June 2024
Welcome to the newest edition of the CatalogIt Newsletter! This month we’re thrilled to share a range of updates with you, including a new, cutting-edge product feature, insightful blog posts from collections management experts, an upcoming webinar in collaboration with the Texas Association of Museums, and other news. We hope you enjoy the read and find it both informative and valuable.
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We are excited to introduce our first feature that uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) which we believe adds tremendous value and will save you a lot of time: the ability to describe the context and content of an image. The new Describe Image feature uses AI to generate descriptions for any image in your CatalogIt account and is extremely useful for creating alt-text as well as longer, general-purpose descriptions of images -- saving you time and improving efficiency. This new feature is available immediately for all users. Please share your feedback on how you would like this feature to evolve and other ways you'd like to see us incorporate AI (for example, the generation of interpretive labels).
How to use Describe Image:
• When editing Entries and Profiles, click the "document" icon at the right of the Image Description field.
• The Describe Image tool will open.
• Specify the length of the description you want to generate. If the long or short options are not providing satisfactory results, you can specify a custom length between 10 and 200 words.
• Optionally give the system a hint of the context and content of the image. You should only need to specify a hint if the image has ambiguous content or the generated description is not accurate.
• Click the DESCRIBE button. After a few seconds, the tool will close and the image description will appear in the Image Description field.
• Proofread the description and make any necessary edits. You may also want to copy the text to the Entry Description field. Save the Entry or Profile.
As previously communicated, starting July 1, 2024, we will be updating our subscription pricing for many of our products and plans. This adjustment, after several years of unchanged pricing, ensures we can maintain the exceptional service, security, and flexibility you expect from CatalogIt. We are dedicated to delivering reliable, robust services and continually enhancing the value we offer to our users.
For an overview of all new pricing, visit our pricing page. Reach out to us at support@catalogit.app if you have any questions.
Empowering Cultural Preservation: Transitioning From a Legacy System to CatalogIt
When the Raupp Museum's team of staff and volunteers found themselves using two different systems to document and share their collections, the Museum's Registrar and Public Educator, Marina Mayne, decided to switch to an all-inclusive CMS: CatalogIt. Discover how the Museum streamlined its collections management here.
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Museums, historic houses, and living history sites seek innovative ways to expand outreach while connecting audiences to their collections. This was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic years. This webinar explores how the McFaddin-Ward House Museum in Beaumont, Texas leveraged digital tools during the pandemic and beyond when the historic house was closed to the public for extensive restoration work. Victoria Tamez, curator of collections, and Rayanna Hoeft, previous Director of Educational programming, detail their project management processes, the digital tools and platforms used for projects, and ongoing uses at this museum. Todd Hoeft, Managing Partner at PrimeSite Web Solutions, and Dan Rael, Co-Founder of CatalogIt, discuss the development of a virtual tour system for the McFaddin-Ward House utilizing CatalogIt’s API.
Join us next month on July 23, 2024, at 2:00 PM CDT for this exciting webinar in collaboration with the Texas Association of Museums. Register here!
Using Folders in CatalogIt for a Seamless Workflow
Looking to streamline your collections management workflow? In our latest blog post by Joy Tahan Ruddell, Collections Manager and Principal at JTR Collections Management, explore how using Folders in CatalogIt can transform the way you organize, collaborate, and execute projects seamlessly. Read more here.
Key Considerations for Analog and Digital Collections
Looking to gain insights into effective collection management practices? Collections management expert and President of Stimler Advantage, Neal Stimler, shares essential strategies, from organizing and digitizing your assets to leveraging tools like CatalogIt for streamlined access and collaboration. Dive in here.
Our 2024 conference season is well underway, and we have enjoyed connecting with everyone so far! Next up: Columbus, Ohio. We are delighted to be attending the Association of Midwest Museums’ Annual Conference at the end of July. If you’re attending, we hope you’ll stop by our exhibitor booth to chat with our Co-Founder, Dan, or see a demo! Learn more about the Association of Midwest Museums here.
In the coming weeks and months, look for us at:
Association of Midwest Museums Conference
July 31 - August 3 in Columbus, OH
Society of American Archivists Annual Meeting
August 14-17 in Chicago, IL
American Association for State and Local History Annual Conference
September 11-14 in Mobile, AL
Western Museums Association Annual Meeting
September 25-28 in Tucson, AZ
Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Annual Meeting
October 8-10 in Philadelphia, PA
Southeastern Museums Conference
October 21-23 in Baton Rouge, LA
Michigan Museums Association Annual Conference
October 21-23 in Kalamazoo, MI
Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums Conference
November 12-14 in Palm Springs, CA
