[Nhcoll-l] Uploading collection catalogs online

[Amy Smith]

Personally, I think it is best to not display localities for any type of
specimen, extant, endangered, otherwise. There are two main reasons behind
this: 1. Some specimens are collected and/or used in research with
permission on the stipulation that their exact localities not be published,
such as the original description of *Tanytrachelos *written by Olsen in
1979; and 2., I wouldn't want to encourage the occasional adventure seeker
in trying to collect from a site that is known to yield xyz specimens by
publishing their localities. There are a lot of nuances, logistics, and
legalities about collecting that I think most non-professionals may not be
aware of.

An example that comes to mind is the Ohio Historical Society. They use a
database called Cuadra Star which they also post online for public use.
When preparing for an interview with them, I was trying to research their
natural history collection and found that it is absolutely impossible to
search their collections by locality. This may or may not be intentional on
their part; I asked them about it, but didn't really get a reply to that
particular question.

If a researcher uses your database and needs locality information, perhaps
a form can be designed requesting this and/or other certain types of
information for use in the research. This way, the scope and purpose of the
research can be understood by the institution before the information is
released. Just a thought!

Dr. Amy Smith, Volunteer Assistant Collections Manager of Geology
Central Michigan University Museum of Cultural and Natural History
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
www.TheBluePteranodon.com


On Thu, Jul 11, 2013 at 12:01 PM, Mireia Beas-Moix <beas-moix at ccber.ucsb.edu
> wrote:

> Hello,
>
>
>
> I have a question for curators who have uploaded their specimen records to
> an online database. Did you clean your data and hide information for
> particular specimens, species or localities?  For example, you may want to
> block access to the geographic coordinates for the locality of an
> endangered species.
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
> Mireia
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Mireia Beas Moix
> Collections Manager
> Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration
> University of California Santa Barbara
> Harder South, Rm 1009
> Santa Barbara, CA 93106
>
> beas-moix at ccber.ucsb.edu
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>
>
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