Documentation

CollectionSpace is a web-based, open source collections management and information system for museums and other collecting institutions.

If you're implementing a CollectionSpace system, you can find links to the currently available documentation in the left sidebar. Many documentation additions and updates are planned. Please feel free to comment in the CollectionSpace Forums if there is documentation you would like to see in the future.

Tip To view the Table of Contents links in the left sidebar, click this icon in the upper-right area of this page:

For more information about how CollectionSpace is licensed, please refer to the ECL licensing page.

Release Notes

Release Notes for version 3.2.2
Release Notes for all versions

Using CollectionSpace

If you are new to CollectionSpace, you can get a good sense of how it works from the demo available on the CollectionSpace website.

The User Manual describes how to use CollectionSpace 3.2 to manage your collection.

Installing CollectionSpace

CollectionSpace is installed on a server and accessed using a web browser. No software needs to be installed on your users' computers.

You can find general server installation instructions that apply to all supported environments in the Installing CollectionSpace section, as well as detailed instructions for several specific platforms.

Configuring CollectionSpace

If you are an implementer, consultant or system administrator, you can adapt CollectionSpace for the specific needs of your institution via the documentation in the Configuring CollectionSpace section on:

• Configuration, changing the behavior and the look and feel of the system by making changes on web-based Administration pages and by editing text files (HTML templates, CSS stylesheets, various XML- and JSON-based configuration files, etc.) that control its behavior and appearance.
• Customization, extending the system's functionality by adding or editing Java and JavaScript source code.

Developing for CollectionSpace

If you are building or integrating applications or scripts that talk to CollectionSpace systems, or are a CollectionSpace developer or coder, you can find documentation on these topics in the Developing for CollectionSpace section.

Reference Information

The Reference documentation section provides supporting information and requirements for CollectionSpace.