Hi Joanna,
I just wanted to say that I agree that you shouldn't get too bogged down with EAD. However, I would
say that an important advantage of a system is the ability to export in EAD. This makes you much
more future-proof and gives the potential for interoperability. Archivists don't always think about
the broader issues of sharing data and enabling users to cross-search archives with other resources,
but EAD can help here. I don't want to be too partial - it is not the only option and it does have
its drawbacks - but by being able to provide descriptions as EAD you can more easily enter the world
of data sharing. In fact the UK government mandates the use of XML for data sharing in the public
sector (http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/govtalk/schemasstandards/e-gif/datastandards.aspx)
We're currently working with CALM and AdLib to improve their EAD exports, so that you can more
easily contribute your descriptions from those systems to the Archives Hub if you wish to do so.
Interesting summary, many thanks for that.
all the best,
Jane.
**************************************************************
Jane Stevenson
Archives Hub Co-ordinator
Mimas
University of Manchester
Devonshire House
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9QH
Tel. No: +44(0)161 275 6055
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk
Joanna Taylor wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> As promised to many of you, I've pasted below the summary document containing
> feedback regarding my questions last month. (Making this quite a lengthy post!)
>
> Thanks for all the advice, and an extra thank-you to the people I’ve taken the liberty to
> paraphrase. I hope some of you find useful information and new systems to consider.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Joanna Taylor
> (Freelance Project Archivist)
> National Theatre of Scotland
>
>
>
> Databases.................
>
>
> DS CALM:
> http://www.crxnet.com/
> Largely feedback has been either advocating or venting about DS CALM and I’d say it’s
> been 50/50 hate mail and thumbs up.
>
> Pro’s: Tried, tested and widely used. It’s possibly the best system for dealing with
> hierarchies, and provides a relational database. An easy interface to set up; capable of
> cataloguing images; good at exporting to html and thus getting your catalogue online. It’s
> not too difficult to customise, good software support, online manual is also a helpful
> reference guide. It’s ISAD (G) compliant.
>
> Con’s: Market dominance doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best system. Expensive initial
> outlay and licence. Difficult to install, with a poorly written user manual; not user
> friendly, with addition of poor customer service. Slow, unattractive and ‘visually boring’
> system. Suggestion that while the database is good, it’s the support that is the trouble.
> To sum up discontent - ‘its qualities are blown out of all proportion, it is basically just a
> database when it boils down to it.’
>
> (I realise that some of the pros and cons contradict each other, but this is a reflection of
> feedback.)
>
> Adlib:
> http://www.adlibsoft.com/
> Received a lot of support. Cost effective, and more suited to images than CALM.
> Developed using ISAD (G).
>
>
> KE EMu:
> http://www.kesoftware.com/
> Lots of people have flagged this one up. Used worldwide commercially, by libraries,
> museums galleries and archives. Seems to deliver on all the same fronts as DS CALM,
> and no-one’s put forward any complaints. The company would consult on the most
> suitable system for you. (Although I think this is fairly common). ISAD (G) compliant.
>
>
> DB Textworks from Soutron:
> http://www.soutron.com/
> Reliable, durable, and seems to be in widespread use in the commercial world, with
> libraries and some archives. Image library is linked to jpegs and opens them at a click.
> Once a collection is listed DBT can produce a variety of reports according to type, date,
> provenance, word terms etc. It’s quick and efficient for cataloguing, is user friendly and
> quick for searching on a variety of terms, dates, provenance, etc.
>
>
> A Database:
> www.adatabase.org/
> Visually attractive, it provides an off the shelf alternative to the specially created
> database at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts. They write a proposal surrounding
> your needs, and can offer different levels of support and interaction. Although a little
> expensive to start with, it’s a reasonable licence fee and costs appear to reflect the
> benefits. Developed with gallery archives in mind, I suspect it’s not suitable for all
> organisations. User friendly.
>
>
> ICA Atom:
> http://ica-atom.org/
> Open source. Developed with the desire to be customisable. Appears to have good
> accreditation. ISAD (G) compliant.
>
>
> Archivists Toolkit:
> http://www.archiviststoolkit.org
> Opens source software, developed in America and used by lots of universities there. An
> archival management tool that lends itself to cataloguing. The xml format can be
> uploaded to online resources like archives hub and also imported into CALM. Apparently
> easy to install on a group of computers without extra IT help. It fits with an often sighted
> goal of not being tied into proprietary software.
>
>
> Microsoft Excel:
> It seems that there are also plenty of people using Excel (and equivalent) spreadsheets,
> as well as not having problems with card catalogues. It’s been pointed out that if it’s a
> small collection a standard spreadsheet works perfectly well - it can answer enquiries,
> you can group search results, easily printing them, and it can be transferred into a
> different system in the future.
>
>
> Finally…
> It’s been suggested that I should fly the flag for not using CALM, thus taking away from
> its archive dominance, and getting other systems into the fray. It is probable that
> they’ve received the most complaints because they are so widely used, thus giving more
> scope for complaints than others. Advice I’ve received from various sources is that
> although ISAD (G) and EAD compliance make sense, I should not get too weighed down
> by them. Find a system that suits needs and seems sensible, without the frameworks of
> others being my main criteria. (Obviously CALM fans will quibble this!)
>
> Finally, researching cataloguing systems has made me very aware of how pushy sales
> men can be –this can definitely effect how a company is thought of!
>
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