Gloria Creed-Dikeogu The Past Perfected: University archiving and small college libraries

Past Perfect Software created by Pastime Software Company in Exton, PASoftware created by Pastime Software Company in Exton, PA Inexpensive software used by small museums and small libraries with archives and special collectionsInexpensive software used by small museums and small libraries with archives and special collections

Software Notes Past Perfect is a back-end software in which you enter your records and digitized photographsPast Perfect is a back-end software in which you enter your records and digitized photographs The front end of the system places your collections on the web and is called Past Perfect Virtual ExhibitThe front end of the system places your collections on the web and is called Past Perfect Virtual Exhibit Customers may purchase software online from the vendorCustomers may purchase software online from the vendor The vendor offers training programs and software support to customersThe vendor offers training programs and software support to customers Customers can call software support if they have questions or problems that needs solvingCustomers can call software support if they have questions or problems that needs solving

Software Notes The vendor website has a newsletter; news releases about products, a customer list and a link to a customer discussion forumThe vendor website has a newsletter; news releases about products, a customer list and a link to a customer discussion forum Customer can download user guides for different versions of the product from the websiteCustomer can download user guides for different versions of the product from the website Software upgrades of 3.5 are available and can be uploaded from the vendor website along with the Virtual Exhibit Front EndSoftware upgrades of 3.5 are available and can be uploaded from the vendor website along with the Virtual Exhibit Front End

What can Past Perfect software help you to do? Software aids small libraries to accession: Special Collections booksSpecial Collections books Collections of objects or artifactsCollections of objects or artifacts Archival CollectionsArchival Collections PhotographsPhotographs Small libraries can: Accession collections Catalog Collections Describe collections in detail and include notes and provenance Digitize collections that are described

Software pricing Recently upgraded from 3.0 to 3.5 which was free Libraries with very small budgets can afford this software Currently small museums and libraries can purchase software Version 4.0 for $795 The virtual exhibit front-end costs $375 Upgrades to the newest system 4.0 cost $310 if you already have an older version of the product installed

Past Perfect Tabs Accessions & CollectionsAccessions & Collections ResearchResearch MembershipsMemberships UtilitiesUtilities SetupSetup

Accessions & Collections This tab organizes the libraries collections by:This tab organizes the libraries collections by:ObjectsPhotos Archives and Library Offers libraries the ability to make lists of items in temporary custody with other museums or libraries and checkout or in items for loanOffers libraries the ability to make lists of items in temporary custody with other museums or libraries and checkout or in items for loan

Research This tab includes various searches that can be done on collections in objects, photos, archives or the library such as by:This tab includes various searches that can be done on collections in objects, photos, archives or the library such as by:KeywordLexiconPeople Search Terms

Memberships We do not use this tabWe do not use this tab It would be a very useful tab for small museums that keep membership lists and charge for memberships; so that they can easily manage their membership lists and membership funding and information as part of the systemIt would be a very useful tab for small museums that keep membership lists and charge for memberships; so that they can easily manage their membership lists and membership funding and information as part of the system

Utilities This tab allows libraries to do some of the following tasks:This tab allows libraries to do some of the following tasks: –Backup their records to a server –Import or Export records –Re-index records after an upgrade

Setup This tab allows libraries to setup the following for use in the software:This tab allows libraries to setup the following for use in the software: –Function Keys –Security –Barcodes

Licenses and Servers The library currently has one license for softwareThe library currently has one license for software Our records have been setup so that they are backed up each time we work on the system to the university’s serverOur records have been setup so that they are backed up each time we work on the system to the university’s server If something happens to the laptop or there is an error or a problem with the software; the software can be replaced on the computer and files can be pulled from the serverIf something happens to the laptop or there is an error or a problem with the software; the software can be replaced on the computer and files can be pulled from the server