The 2009 vision to merge Archon and Archivists Toolkit into a single open source archives content management system was bold, optimistic, and well-intentioned. However, the result of that merger, ArchivesSpace, left many Archon users feeling excluded. The technical complexities of hosting a local instance, the exhaustive descriptive possibilities, and the steep learning curve all presented significant barriers to repositories accustomed to Archon’s ease of use. Seeking a way forward, some United States repositories have begun using Access to Memory (AtoM), a Canadian open source standards-based archival content management system created in 2007. Archivists representing four different professional settings -- a large university, a small college, a religious community, and a public library -- will share their reasons for choosing AtoM over other systems and their experiences implementing AtoM. Addressing both the strengths and shortcomings of the software, presenters will discuss the technical requirements for installation and hosting, data migration, customization options, multilingual description, and AtoM’s capacity to display and store digital assets. Presenters will also talk about their experiences with support and programming services offered by Artefactual Systems Inc., the software development company serving as lead developer for AtoM.
Session attendees will learn about AtoMs basic functionality and become familiar enough with the software to evaluate its suitability for their repositories. The session requires no coding or systems management skills and is intended for professionals seeking to implement a user-friendly archival content management system.
