MDA Director Nick Poole commented, 'Using XML to publish SPECTRUM delivers a number of significant advantages for museums. These include greater access to the standard within software systems and more straightforward ways of sharing information electronically between organisations. Even if you aren't technology-minded, XML is set to make your work easier and to improve access to information for users.'

At the recent MUA National Workshop in Birmingham, Nick Poole and Helen Wilkinson, Policy Officer at the Museums Association spoke about the need to deliver straightforward professional standards for use by heritage organisations.

Jeff Cowton, Chair of MUA, commented, 'Being an organisation of curators and documentation specialists, our primary concern is with developing software that will improve standards of collections management in museums and archives. We are delighted that MODES XML will now be at the core of the development of the standards themselves.'

Under the MDA Partner Scheme, MDA is working with the world's leading collection management system suppliers to shape the next generation of standards-compliant products.