A new version of IRIS, IRIS 2005, was released in summer 2005. Planning for a new version began at a meeting of IRIS users held at Brown University on June 11, 2004. Development took place at Brown University: Norine Duncan, Curator of the Brown University Art Slide Library, collaborated with FileMaker consultant Kathleen Brown. IRIS users provided input via the listserv, IRIS-L. Some users also gathered at Brown in mid-January to provide feedback.

The primary goal of IRIS 2005 is to upgrade the system to take advantage of new features of FileMaker v.7 [and 8]. At the same time, the re-design begins to attempt to implement CCO Guidelines and compliance with VRA Core Categories v.4. Finally, work flow in IRIS 2005 will better accommodate cataloging of multiple assets for the same image, such as a slide and a digital image scanned from it. Not all the desirable features requested in June2004 are possible to implement in this version. Another upgrade in 2006/07 is already planned; work on it will commence in February 2006.

IRIS 2005 was financed as it has been since 1997, by advance contributions by users. This method has been successfully employed since IRIS was initiated more than seven years ago by an informal cooperative of seven institutions. There are presently 20 institutions actively using IRIS. Marci Hahn of Wellesley College (MA) is the current IRIS treasurer. To become a participating institution, please contact Marci Hahn at mhahn@wellesley.edu. IRIS is an informal non-profit cooperative project to which all members volunteer their time and expertise. Decisions are reached through discussion until consensus is reached.

At the VRA Conference in Baltimore in early March, an IRIS user group meeting will be held. The meeting is open to all, and suggestions from others outside the user group are welcome.

For further information, contact: Norine Duncan, Brown University, slides@brown.edu, or 401-863-3082.