Volunteers outline digitization plan after export of museum database; budget proposal to follow

Volunteers moved toward a structured digitization plan for the Heritage Center’s permanent collection after a committee member reviewed existing databases and migration options.

Meg, who researched cataloging systems, told the meeting she compiled a list of 102 comparable organizations and inspected an older museum database housed on a legacy laptop. "It has software on it called Muse Art Musc," she said, and the software’s author is no longer supporting updates. Meg exported the existing database to a CSV file that contains a little over 1,000 items and recommended a migration path to a supported system.

Why it matters: digitizing the collection will enable better cataloging, exhibit planning and searchable access for researchers and the public, but it requires upfront investment in hardware, barcoding equipment and likely subscription or supported software.

Meg outlined immediate needs: decide on lookup-table values (categories, locations), choose new hardware (laptop/desktop), and acquire barcode printers and readers for inventory control. Volunteers agreed to prepare a full budget proposal for next year detailing costs, support needs and expected benefits.

The committee discussed cost models—one-time purchase vs. subscription—acknowledging that more support increases recurring costs. Meg offered to circulate webinars and resources to help volunteers evaluate digital asset-management options.

Next steps: volunteers will draft a proposal with estimated costs and a recommended implementation timeline for inclusion in next year’s budget planning.