And it's not just about archiving art files. As with any new technology, the key is educating clients as to the level of services currently available as well as the potential benefits they will receive. Once people realize they can keep low resolution information at their fingertips via the Web, it will really catch on. The trick is providing just the right amount of technobabble. As Wyatt has experienced, people often get so inundated with technology information they decide not to do anything at all.
Every library requires a librarian to input, maintain, and update stored information.
Therefore, one of the most important decisions customers must make is whether to bring an image management system in-house or have an outside company manage the function. If you install a system internally and choose the wrong product, you can't recoup the money already spent. When you're not happy with the company you're outsourcing with, you simply end the contract. There's also the issue of changing technology. What may be state of the art now will be obsolete within three years, forcing you to reinvest in the most current technology as well as training for the employees who maintain the system.