[Nhcoll-l] FW: collections based database software

[Amanda Bremner]

Dear Andy,
Thank you so much for your offer, I will definitely reach out to you if I have any further questions after reading through the wonderful overwhelming amount of responses!
I have been in contact with Norine Spears a few times and she is a very helpful and a valuable member of your team.  I also think your training videos are very helpful.
We have downloaded Specify to try out with one of our collections.  It is nice to have the option to take a CMS for a “test drive” before having to make any commitments.

Cheers,
Amanda

From: Bentley, Andrew Charles [mailto:abentley at ku.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 4:01 PM
To: Amanda Bremner
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] FW: collections based database software

Hi Amanda

We use Specify for all our University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and I would be happy to share my experiences and viewpoints with you.  I need to include the disclaimer that I am employed by Specify as a usability consultant as 25% of my position.  However, having conducted many workshops for probably 1000’s of Specify users and prospective users I do have an insight into the community using Specify and experience with collection management system issues for lots of different kinds of collections.

I must disagree with Steve about publishing source code.  This is done specifically to foster community input into the functionality of the system and their ability to assist in code and feature development.  Specify has both a science and technology committee that act on the community’s behalf to coordinate this effort and provide feedback and direction on priorities.

Happy to help answer any questions you may have.  I am sure there are other Specify users on this listserv who could also chime in.

Thanks

Andy

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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<mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu<http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/>

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From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> on behalf of Amanda Bremner <Amanda.Bremner at nbm-mnb.ca<mailto:Amanda.Bremner at nbm-mnb.ca>>
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 9:34 AM
To: "nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>" <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto: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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