[Nhcoll-l] barcoding pros and cons

[Dirk Neumann]

Dear Rick,

a general question to consider is for which type of collection barcodes 
should be used and if barcodes are applied parallel (e.g. additional 
stickers on jars) or considered as replacement for the "old-fashioned" 
numbering / accession system.

If barcodes should be used to replace previous accession numberings, the 
access of the collection will be completely dependent on the readability 
of barcodes (and thus on technical reading devices that might go out of 
production and support in approx. 20-50 years), and second, on the 
longevity of the adhesive of the barcode stickers. I wouldn't buy into 
this if barcode labels are to replace traditional accession numbers & 
labelling - we still can read traditional labels inscribed centuries ago

Barcodes are in common use for tissue DNA-tubes, tubes lack in most 
collections any additional (external) analogous (readable) labelling. 
Same problem here: you need to scan to know what is included, and you 
should make sure that the barcode system you (wish to) choose offers a 
type of inscription that ensures that the barcode remains readable if 
larger parts of the barcode (label) are damaged (e.g. scratches, cracks, 
staining, etc.).

I would invest in a good collection management software rather then in 
barcodes.

Hope this offers some guidance ...

All the best
Dirk

Am 28.02.2014 17:18, schrieb Bentley, Andrew Charles:
> Rick
>
> Most ichthyology and other wet collection do not usually go the barcoding route due to the cost benefit analysis of doing so.  The only benefit of barcoding is that it provides you with an east mechanism for processing large loans, doing inventories or otherwise creating batches of specimens.  In ichthyology collections and the like the cost of barcoding everything far outweighs the benefits given the relatively small number of specimens we loan every year in relation to for instance botany or entomology collections.
>
> Given that we do not have a tradition of barcoding specimens the cost of going back and do so is just too large for me...
>
> Hope that is fodder for a lively discussion...
>
> Andy
>
>      A  :             A  :             A  :
>   }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
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> Andy Bentley
> Ichthyology Collection Manager
> University of Kansas
> Biodiversity Institute
> Dyche Hall
> 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
> Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
> USA
>
> Tel: (785) 864-3863
> Fax: (785) 864-5335
> Email: abentley at ku.edu
> http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu
>
> SPNHC President-Elect
> http://www.spnhc.org
>
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>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Richard Morse
> Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 10:07 AM
> To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> Subject: [Nhcoll-l] barcoding pros and cons
>
> Hi Folks,
> Long time listener, first time post - our institution is debating whether or not to buy into barcoding devices. I am hoping to start a discussion on this board about the pros, cons and relative utility of such a system in relation to natural history collections and beyond. Or you can reply directly to my email!
> Your help and knowledge is greatly appreciated.
> Thanks!   ---Rick
>
> Richard Morse, Ph.D.
> Collections Manager Ichthyology and Decapod Collection New York State Museum
> 145 Jordan Road
> Troy NY 12180
> 518 283 9005
> 518 473 8121
> rmorse at mail.nysed.gov
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