[Nhcoll-l] which database software for a natural history museum?

[Doug Yanega]

On 10/25/13 8:24 AM, Derek Sikes wrote:
> Nicolas,
>
> I agree with James in recommending a collections database that is
>
> 1) entirely online so you interface it via a web-browser from anywhere 
> (no software to install, like gmail).
>
> 2) low-cost
>
> but also would like to emphasize another criterion of importance -
>
> 3) serves data to GBIF
>
> There are only three that I am aware of that fit these criteria but 
> there may be more:
>
> - Arctos, which I have been using for over a year now, 
> http://arctos.database.museum/home.cfm
>
> - Symbiota http://symbiota.org/tiki/tiki-index.php
>
> - The Ohio State University Triplehorn Insect Collection Database - 
> http://osuc.osu.edu/databasing.html (the developer, Norm Johnson, has 
> worked with others to mobilize their data onto the web)
>
To some degree, the examples Derek points out mix two things; the 
database itself, plus a data portal. Most folks get their data online by 
using an in-house database and then linking that database to a data 
portal. A good example is the American Museum of Natural History, who 
runs an online database (fitting criteria 1, at least) that serves its 
data to the Discover Life data portal, which also exports all of its 
data to GBIF. A number of similar institutions, including my own, use 
FileMaker as our database; it has remarkable flexibility, very easy to 
use and customize, works on PC and Mac, and can be remote-accessed. The 
only point about which I'm not entirely certain is that the server 
version can in fact be configured so that people who do NOT have 
FileMaker installed can use the interface. I *believe* this is possible 
(I'm fairly sure this is how the AMNH system works), but do not myself 
know how this is accomplished.

Sincerely,

-- 
Doug Yanega      Dept. of Entomology       Entomology Research Museum
Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0314     skype: dyanega
phone: (951) 827-4315 (disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
              http://cache.ucr.edu/~heraty/yanega.html
   "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
         is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82

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