It’s hard to believe the summer is almost over! We continue to work behind the scenes on upgrades and updates to CatalogIt and migrating more and more Museum accounts from systems like PastPerfect and Embark. We are also busy training new staff in order to quickly bring them up to speed to better serve you. We will soon roll out some new features to facilitate greater usability and even tighter security controls. We can’t wait to tell you more about these new features soon.
We are also excited to announce MasterIt, an ongoing feature where we will provide professional development information for those caring for collections, tips and tricks to help you maximize your CatalogIt experience, and how-to video and instructions for new features. We don’t just want you to use CatalogIt - we want you to MasterIt! What are the unique ways you are using CatalogIt? What is your favorite feature? Let us know at support@catalogit.app - perhaps we can share your insight in MasterIt.
We also want to introduce you to the CatalogIt team by periodically spotlighting one of us. Read below and put a face to the name on that email!
The world is changing and we all have to quickly adapt. In the past, this time of year we would be packing up our kit and traveling to see many of you at museum conferences around the country. This year things are a little different and we are learning to go with the flow. We are excited to be participating in several conferences this year, and we look forward to (virtually) joining you. Here is our upcoming conference and program schedule:
American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) — September 24 - 30
Mid Atlantic Associations of Museums (MAAM) — October 5 - 16
Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) — October 27 - 28
We are also proud to sponsor the Association of Midwest Museums Annual Awards Program. Every year, AMM honors organizations, companies and individuals throughout the Midwest region for leadership, career achievements, and best practices. Calls for nominations are open through the end of day August 31. Visit this link for more information on how to recognize a colleague or institution that has demonstrated leadership in the field.
To launch our new MasterIt feature, we want to tell you about our favorite resource that is the go-to guide for stewards of collections worldwide: Museum Registration Methods, Sixth Edition, edited by John E. Simmons and Toni M. Kiser (MRM6). The sixth edition was released earlier this year and has quickly become a cult favorite for museum registrars and collections managers everywhere. This comprehensive guide is the perfect way to introduce yourself and your staff to current professional museum collections standards and to help you solve the most difficult collections conundrum. It is also a great resource for collectors to learn how to care for their collections or for museum volunteers to understand the ins and outs of museum registration.
We are happy to share this fabulous online offer we found: through December 31, visit the Rowman & Littlefield website and use code __4S20MUSEUM__ to save 30% on this and other great museum and archive resources.
Art With Elders (AWE) continues to teach, engage, and empower older adults through the creative arts, providing vital links to community and creativity. AWE reaches people of all artistic skill levels from about 40 different communities across the San Francisco Bay Area through a fine arts curriculum and exhibits in public spaces-- all of which have transitioned online.
The nonprofit has conducted outreach to seniors who struggle to access technology, and even recruited new students from across the nation to participate in the virtual classes and later enjoy viewing and sharing their standout pieces in the CatalogIt HUB. Their reach has actually increased during this time and its effectiveness is more relevant than ever. Visit our blog to learn more about Art With Elders and the innovative ways they’ve been able to continue their valuable work in the midst of the COVID crisis.
Hello, I’m Danielle Rau, Museum & Collections Specialist for CatalogIt. You might have heard from me via email promoting our fabulous product! With a background in collections management/registration in a variety of museum and institutional settings, I understand the challenges that can arise in our field. I have worked with the fascinating and renowned historical and art collections of Yosemite National Park, the Oakland Museum of California, as well as the entertaining and iconic objects of the Lucasfilm Archives (too many favorites to mention).
On a personal level, I love using CatalogIt to help me preserve the many fond memories connected to my treasures, from both my travels abroad and a near decade of living overseas in Asia and the UK. Preserving the stories of these unique and loved objects in my home is so important to me, and CatalogIt does it so seamlessly. My children will be able to learn the background of the delicate clay Buddha head I found in a crowded alley in Lhasa, or the locally crafted basket I strapped on the back of my backpack while riding through the Chocolate Hills of Bohol on the back of a scooter. I want to preserve and document the history of these pieces to capture my life experiences, and recall these unique moments with great affection. I certainly hope that CatalogIt enables you to do the same.
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