Catalogue Basics (Overview)

The Catalogue is where institutions browse available donation opportunities in Museum Exchange.

This article explains the core parts of the catalogue experience, including how to filter listings, how to understand Collections versus individual listings, how to use the Shipping Estimator, and how listings move from browsing into internal review.

What is the Catalogue?

The Catalogue is the main browsing experience for institutions in Museum Exchange.

It allows institution users to:

• explore available objects and Collections
• filter listings based on collecting interests
• estimate potential shipping costs
• save listings for further review
• move listings into the internal proposal pipeline

The Catalogue is designed to support early review and help institutions identify listings they may want to consider more formally.

Filtering the Catalogue

Institutions can narrow catalogue results using filters.

The primary filters include:

• Collection Area
• Classification

These filters help institutions focus on the listings most relevant to their collecting priorities.

Collection Area

The Collection Area filter helps institutions browse listings based on the broader collecting area the object or Collection belongs to. This can be useful when your institution is focused on a particular part of its collection strategy. This information is provided by the donor.

Classification

The Classification filter helps institutions refine results further based on the type or category of object being reviewed.

Using Collection Area and Classification together can make browsing more efficient and help institutions focus on the most relevant opportunities.

Collections vs. individual listings

The Catalogue includes both:

• individual listings
• Collections

Understanding the difference is important during review.

Individual listings

An individual listing contains one object.

This is the right format when a donor is offering a single object for consideration on its own.

Collections

A Collection is a single listing that includes multiple individual objects submitted together. Collections have their own listing page, and the individual object pages are nested within that Collection. This allows institutions to review both the Collection as a whole and the specific objects included within it

If a donor submits multiple objects together as a Collection, the institution must be prepared to receive all objects in that Collection as a single donation.

Using the Shipping Estimator

The Shipping Estimator is available during the catalogue browsing process and helps institutions estimate the likely shipping cost for an object or Collection.

The estimate is based on:

• the dimensions provided by the donor
• the object location provided by the donor
• the destination ZIP code entered by the institution in the estimator

The Shipping Estimator is intended to support early planning and help institutions evaluate logistics while browsing the Catalogue.

It is important to remember that the Shipping Estimator provides an estimate only. It is not a final shipping quote or confirmed shipping charge.

Objects of Interest

When an institution finds a listing it wants to keep track of, the first step is to add it to Objects of Interest.

Objects of Interest is a user-specific workspace. This means it is tied to the individual user and helps that user track listings they want to consider further. This is helpful when browsing through a Museum Exchange catalogue with hundreds of listings.

Adding a listing to Objects of Interest does not yet mean the institution is formally reviewing it at the shared institutional level. It is the first step in the internal review pipeline.

From Objects of Interest to Curatorial Review to Proposal

Before an institution can submit a proposal, a listing must move through the internal review pipeline in Museum Exchange.

The basic workflow is:

• Add the listing to Objects of Interest
• Move the listing to Curatorial Review
• Submit a Proposal

This pipeline helps institutions move from initial discovery to formal donor-facing interest in a structured way.

How the Catalogue supports institutional review

The Catalogue is not just a browsing tool. It is the starting point of the institution’s decision-making process in Museum Exchange

Through the Catalogue, institutions can:

• identify relevant listings
• review individual objects and Collections
• estimate shipping cost
• save listings for further review
• move promising opportunities into the proposal pipeline

Best practices for using the Catalogue

To get the most value from the Catalogue:

• use Collection Area and Classification filters to focus your search
• review whether a listing is an individual object or a Collection
• use the Shipping Estimator early when logistics may affect interest
• add listings to Objects of Interest when they warrant closer review
• move listings to Curatorial Review only when they are ready for broader institutional consideration

Common questions

What is the difference between a Collection and an individual listing?

An individual listing contains one object. A Collection is a single listing that contains multiple objects, with individual object pages nested within the Collection.

Can institutions review individual objects inside a Collection?

Yes. Collections have subpages that contain the individual object pages, allowing institutions to review the objects included in the Collection.

What filters are available in the Catalogue?

The key filters include Collection Area and Classification.

Can I submit a proposal directly from the Catalogue?

No. A listing must first be added to Objects of Interest, then moved to Curatorial Review, before a proposal can be submitted.

Is the Shipping Estimator a final quote?

No. The Shipping Estimator provides an estimate only and is intended to support early review and planning.