We are very pleased to announce the official launching of the first production version of the RIdIM database. The offical launching will take place on 8 July 2009 at the RIdIM sesssion (9:00 - 10:30 a.m.) during this years joint conference of IAML and IMS in Amsterdam. Access to the database is free of charge but password protected. If you are interested in cataloguing or searching the database please apply for a password. Your application needs to be approved by the Commission Mixte of RIdIM. Please submit your password application to the International RIdIM Center at RIDIM@sas.ac.uk including the full address of your institution (with contact information: phone, fax, e-mail, website if available).
 
This database of iconographic materials is free of charge, platform-independent (run on any computer using a standard web browser), provide full Unicode support, and will be easy to use.
 
The database contains the following five mandatory fields: artist(s), year(s) of creation, title(s), type of object and location information, allow for multiple fields where necessary.
 
A detailed style guide is provided to help catalogers to resolve questions. The database will support multiple languages, include controlled vocabulary, international metadata standards, and provide a powerful and flexible search interface. It allows for the possibility of searching within multiple database fields and will permit searching using keywords, boolean operators, and truncation.
Search results will be able to be downloaded and sent by e-mail. In the future, this web site will provide full access to the RIdIM database and via links to existing large databases containing information contained in other iconographic databases around the world.