Welcome

This on-line training course will help you develop a plan and manage a project to choose and implement collections management software. It will guide you through the processes of determining your needs, and help you create procedures for evaluating, selecting and implementing your new system. It will also provide you with the background to plan for long term maintenance.

Move through the material at your own pace. You need not be an Internet expert, simple navigation is all that is required.

The training is presented in frames on your screen. The icons at the top of the screen, the Course Content, represent the course material presented in a logical order. We encourage you to go through it step by step, examining the material behind each icon one at a time. Start with the module on Planning. Once you've selected it, click on the main part of the screen and then print the screens for easier reading. You may choose to file what you've printed in a reference binder for future use. Reference the recommended reading attached to each module.

Use the "Resources" at the left of the screen. Relevant links provide you with access to more information at other web sites. You can contact the instructors at any time with questions, concerns, etc. using the direct email link. Post questions to the listserv to get feedback from other museum professionals. Do the exercises and work with the information you learn to implement processes within your institution.

Your user id and password give you access to the online resources necessary for this course including:

• The on-line version of the Collections Management Software Review
• The Criteria Checklist
• The Collection-L Listserv
• E-mail access to instructors
• Recommended reading for each module
• Relevant Internet links

When you're finished, continue on to the module on Budgeting at the top of the screen, and so on.

Acknowledgement

CHIN would like to acknowledge the support of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for providing permission to use background material for this course.

Symbols you'll find in this training:

The CHIN Streetscape

This Streetscape, representing the Canadian museum community linked electronically through CHIN, will link you to the CHIN home page.

Recommended Reading

When you see the "Recommended Reading" icon, click on it to see more relevant information on the particular subject. We have gathered information from reputable sources such as the American Association of Museums, the Canadian Heritage Information Network, the Museum Computer Network, the Museum Documentation Association (MDA), and many more.

The Wise Owl

This image means there is further information available. Click on it to see the added advice. When you're finished, use your browser's back button to return to where you were.