1. Before Powering Up Past Perfect … Create A Plan To …

2. Get Organized!

3. Get Organized! The Basics -- Do you have a written Collection Development Policy as to what your Society will be collecting? Best Practice: Write one! Have you sorted through your collection to determine in-scope and out-of-scope items? Best Practice: Do this first! Have you sorted through items you are keeping according to these four broad categories: Photos – Objects – Archives - Library

4. Get Organized, con’t. Do you already have any catalog or inventory records? Best Practice: Use what you have – If nothing in place, create a paper inventory first Do you have a numbering system in place, or do you need to create one? Best Practice: Try to use what you have – If none in place or you want to start over, follow established protocol (ex: 1998.10, 2005.24.3, 2010.89)

5. Get Organized, con’t. Have you determined a schedule for working on the collection? Do you have volunteers who are willing to commit to the time it will take? Best Practice: Create a schedule based on a realistic plan for completion

6. Once Organized …

7. … you are ready for Past Perfect! READ the manual, please! Get training: http://www.museumsoftware.com/training.shtml Available as CD’s or Webinars Explore the Past Perfect website for getting help using their Support and/or F.A.Q.’s (Frequently Asked Questions) http://www.museumsoftware.com

8. Nomenclature 3.0 for Museum Cataloging A structured and controlled list of object terms organized in a classification system to provide a basis for indexing and cataloging collections Creates consistency Built into Past Perfect Available in print form from amazon.com for $80.00 (normally $100)

9. Need a Little Help? Contact: Kay C Schlueter Northfield Historical Society PO Box 422 Northfield, VT 05664 nhscurator@trans-video.net http://sites.google.com/site/northfieldvthistoricalsociety