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AtoM

Artefactual
Canada
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About

Launched: 2007
Record Updated: Nov 07, 2024
Archive information management system
AtoM stands for Access to Memory. It is a web-based, open source application for standards-based archival description and access in a multilingual, multi-repository environment.

Mission

Artefactual's mission is to be the most trusted partner for those who care for the world's cultural memory by building knowledge, networks, and tools, and by contributing openly to a global community of practice.
AtoM was originally built with support from the International Council on Archives, to encourage broader international standards adoption.

Key Achievements

We recently established a Maintenance Team to focus on the maintenance and stability of our software so that it remains stable, usable, and secure into the future. The Maintainers will focus and greatly enhance visibility into the effort required to keep AtoM safe and stable. As experts in our software, the Maintainers will also engage with the community by addressing community technical questions, responding to code contributions, and assisting with the translation platform.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Code Repository

Implemented
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Technical Documentation

Implemented
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Code License

Implemented
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Open API

Implemented
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Open Product Roadmap

Implemented
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Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

XSLT

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Code Licenses Used

AGPL Affero GPL v3

Content Licensing

In AtoM restrictions can be based on Copyright(s), License, Statute(s), Policy, or Donor (as in an agreement established with a donor) see https://www.accesstomemory.org/en/docs/2.8/user-manual/add-edit-content/rights/#rights

Standards

Metadata

AtoM was originally built around International Council on Archives (ICA) descriptive standards:
General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD) - 2nd edition, 1999
International Standard Archival Authority Record (Corporate bodies, Persons, Families) (ISAAR) - 2nd edition, 2003
International Standard For Describing Institutions with Archival Holdings (ISDIAH) - 1st edition, March 2008
International Standard For Describing Functions (ISDF) - 1st edition, May 2007
AtoM supports Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) - W3C Recommendation 18 August 2009.
AtoM is designed to be flexible enough for adaptation to other descriptive standards; see Descriptive standards for a full list of other standards currently supported. see https://www.accesstomemory.org/en/docs/2.8/user-manual/overview/intro/

Preservation

PREMIS

Hosting Options

  • Through solution or third party vendor

Service Providers

https://www.artefactual.com/pricing

Community Engagement

Community Engagement

In Progress

Community Statements

Policies & Governance

Policies

Privacy Policy

Implemented
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Web Accessibility Statement

In Progress

Transparent Pricing and Cost Expectations

Implemented
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Policy Statements

Board Level

Artefactual the company has a board of directors. AtoM does not have a board but there is the AtoM Foundation, a federally incorporated, community driven, soliciting non-profit body. The Foundation was established in 2018 to oversee and support the development, sustainability and adoption of Access to Memory (AtoM). https://accesstomemoryfoundation.org/

Additional Information

Organizational History

Artefactual Systems was established as a digital preservation consulting company. In 2007, Artefactual received funding from the International Council of Archives (ICA) to develop an open-source archival descriptive software application that used ICA’s various standards and AtoM was born. In 2009, Artefactual began work on an open-source digital preservation plug-in for AtoM based on the Open Archival Information System (OAIS), which quickly became an application on its own, called Archivematica. AtoM and Archivematica are now used around the world as open-source options for people who want to provide access to and preserve cultural memory.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Commercial (for-profit)

Full-time Staff

More than 20

Volunteers

Unknown

Shareholders

Yes

Current Affiliations

No affiliations

Funding

Primary Funding Source

  • Program service revenue

Funding Needs

Artefactual is entirely self-funded. We are here for the long term, we are not focused on profit for investors. We focus on slow and steady growth. This leads us to favour long term partnerships over transactional relationships.
Revenue from our services support investment in our solution and supporting us through a subscription service to AtoM or Archivematica helps us continue to work on open source software.
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