[Nhcoll-l] collections based database software

[Ginzbarg, Steve]

Dear Amanda,

I am looking at Arctos, https://arctosdb.org/. I like their business model. If you want a feature and they think it will be useful to others they will incorporate it. If not, you pay them to add it. Cost of the software is based on number of specimen records.

I think that Sustain Specify making their code available is defeating the purpose of having one unified program that serves many users.

Many of the examples in the Darwin Core quick reference guide, https://dwc.tdwg.org/terms/, are from Arctos.

Arctos has been around since the 1990s. I like their webinar tutorials.

All data are securely stored at the Texas Advanced Computing Center.

Is anyone using Arctos who could comment on it?

Steve Ginzbarg
Assistant Curator
The University of Alabama Herbarium (UNA)
________________________________
From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Amanda Bremner <Amanda.Bremner at nbm-mnb.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 9:34 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] FW: collections based database software


Hello,

We are considering choosing a new database, either EMu by Axiell or Sustain Specify, for our Natural History collections (Zoology, Botany and Mycology, Geology and Paleontology).  The database we currently use was designed for use in libraries (Inmagic DB/TextWorks).



Have any of you recently reviewed these two databases? Would you be willing to share pros and cons, beyond the fact that one is significantly more costly than the other?



Thanks,

Amanda



Amanda Bremner, M.Sc.

Curatorial Assistant/Adjointe à la Conservation des collections

Department of Natural History/ Département d’histoire naturelle

New Brunswick Museum/Musée du Nouveau-Brunswick

277 Douglas Avenue/ 277, avenue Douglas

Saint John, New Brunswick/ Saint John (Nouveau-Brunswick)

Canada E2K 1E5

Tel: 506-643-7670

Amanda.Bremner at nbm-mnb.ca<mailto:Amanda.Bremner at nbm-mnb.ca>  ]




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