Collections Management Software Migration
To improve collections care and management through an updated collections management system.
To improve collections care and management through an updated collections management system.
$5,982,000 the first year and $7,000,000 the second year are for statewide historic and cultural grants to local, county, regional, or other historical or cultural organizations or for activities to preserve significant historic and cultural resources. Money must be distributed through a competitive grant process. The Minnesota Historical Society must administer the money using established grant mechanisms, with assistance from the advisory committee created under Laws 2009, chapter 172, article 4, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), item (ii).
Available upon request. Contact, grants@mnhs.org
Short Term:
Successful data migration to CollectiveAccess complete as of May 31, 2022 - exceeded expectations for ease and speed of migration. This is due to the quality of the CollectiveAccess program along with good planning and highly committed volunteers. Staff and volunteers are fully trained and comfortable (not to say ecstatic) with the system, with final formal training complete August 4, 2022.
Intermediate Term:
Reduced cost for collections management software complete - met expectations. The annual subscription for CollectiveAccess is $300. The currently-advertised cost of PastPerfect with equivalent functionality is $1,995 for the first year and $1,245 annually after that. This is a significant, long-term savings for us as a non-profit organization.
Increased ease of use for data entry COMPLETE based on immediate initial and continued feedback from staff and volunteers. We already have several data clean-up projects underway, including an urgent revision of our Morrison Collection of indigenous artifacts, in preparation for a NAGPRA consultation.
Ability to share BCHS collections information with members of our community and related MALHM organizations - In process. Our BCHS page is live on the MN Collections website. We will begin adding more collections information and access as data clean-up continues and we establish a plan and priorities for doing so.
Long Term:
Our two major long term measures of success are both underway.
Improved and expanded database that encompasses a much larger percentage of our current collections, also enabling a major project for digitization of paper documents and photographs In process
BCHS will be able to implement new policies and procedures to conform to professional standards for collections management - In process. We have already implemented new procedures for accession and cataloging of items, with standardized metadata assignment.
Available upon request, grants@mnhs.org