[BCMA] Updating Museum Data Base

Wed Mar 2 14:51:42 PST 2016

Hello,

                I wanted to bring up CollectiveAccess if I have not already. For my previous employer I did a study to figure out which system would best fit the institution and CollectiveAccess won out. Now every institution is different with different needs, but the software is pretty decent. The Museum Association of Saskatchewan has chosen it and the Association of Nova Scotia Museums is leading the curve on it I believe. They had a great write up last year in MUSE.

William Shepherd
Collections Officer
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca] On Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 1:29 PM
To: bcma at lists.vifa.ca
Subject: Re: [BCMA] Updating Museum Data Base

We are also looking at options for a new collections management system.  Our current Access system works great for in-house functions, but does not easily translate to our website, and is in danger of becoming outdated.

I’ve been looking at several other possibilities, evaluating them specifically for our needs, but if anyone is interested, I’ll share my notes.  I’m always interested in other people’s experiences of the systems.  Unfortunately, it usually looks like the most promising systems are usually the most expensive.

Notes on the 22 systems I’ve looked at so far:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12kVYN87h0NLduyrlzu0-wX1viIfhfn3edR81OXBS4eg/edit?usp=sharing

Mandy Kilsby
Curator, Barkerville Historic Town
250-994-3302 ext. 35
mandy.kilsby at barkerville.ca<mailto:mandy.kilsby at barkerville.ca>
14301 Highway 26 E.
Box 19, Barkerville BC, V0K 1B0
www.barkerville.ca<http://www.barkerville.ca>

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca> [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca] On Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 9:29 AM
To: bcma at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma at lists.vifa.ca>
Subject: Re: [BCMA] Updating Museum Data Base

I have spoken to PastPerfect about this problem William and the next version (6) that comes out will be on a supported platform. That’s why it’s taking a bit longer to come out. They want to get it right. However, in the interim PP continues to work just fine on our systems and we’re still working with 4! I hope that clears up any concerns about that matter. You can also call them about it if you need to.

Yours, Pamela Woolner
Community Heritage Manager
Oliver and District Heritage Society
Box 847, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0
250-498-4027
info at oliverheritage.ca<mailto:info at oliverheritage.ca>
www.oliverheritage.ca<http://www.oliverheritage.ca/>

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca> [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca] On Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: March-01-16 3:06 PM
To: bcma at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma at lists.vifa.ca>
Subject: Re: [BCMA] Updating Museum Data Base

I am following with interest the suggestions. Some on our board had thought we should use Access but we have not yet begun, please keep us posted as to what you decide to go with now that William has pointed out as a potential problem with PastPerfect.

Diana Ball

On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 3:28 PM, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. <bcma at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma at lists.vifa.ca>> wrote:

Thank-you William!

---
Amy McCroy

Curator/Administrator, Summerland Museum

On 2016-02-24 15:01, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. wrote:
Hello Amy,

                PastPerfect is a great program, I quite like it; however, it is built on a no longer supported Microsoft database platform. It works fine now but there is always the chance that a Windows update or upgrade could break the program.

William Shepherd
Collections Officer
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815<tel:306-778-4815>
Fax: 306-778-4818<tel:306-778-4818>

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca> [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca>] On Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 1:41 PM
To: bcma at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma at lists.vifa.ca>
Subject: Re: [BCMA] Updating Museum Data Base

Jane, thank-you so much for your in-put, others have also mentioned PastPerfect!

---
Amy McCroy

Curator/Administrator, Summerland Museum

On 2016-02-24 10:40, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. wrote:
Hi Amy,

I would suggest PastPerfect. While it isn't a "be-all" database (and isn't the best for Archival collections), it is a fantastic recourse for smaller institutions. Feel free to give me a call if you'd like to chat more about it.

Jane Lemke
Curator
Chilliwack Museum and Archives
9291 Corbould Street
Chilliwack, BC V2P 4A6
Phone: (604) 795-9255<tel:%28604%29%20795-9255>
www.chilliwackmuseum.ca<http://www.chilliwackmuseum.ca/>

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca> [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca] On Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 1:08 PM
To: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Subject: [BCMA] Updating Museum Data Base

Hello All,

Does anyone have any information on a great data base for smaller museums? We are currently using Access and is very limited in what it can do.  Any ideas would be very much appreciated! Thank-you in advance.

--
Amy McCroy

Curator/Administrator, Summerland Museum

_______________________________________________

BCMA mailing list

BCMA at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:BCMA at lists.vifa.ca>

http://lists.vifa.ca/mailman/listinfo/bcma

_______________________________________________

BCMA mailing list

BCMA at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:BCMA at lists.vifa.ca>

http://lists.vifa.ca/mailman/listinfo/bcma

_______________________________________________
BCMA mailing list
BCMA at lists.vifa.ca<mailto:BCMA at lists.vifa.ca>
http://lists.vifa.ca/mailman/listinfo/bcma

--
Diana Ball
Manager/Curator
Chase and District Museum and Archives
250-679-8847
Box 160- 1042 Shuswap Ave Chase BC V0E 1M0  chasemuseumsociety at gmail.com<mailto:chasemuseumsociety at gmail.com>
www.chasemuseum.com<http://www.chasemuseum.com>
"LIKE" us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Chase-and-District-Museum/141681956033401<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chase-and-District-Museum/141681956033401>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.vifa.ca/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20160302/febb178a/attachment-0001.htm 