I posted a message asking how the collections management function works in
your museum. Thanks to those who answered, however not enough answers came
through to call it a survey.
I need to know if the postion of collections manager in your institution is
a technical position with the management of information as a main function,
i.e. data processing of all information generated by the curators, and the
subsequent storage and handling  of that information. It seems to me that
this is a normal description of what collections managers do. Robin Panza
wonders why I called the task ominous. It is because if this is indeed what
collections managers do then I am writing a job description that will
eliminate the job of a friend who is not computer literate. However, I must
provide information to the Board of Trustees about how other museums
function with no regard for my personal feelings.
 Please answer with even a simple yes or no to my e-mail address
([log in to unmask]) and I will have more information to back up or discount
the job description as it pertains to computer skills. Please type in your
institution, sometimes, as with my address, my institution is not stated.
Thank You to all who participated so far and I will give a general summary,
if it is desired, to the whole list.
A special thanks to the Rogers Historical Museum in Rogers, Arkansas per
Allyn Lord. (Allyn, please send your address) I lost your e-mail address but
the information (Cato) was fabulous and very relevant. I recommend that
anyone who is pursuing this question access this information:
Summary of a Study to Evaluate Collection Manager-type Positions by Paisley
S Cato, Chair, SPNHC Committee for Evaluating Collection Management
Positions, Virginia Museum of Natural History, 1001 Douglas Ave.,
Martinsville, Virginia 24112.
I am following up on other recommended reading material and will update you
if some "good stuff" comes to the surface.
Thanks
Linda Tanaka for the Vancouver Museum in British Columbia.