Ontario Museum Collections Management

Collections Inventory & Management

The Fossil Hill Group provides artifact inventory and collections management. Regional museums often serve as a local repository for their communities and, as such, do not have the resources to identify, catalogue, curate and store this information in a digital format. Our team of heritage specialists include archaeologists, historians, museum consultants and software specialists. Our team has extensive experience in ODBC and RDBMS management systems. We can install the most suitable management systems tailored to our clients budgetary needs. All software utilized by the Fossil Hill Group meets the international standards for museum information interchange such as Open Source Project and the Dublin Core.

Museum Programs & Development

The Fossil Hill Group provides experiential programs for students enrolled in Primary, Secondary and Post-Secondary levels. Our programs include both museum and field components giving the student a 'hands on' experience. Each component is designed to reinforce the other providing a contextual approach to learning. Course content often exceeds the Ontario Core Curriculum Requirements though programmers are free to augment these programs. All topics combine both Qualitative and Quantitative approaches to learning. Programs range from classroom visits, field trips, a simulated archaeological excavation, material culture studies, mentorship and illustrated lectures. Using your museum collections, the Fossil Hill Group can create innovative programs that stimulate learning.

The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative(DCMI) .The DCMI specifies the interchange standards that should be used by different museum applications to transfer data so that it will be usable in receiving systems independent of their hardware, software or network vendor. The adoption of an "Open Systems Model" being used throughout industry and commerce, which stresses interconnected and portability using standards will bring the greatest benefits to museum interchange.

The Ontario Museums Association (OMA) The OMA role is to enhance the mission of museums as significant cultural resources in the service of Ontario society and its development. The Association provides information, training and advocacy for museums and museum staff through leadership, discussion and development of strategies for the evolution of museums.

Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN)The Canadian Heritage Information Network(CHIN) allows Canadian museums to engage their audiences through the use of innovative technologies. As a centre of excellence, CHIN offers investment programs and proposes resources such as virtualmuseum.ca and Professional Exchange. These sites, loaded with images, highlight Canadian museum collections, news, collaborative projects and resources aimed at professionals and the public at large.