LOS ANGELES, CA, July 30, 2004 - Cuadra Associates, Inc. (CA), a leading provider of knowledge management software products, announced a new version of STAR/Archives, its archives collections management system. Version 2.0, which is now available to CA's customers, features both browser-based retrieval across collections and allows for dynamic generation of finding aids from within the public access catalog.
The archives community has a long tradition of representing the material in their custody in a series of "finding aids"-hierarchically structured descriptions of collections or records groups. Many archives have not yet automated and some of the archives that have automated are still creating only static finding aids, such as XML documents, outside of the process of accessioning and cataloging their collections.
"The new version of STAR/Archives represents a giant leap forward for archivists," said Judith Wanger, CA's Executive Vice President, "because it provides an easy way for them to create a catalog, develop and maintain finding aids, and provide public access to their collections."
According to Wanger, CA used the built-in features of the firm's STAR software to create a solution that preserves the archival tradition of creating levels of description, top-down, while providing for the dynamic generation of finding aids that include the most up-to-date information about the collection and its scope, history, creators, and inventory. The archive staff can enhance the levels of description or incorporate new research into their descriptions at any time and the finding aid is automatically regenerated.
"Our approach has other benefits," said Wanger. "It allows both archivists and their public to search across multiple collections at once. This enables them to find connections and relationships that might not otherwise be found." STAR/Archives 2.0 also allows for images and other electronic files to be linked to descriptive records for management and retrieval through STAR's file-repository system. The application supports archival collections of all types and is compliant with the ISAD(G) international standard and other industry standards.
Cuadra will demonstrate the new STAR/Archives and other STAR solutions at the Society of American Archivists conference in Boston on August 6, 2004.
For more information on Cuadra or any of its products, contact Cuadra Associates, Inc. at 800-366-1390 or 310-478-0066; fax 310 477-1078. To see an interactive demonstration of the STAR system, visit the company's Web site at www.cuadra.com.
About Cuadra Associates, Inc.
Founded in 1978, Cuadra Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of knowledge management software products. The core of every Cuadra product is STAR, an award-winning, multi-user, multi-purpose software package with the power and flexibility to manage collections of all types. STAR is unique in that it is able to manage collections effectively in many types of environments, including libraries and information centers, records centers, archives, museums, competitive intelligence, and publishing. Many of these organizations have multiple, related information management needs that can be met with a single STAR software package.
