[Nhcoll-l] collections based database software

[Willem Coetzer]

Hi Amanda
I thought you might like to know that we have been using Specify software in our institute for very nearly 20 years (I think next year is our 20th anniversary), and I have been managing the database for 15 years. We have therefore seen a number of Specify platforms and versions. As an organization we have not once looked back, and this is primarily due to the very strong and helpful team backing this application (not to mention the database schema and application, but I do believe that the success of Specify is the people behind it).
If something untoward has happened, we have always been assured that we can rely on Jim’s team to help us out.
I was reflecting on how we are able to continue cataloguing during one of the world’s strictest lockdowns (using the Specify 7 web application), and I realized how well the Specify team and this product are keeping up with improving technology.
There are 15 institutions in South Africa that use Specify (though we have been using the product for longer than anyone else in this country). There used to be a debate about which software to use, but we have recently seen the birth of a new facilitating organization for natural history collections, which has endorsed Specify. I think this bodes very well for the continued use of Specify in South African natural history collections, and for the development of skills and capacity among young people, to improve the state of our collections.
Please contact me if you are interested our different Specify uses and contexts.
Best wishes
Willem



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        Willem Coetzer

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South Africa    Email:  W.Coetzer at saiab.ac.za<mailto:W.Coetzer at saiab.ac.za>
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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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