MDA (Museum Documentation Association) announces the publication of a
revised version of SPECTRUM, the UK and international industry standard
for collections documentation and information management.
The new version (SPECTRUM 3.1) has been updated to reflect current best
practice in the heritage sector and recent changes in legislation,
representing a significant revision to the third edition, published in
2005. The revision has been published using XML technology, enabling it to
be made available in a variety of formats.
New key features include the integration of relevant parts of MLA London
and MDA's joint initiative, Revisiting Collections. This is a new approach
to collections information which helps museums to create services and
exhibitions for diverse audiences. The revision also includes material to
support the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Cultural Property
Unit guidelines due diligence in combating illicit trade.
MDA Director Nick Poole commented; "SPECTRUM has to keep pace with the
growing needs of museum professionals, particularly as they are required
to manage increasingly sophisticated services. As an open standard
produced in partnership with the community, SPECTRUM is ideally positioned
not only to meet these challenges but also to lay the foundations for
future development. This latest edition incorporates new ideas such as the
need to capture knowledge and information from diverse museum audiences as
part of our systems. Future developments will see SPECTRUM fulfilling its
role as a mechanism for exchanging information between museums, both
within the UK and throughout Europe."
SPECTRUM is available FREE for non-commercial use, and is being used by
thousands of individuals and heritage organisations worldwide. Commercial
use of SPECTRUM is only available to MDA Partners, see:
http://www.mda.org.uk/memp.htm
The standard, which has been developed to represent consensus by museum
practitioners, is designed to underpin the requirements of the Museum,
Library and Archive Council's (MLA) Accreditation Scheme.
HOW TO OBTAIN SPECTRUM 3.1 -
Licensees of previous version of SPECTRUM DO NOT have to apply for a new
license. Where you supplied an e-mail address MDA has sent you an e-mail
detailing how to download the updated standard. If you have not had an e-
mail please contact Gordon McKenna ([log in to unmask]).
For new licencees, the revised version of the standard is available to
download from:
http://www.mda.org.uk/spectrum.htm (after you fill in the license form)
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Gordon McKenna e-mail: [log in to unmask]
MDA
The Spectrum Building,
The Michael Young Centre,
Purbeck Road
Cambridge CB2 2PD, UK
Tel: +44 1223 415760
Fax: +44 1223 415960
Setting the standard for managing collections information
*************** http://www.mda.org.uk/ ****************
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