CollectionSpace is an open-source, web-based software application for the description, management, and dissemination of museum collections information – from artifacts and archival materials to exhibitions and storage.

CollectionSpace supports collection managers, registrars, curators, educators, administrators, and more – whether they work in the storage room, in the gallery, in an office, or in the classroom.

An Institution-Wide Support System

A Change from Existing SystemsCollectionSpace brings collections information management procedures into the Web 2.0+ era

1. Each information group can be collapsed to decrease screen clutter

2. Simple radio buttons allow users to choose which value of a repeatable field should be considered “primary”

3. Markers in each field denote behavior - whether the field leads to a predictive text or dropdown pulled from an authority file

4. Repeatable fields can be added with a press of a button

5. Data entry screens each include a toolbar at the bottom that simplifies searching and saving

6. Links to related procedures, objects, and collections can be created and managed

7. An integrated authorities list gives an index to all the authorized terms referenced in this record

8. The time stamp for the last save or auto-save is displayed. At any time, changes can be reverted or cancelled

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A Flexible Application

“Plays well with others”: including digital asset management systems and web-based publishing platforms

Open architecture: seamless interface between CollectionSpace and audience-facing applications

Standards-based: the project team can focus on core functionality without limiting the software’s usefulness to different domains

Roles and permissions: allows institutions to customize the system for different work groups

Customizable: each institution can create its ideal CollectionSpace installation

SaaS: works in local and hosted environments

Initial Releases

CollectionSpace Release 1.0

Eight core procedures and related functionality covered, including: acquisition, cataloging, loans, vocabulary control, media handling, customization, security, and documentation

Incremental releases for testing and evaluation

0.2: Released October, 2009. Allows user login, creation of intake records, and auto-fill intake and object identification numbers

0.3: November, 2009. Includes ID service with choice of sequential identification numbers; vocabulary service, to provide access to controlled lists; and support for acquisition

demo.collectionspace.org for latest release

Museum of the Moving Image, New York University of California, Berkeley, Information Services

and Technology Division University of Cambridge, Centre for Applied Research in

Educational Technologies University of Toronto, Adaptive Technology Resource

Centre, Fluid Project Funding provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Partners & Funding

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