[NHCOLL-L:2086] RE: Ideas for a new ledger system?

[Phil Myers]

In the Mammal Division at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, 
we back up our electronic catalogs with paper (print) copies, which 
follow the same format as our old hand-written ledgers and are bound 
similarly.

Phil Myers


On Wednesday, September 24, 2003, at 09:17 AM, Panza, Robin wrote:

>>>> From: Christopher Conroy [mailto:ondatra at socrates.Berkeley.EDU]
>        At the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology we are designing a ledger
> for a printed version of our catalog. Until now, we have had a
> handwritten card file for accessions and catalogs. Since many of our
> accessions now come with a spreadsheet or database, or we organize
> accessions with spreadsheets, we are planning to catalog
> electronically and print out a hard copy. <<<
>
> This brings up a point that I'd like to hear discussed.  My boss says 
> paper
> records are a thing of the past--that places that digitize their 
> records
> then don't deal in paper copies at all.  I'd like to hear if that's the
> attitude at other museums, and the reasons why or why not.
>
> Personally, I know I'm very conservative and want an archival-paper 
> backup
> of anything electronic, but how do others feel?  If we're backing up
> regularly, is there a reason to maintain card files or ledgers?
>
> Robin
>
> Robin K Panza
> Section of Birds, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
> 4400 Forbes Ave.
> Pittsburgh  PA  15213  USA
> phone:  412-622-3255
> fax:  412-622-8837
> panzar at carnegiemuseums.org
>
>
Philip Myers
Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Associate Curator of Mammals
Museum of Zoology
1109 Geddes
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI  48109

tel. 1-734-647-2206