Welcome to CollectiveAccess
CollectiveAccess puts the control of your collection in your hands. Freely available
under the open-source GNU Public License, CollectiveAccess allows you to manage
collections easily, publish collections to the Web, and preserve these assets digitally.
CollectiveAccess is a configurable, flexible, and sustainable alternative to proprietary,
custom or ad-hoc collections management solutions. This tour will guide you through the many
features of CollectiveAccess and introduce key components of the software package.
The Highly Configurable Cataloging Tool
CollectiveAccess doesn't lock you into strict schemas or set data entry fields. Instead, individualized
installation profiles determine how your cataloging interface will look and function. Select from the many supported metadata standards, or custom profiles from our
Configuration Library. Many features are available in each installation profile, and any component can be
modified or added without custom programming.
Work with Metadata Standards
CollectiveAccess supports a number of Metadata Standards created and used by library and information
professionals. These include Dublin Core, PBCore, SPECTRUM, VRACore, CDWA, CCO, DACS, DarwinCore, MARC, and more.
Custom Project Profiles
The
Configuration Library allows you to preview
and download installation profiles that were developed for partner institutions with specialized collections
management needs. These were designed to meet the functional requirements of real-world projects and go beyond
the scope of traditional metadata standards. Choose from special configurations for art collections, historical
societies, institutional archives, mixed collections, time-based media and natural history collections.
Specialized Features
Cataloging features allow you go beyond basic cataloging information, with subjects and keywords, attached media and georeferencing. Create your own controlled vocabularies, authorities, or
use Library of Congress Subject Headings. CollectiveAccess also supports multi-lingual cataloging, allowing you to
create and publish your records multiple languages simultaneously.
Publish your Collection
Publish your collection to the web using Pawtucket, our full-featured web presentation and access
module. Access levels allow you to choose what parts of your collection to share, and which to keep private. Custom display tools allow you to choose exactly what information is published for each
object. Any changes you make are instantly posted to the web without needing to maintain a separate
website or upload additional data. As with all CollectiveAccess products, Pawtucket is freely available under
the open-source GNU Public License.
Create Relationships
CollectiveAccess supports complex relationships between objects, entities, occurrences, places, collections and vocabularies.
Use these relationships to group objects in a series, identify elements of a larger group, or create “see also” records on your public website. CollectiveAccess
supports hierarchical relationships, allowing you to nest records within other records – an invaluable tool for cataloging complex
collection objects, geographical places and specialized collections.
Create Sets of Objects
Sets allow the user to create groupings of objects for a variety of practical purposes. Sets can be used to present selections
from your collection as thumbnails, slideshows and timelines on your website.
Internally, Sets are a convenient way to group records for administrative purposes,
such as creating a working checklist for an exhibition, or a list of images proposed for publication.
Create Catalog Collections
Assign objects to various collections in your CollectiveAccess system to document special groupings. Typical
collection types include important acquisitions, historical exhibitions, cultural collections and other permanent groupings within
your institution. Records can belong to any number of collections, allowing for more flexible cataloging of versatile assets that
can be described by multiple genres and subjects.
Sophisticated Searching
Find information quickly and easily. With CollectiveAccess, you can do anything from a simple keyword search to creating complex custom search forms. Fully configurable faceted
browsing can be applied to virtually any field in your system, including relationships, dates and valuations.
Dates, length and weight and valuation ranges
can be searched; dates can be searched in the native language of the user, no matter what language they were entered in. Measurements can
be searched on in the units preferred by the user, no matter the units used during data entry, and more.
Administrative Tools
CollectiveAccess includes many administrative features for managing your collection. You can catalog intake information for acquisitions,
purchases and loans by creating Object Lots. Use the Storage Locations hierarchy tool to track the locations of all of the Objects in your
collection. The fully customizable display allows you to specify locations beginning from a campus or facility, all the way down to a single
drawer. You can also track conservation information, provenance and condition reports with fields that precisely suit your requirements.
Custom Display Tools
CollectiveAccess makes it easy to display only the information you want to see. Control what fields are shown when you view, search for or export a record. Preloaded
templates make it easy to create printable labels or summaries of your records.
Access controls allow you to choose what fields are displayed for different users, allowing for speciliazed views for curators, administrators, researchers and cataloguers.
Import and Export your Records
From tab-delimited text to EAD XML and OAI-PMH (coming soon), CA allows for easy import and export of collection data.
Preserve your Collection
CA is committed to data preservation and interoperability, providing support for Fedora, IRODS and OAI (coming soon).
Customization and Configuration
CollectiveAccess gives you the control to entirely customize and configure your cataloging interface at any time without any risk to your data.
Tailor your workflow, interface and features to your institution and no longer fuss about components you don’t want or don’t need.
Reach your Audience
Woonsocket and Pascoag (currently in development) will make CollectiveAccess fully accessable to iPhone and iPad users, and support
touch-screen gallery kiosk displays. As with other CollectiveAccess products they applications will be freely available under the
open-source GNU Public License.