. Archives are easier because the Library of Congress system (which is was an OPAC uses) has considered archives and has Marc tags already in place.

It would be much easier for you to stick up PastPerfect and then go from there. If you want to have the collection on line, I would suggest you upgrade to at least version 4.0 and get the virtual exhibit module that PastPerfect has available.

If you want to know more about our experiences, please feel free to contact me off the list.

Thanks,

Rosie Cook

Registrar and Assistant Curator

The Chemical Heritage Foundation

From: Mark Turdo <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, October 18, 2010 11:49:30 AM
Subject: Objects, OPAC, and PastPerfect

Greetings All,

I am working on a project to enter 100 years' worth of collections information into our PastPerfect database. Along with that we're trying to standardize our approach to the database including how we organize and search information.

One of the questions that has come up is how best to use the search terms field to help link related items within the collection. In the past we have used proper nouns in the search terms field (e.g. American Red Cross) to link objects, archival materials, books, and photographs together. However, it's recently been suggested that using an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) would be better. The argument for this approach is that it would standardize the copious terms we have for the same things (some localities have several spellings each used at different times), it would bring our database in line with the local library's database (who also has a local history book collection), and ultimately it might bring us in line with other collecting agencies when all of our collections information is fully available online and we're operating under web 3.0 (which may or may not be a ways off).

In researching this possibility I have found that museums are using OPAC for their library and archival collections, which makes sense since it was designed for those collections. However, I have not found OPAC is also being used to search object and photographic collections. In fact I haven't seen any discussion of a generally accepted approach to object catalogs and search terms. Each institution seems to create their own.

Is anyone using OPAC for all of their collections (beyond just books and manuscripts)? Are there are any reasons not to use OPAC for object collections? How does your museum organize and use the search terms field, if at all? Is there a generally accepted approach to search terms?

Any help you could offer would be most appreciated.

Thanks In Advance,

Mark A. Turdo, IMLS Project Manager
Andover (MA) Historical Society

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