Gillian –
 
Yes – this is just what we’re coping with – are you also using the barcoding module and barcoding the solander boxes?
 
cathryn
 
From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [ mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gillian McMullen
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 12:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Location Authority for Works on Paper
 
Hello Cathryn,

At the Harvard Art Museum we use the Container function for our solander boxes and we number then DR-xxxx (for Drawings), PH-xxxx for Photographs and PR-xxxx for Prints. We didn't pad our numbers out (e.g. 0001) which is too bad because container numbers don't sort properly otherwise (no internal sort fields). Those containers live on shelves in compact storage, so the location would be something like "X 123, Row 32 shf 5 - DR-1234"  X being the Site (building), 123 = Subsite (room number), Row 32 shf 5 = third field (Unit or something), and DR-1234 being the linked container/crate. This works very well for us.

Our works on paper used to have what I call "cultural" locations, like "French 19th century size 1" and we switched over when we came into TMS because we needed much more accurate locations.

Hope that helps.

Gillian
Collections Information Specialist
Harvard Art Museum

At 12:23 PM 3/16/2009, you wrote:

We’re beginning a major inventory project here and I’d be grateful if people can share their methodologies for works on paper storage locations.  We’re transitioning from a legacy “Artist Box” scheme – to named/numbered units/shelves and boxes.  Have others created this kind of Location structure for works on paper?
 
Thanks in advance
 
Cathryn