Mark Friedman of the Mariners' Museum wrote: >Is there any museum/library out there within 2-4 months of installing their >first Collection Management System? I have a few questions to ask about >their final selection criteria, and few questions about their planned >implementation. I'm from Merrill Library at Utah State University. We are presently working on RFP (Request for Proposal) specs for our *third* automated system. Our first system worked well, pleased us, and included great technical support...then became too expensive. We went through an extensive RFP and site visit process to select our second automation system. THIS IS WHAT WE LEARNED: When interviewing or visiting other sites who have the system you are considering already in place, you MUST consult with sites for whom the system is NOT their first. *EVERYONE* raves about their FIRST automation system. By the time they acquire and subsequently live with their second, they are educated consumers and can much more accurately assess the pros and cons of both. Good luck! Jan Dr. Jan Anderson Utah State University (801) 797-2672 [log in to unmask]