What is ‘Modes’?
Modes is a specialist collections management software used to organise, document, and manage collections in a structured and professional way.
It is widely used by museums, heritage organisations, and private collection professionals to ensure that information about objects is recorded consistently, clearly, and securely.
Further information about Modes can be found on the official website.
Modes is a registered trademark of its respective owner. Used here for identification purposes only.
What Modes is:
Modes is a database system designed specifically for collections.
Rather than using spreadsheets or handwritten records, it provides a structured way to store detailed information about each item — including descriptions, locations, condition, and history.
It allows collections to be organised in a way that is easy to search, update, and maintain over time.
What Modes includes:
Within Modes, a wide range of collection information can be recorded, including:
- Object details (what something is, what it is made from, how it was made)
- Provenance (where it came from and its history)
- Location (where the item is stored or displayed)
- Condition and conservation records
- Photographs and supporting documents
It brings all of this information together into one clear, consistent system.
How Modes is used:
Modes is used to manage collections in a structured and reliable way.
It is particularly useful in situations where:
- A collection has grown over time and needs organising
- Information is currently spread across different formats (notes, lists, memory)
- Items need to be tracked, located, or understood more clearly
- A collection is being prepared for insurance, sharing, or long-term care
It provides a professional framework that makes collections easier to manage and maintain.
Why this matters:
Without a clear system, collections can quickly become difficult to navigate and understand — even when the items themselves are carefully looked after.
Information may be incomplete, inconsistent, or stored in different places, making it harder to answer simple questions such as:
- What is this item?
- Where did it come from?
- Where is it now?
- What condition is it in?
Over time, this can lead to confusion, duplication of effort, or loss of important context.
Using a structured system like Modes helps prevent this by creating a single, reliable source of information.
It ensures that collections are not only physically cared for, but also properly recorded and understood — which is essential for long-term management, sharing, and future use.
A simple example
Someone may have a collection of items gathered over many years — perhaps artwork, objects from travel, or inherited pieces.
They may know a lot about each item, but that information exists partly in memory, partly in paperwork, and partly across different files.
By recording the collection in Modes, each item is given its own clear record — including what it is, where it came from, where it is stored, and any supporting images or documents.
Instead of searching through different sources, everything is brought together into one structured system, making the collection easier to manage, understand, and share.