CollectionSpace Staff Interface
The staff interface is a web-based application accessible to an unlimited number of concurrent users via role-based permissions. The platform provides access to a robust set of metadata fields for cataloging objects and documenting workflows associated with curation, management and stewardship of collections.
The staff interface and data model for CollectionSpace is structured around collection objects and workflow procedures. Authority and term list vocabularies aid in controlling the metadata elements for search and retrieval.
Object Records
At the core of CollectionSpace is the object record, which includes a robust set of fields for capturing descriptive metadata including but not limited to general descriptive information, production information, field collection information, provenance and rights management. These fields vary from profile to profile.
Procedures
Procedures allow you to document the workflows associated with care, curation and stewardship of collection objects and can be related to an object/procedure 1:1 or 1: many. The list of available procedures varies by CollectionSpace profiles, but can include:
- Intake, Acquisition, Object Exit, Loan In, Valuation Control and Insurance/Indemnity for documenting collection ownership and registrar-associated workflows.
- Condition Check and Conservation for documenting care of collection objects
- Exhibition, Iteration Report, Loan Out, and Use of Collections for managing details associated with collection use.
- Location/Movement/Inventory procedure for tracking the physical control of collections.
Coming with release 8.1 is a series of newly reimagined NAGPRA claim procedures as well as a series of procedures for documenting workflows associated with current NAGPRA regulations including duty of care, inventory, summary, and consultation. Additionally, 8.1 will feature a new Deaccession and Object Exit procedure, and a Held In Trust Procedure.
Photo credit: Westerville (Ohio) History Museum, Lyrasis-hosted CollectionSpace user since 2023.
Authorities
CollectionSpace authorities include person, organization, geographic place, archaeological site, concepts, nomenclature, chronology, taxon, materials and more. These vocabularies may include terms from published lexicons like Chenhall’s nomenclature, Getty Vocabularies, Art & Architecture Thesaurus, etc. as well as local terms. Some fields in Object and Procedure records are controlled by these authorities, standardizing the way your data is stored and associated with your collection and workflows.
