INCOMING LOANS - MANAGEMENT OF TEMPORARY AND LONG TERM LOANS WITH USE OF COMPUTERS
Loading...
Authors
Remington, Lynne
Issue Date
1990
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Theses (Museum studies) 2. Museum registration methods--Data processing.
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if computers could assist registrars with monitoring incoming loans and if so how this was accomplished and what the benefits were.
A mailed survey was sent to 209 registration departments in the United States to determine in which museums computers were being used by registrars for the purpose of monitoring incoming loans, what information registrars believed to be important with regard to documenting and managing incoming loans either manually or with a computer, and to examine if a computer software application was beneficial in the record keeping and management of incoming loans. Results from the survey provided a list of registrars that used a computer for monitoring incoming loans. Four case study sites were chosen from this list for in depth study and provide different perspectives on the use of a computer for monitoring incoming loans. With the data collected from the survey and the case study the researcher was able to discern the, status of managing incoming loans in registration departments and to evaluate how different staff in institutions use computers to monitor incoming loans.
The institutions of more than 88% of the respondents accept temporary and long term loans. Of these, only 56% use a computer for documenting these loans. Approximately 80% of the respondents who do not have a computer believed one would be of value for monitoring loans. A synthesis of the data derived from the survey and case studies led to recommendations for planning to automate incoming loans. These include: appointment of a project manager and inclusion of staff involvement, evaluation of in-house procedures to be computerized, researching and evaluation of computer systems currently used in museums, and formulation of goals and objectives for the desired system.