FYI - For those who adopts the SPECTRUM standards in anyway... Yu Su, M.A. Information Systems Librarian Digital Library and Information Systems Team (DLIST) University of Arizona Library 520.307.2821 suy at u.library.arizona.edu
-----Original Message----- From: Eleanor Lovegrove [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 2:52 AM To: SPECTRUM from Subject: SPECTRUM Gets a Makeover PRESS RELEASE SPECTRUM Gets a Makeover SPECTRUM, the UK and international industry standard for documentation is to be updated to reflect current best practice in the heritage sector. The new version will be available in January 2007 and will represent a significant update on the 3rd Edition, published in March 2005. The revised standard will: * Reflect new legislation and practise * Enable the capture of collections information to support diversity and inclusion * Take into account the forthcoming work of the MA on Disposal * Improve the operation of knowledge management systems by including material from 'SPECTRUM Knowledge' In addition it will be published for the first time using XML technology. This will provide the standard in a variety of paper and digital formats. The online version of SPECTRUM is freely available for non-commercial use and is being used by thousands of heritage organisations worldwide. The standard, which has been developed to represent consensus by museum practitioners, is designed to underpin the requirements of the Museum, Library and Archive Council's (MLA) Accreditation Scheme. MDA Head of Programmes Alex Dawson commented; 'SPECTRUM has always been the focus of the sector's idea of what constitutes best practice. This is what gives it its strength and versatility. MDA is committed to SPECTRUM as an open standard - universally accessible and always up-to-date. This is only the first in an ongoing series of updates which will ensure that it continues to support the information management needs of collections and their users.' Gareth Salway, Documentation Officer at Bristol's Museums, Galleries and Archives, commented; 'SPECTRUM underpins all of our documentation activity at Bristol Museum. For us it is an essential and practical guide to all aspects of managing and documenting a collection, from acquisition to disposal, and is an integral part of our collections care. We look forward to working with MDA on the current edition of SPECTRUM, and future editions of the standard.' # # # Notes to Editors MDA is the UK's lead organisation for knowledge and information management in collections. Our vision is of a sector in which collections are managed effectively and in accordance with national standards to create inspiring and accessible services (www.mda.org.uk). SPECTRUM is the industry standard for documentation practice. First published in 1994, SPECTRUM has been adopted throughout the museum community both nationally and internationally and incorporated into a wide range of collections management systems. The revised edition of the standard was published in April 2005 and is available to download free for non-commercial use from www.mda.org.uk/spectrum.htm For further information or to interview Nick Poole, MDA Director, contact Eleanor Lovegrove on 01223 415 760 or by email at eleanor at mda.org.uk. MDA is supported by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
