rrobbins@NSF.GOV ("Robert J. Robbins") (11/01/90)
Recognizing that the library community has for years been operating and maintaining large databases on collections (library holdings), some people at Michigan State have begun experimenting with using an established, national library database (OCLC) to hold information about biological specimens. The attached forwarded message gives a brief description of this effort. More information can be obtained from Jim Beach: beach@herbarium.bpp.msu.edu. ====================================================================== Robert J. Robbins Program Director, Database Activities Phone: (202) 357-9880 Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences FAX: (202) 357-7745 National Science Foundation 1880 G Street, Room 312 InterNet: rrobbins@note.nsf.gov Washington, DC 20550 BitNet: rrobbins@nsf ====================================================================== ------- Forwarded Message Date: Wed, 31 Oct 90 16:58:36 LCL Reply-To: TAXACOM TECHNICAL <TAXACOMT@MSU.BITNET> Sender: TAXACOM TECHNICAL <TAXACOMT@MSU.BITNET> As part of a project to pursue the suitability of the libraries' MARC record formats and library database systems for natural history specimen accession data, we cataloged a few herbarium specimens in the MARC AVM format. The records met OCLC cataloging standards and we subsequently uploaded them to OCLC. If anyone is interested in seeing them in OCLC and has acccess to an OCLC terminal the record numbers are: 22477424 and 22477438. The specimens are of Magnolia grandiflora and Cerastium tolucense. They can be brought up with an author or title search. We also subsequently downloaded the records into the Michigan State University NOTIS system, known locally as "MAGIC." MAGIC is accessible over the Internet at no charge, if you have access: TN3270 to 35.8.2.99, then type "dial magic", then type the clear screen key or use Telnet to 35.8.2.56; at the which host prompt type "magic"; then type "vt100" The records can be accessed by a title search on scientific name, or an author search on the collectors: "Beaman John" and "Churchill John". We are undertaking aditional cataloging and plan to write a couple of reports on the suitability of the existing MARC formats and the library systems in general for herbarium accession data. Laurel Jizba, Library Technical Services Jim Beach, Botany Michigan State University ------- End of Forwarded Message