Visual Resources Software Users Discussion Group Meeting
Minutes
Sunday March 19, 2000
Art Libraries Society of North America 28th Annual Conference, Pittsburgh , PA

submitted by:  Carole Ann Fabian (University at Buffalo)
  (716) 645-7700
  cafabian@acsu.buffalo.edu

MINUTES:
Meeting was convened by Trudy Jacoby (Trinity College) at 10:30 AM

Trudy Jacoby introduced new business including:


Each of the twenty-two (22) members in attendance (see attached list) introduced themselves and reported on their current software use, future needs, current issues/problems and ongoing development projects. Based on attendee-described usage, a list and description of dominant software applications for visual materials were discussed and included: ReDiscovery, Embark, IRIS, FileMaker Pro, MSAccess, Cumulus, Tango and Image Finder. Two specific projects were described in depth:

I. Norine Duncan (Brown University) gave an overview of the IRIS project:
IRIS (Image Resource Information System) is a collaborative project  developed and maintained as a cataloging utility for the data entry of visual materials among cooperative members. The utility evolved out of VRMS, and is based on the FileMakerPro database. It includes VRA Core data elements and has a Web-front end. It is completely adaptable to local implementations but provides a standardized template for shared cataloging. Further details on the IRIS project were provided on a handout and can be viewed from the project Web site at: http://vrl3.arts.ohio-state.edu/vrab/254/77.htm

II. Sara Jane Pearman (Cleveland Museum of Art) described development of their image database using a ReDiscovery template, customized for local use and including 100 data entry fields. The database has been in use for 6 years and currently contains approximately 125,000 records. Sara Jane Pearman (librarian) and her staff  (3 FTE staff, 2 PT staff, and 6 volunteers) continue to build the resources at a rate of approximately 200 records/week. Discussion included aspects of: pricing, timetable, circulation, data entry fields, labeling, Intranet Web-interface and authority control integration (ICONCLASS, AAT, ULAN all embedded.) A demo version can be viewed at: http://www.redicov.com/redcleve

Overriding suggestions for database development from experienced colleagues:


Meeting was adjourned by Trudy Jacoby at 12:00 PM
 

ATTENDEES:    SOFTWARE usage:

Trudy Jacoby (Trinity College)  IRIS, FileMaker Pro
Norine Duncan (Brown University) IRIS, FileMaker Pro, integrating VRA Core version2.0
Sara Jane Pearman (Cleveland Mus.) ReDiscovery software, 120,000 records, working on imaging standards for digitization
Ann Burns (Univ. of Virginia) integrating slide records into library OPAC
Andy Gessner (Columbia Univ.) FileMaker Pro for label generation
Sue Miller (Syracuse University) developing University-wide image collection in library
Carole Ann Fabian (Univ. at Buffalo) DIGIT project: interdisciplinary media collection for teaching and research in development stage
Katie Poole (MIT) FileMaker Pro, looking at IRIS
Eric Schwab (Cornell Univ.) Multi-MIMSY database, Luna Insight for in-class presentation; developing Imaging America project with Yale, including 10,000 interdisciplinary images
Shangyu Chen (NYPL) picture collection, developing interest in db possibilities
Bill Keller (Univ. of Penn.) Minaret - 28,000 digital images
 Endeavor software for catalog
Leigh Gates (Art Institute of Chicago) 4th Dimension
Chilin Yu (Columbus College of Art & Design) OHIOLINK
Alecia Prata (Ottowa Canadian Conservation Institute)
Rob Dutlas (EMBARK)
Rachel Keane (NCSU) MSAccess, Web Fusion
Caroline Bebe (NCSU) digital library initiative, MS Access & WebFusion, developing prototype for Oracle-based back-end, Perl-scripted Web front-ed
Eileen Fry (Indiana University) Dido  part of campus-wide digital library initiative, centrally supported resource
Laura Hilbert (Cleveland Inst. Of Art) ReDiscovery
Linda McRae (Univ. of So.Florida) IRIS
Tricia Rose (Indiana Univ., Bloomington - student)
Elizabeth Shehan (UT Austin) FileMaker Pro

submitted by:  Carole Ann Fabian (University at Buffalo)
  (716) 645-7700
  cafabian@acsu.buffalo.edu