Eighteen keen clients met in picturesque Parnell recently to talk about all things Vernon CMS. It was our first in-person Vernon User Group meeting in three years.
People came from around New Zealand to meet on 17 May 2023, from organisations large and small: Auckland Museum, Cambridge Museum, Canterbury Museum, Hamilton City Libraries, National Army Museum, New Zealand Maritime Museum, The Dowse Art Museum, University of Waikato Library Collections, and Waikato Museum.
We were honoured to have Bil Vernon and Georgia Lowe, the founders of Vernon Systems, in attendance.
Vernon Systems update
Paul Rowe, CEO of Vernon Systems, kicked off with an update on our most recent release, Vernon CMS 12.5 (Eager Egret). The release includes improvements to the Person file and XML Import. Our next release (Fantastic Fantail) will focus on upgrading the underlying development platform, OpenInsight, and improving performance and the user interface.
Our new clients include Nillumbik Shire Council (Victoria), the Shrine of Remembrance (Melbourne), the Anglo American Company (a private art collection in South Africa), and Queensland Parliamentary Services.
I really enjoyed being able to meet other Vernon users and getting the opportunity to ask questions in person.
– VUG attendee
Online Cenotaph @ 25
Next, Victoria Passau of Auckland Museum talked about the history and future of Online Cenotaph. This data collection has been commemorating the experiences of Aotearoa New Zealand’s military service for more than 25 years.
Victoria is the Online Cenotaph & Enquiries Services Manager and said that one of the most rewarding parts of her work is when the public makes connections with the people in the database. One example was a comment from a serviceman’s great grandmoko who said, “Every ANZAC day we march for you, my children, and me. Thank you for your service in the Māori Pioneer Regiment in Egypt, Turkey, and in Europe.”
Sharing the Fletcher Trust Archives
Rachel Bell, archivist at Fletcher Trust Archives, shared the history of this unique repository of New Zealand social and economic history. It was established in 1986 and has grown to include over 88,000 digitally catalogued items.
Having their material available freely online through Vernon Browser means that far more people can access it. Rachel appreciates the feedback she gets from users who provide further information and corrections. Cunningham’s law states that “the best way to get the right answer on the Internet is not to ask a question; it’s to post the wrong answer.” Rachel sees this pan out almost daily.
Training
After a delicious lunch provided by Parnell Hotel & Conference Centre, it was time to settle in for some training.
Penny Collins, Lead Technical Communicator shared tips for cataloguing accessories and consumables, working with tables, using templates, reorganising authority files, and finding and replacing text. She then explained how mandatory data, security functions, and audit tools work.
The day rounded off with a question-and-answer session before attendees said their goodbyes and departed, thinking of what they could do with Vernon CMS.
Vernon Systems develops innovative software for cultural organisations to manage and share their collections. We've been dedicated to the cultural sector since 1985.
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