[Nhcoll-l] collections based database software

Thu May 21 17:06:25 EDT 2020

Rob,

Indeed - & Arctos is served from the Texas Advanced Computer Center:
https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/

-Derek

On Thu, May 21, 2020 at 11:58 AM Rob Robins <rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu> wrote:

> Hi Folks,
>
> Just a quick observation, surely not lost on this group, but "the cloud"
> is just a computer or computers. Maybe it's in your building. Maybe its in
> another town. Maybe its in a giant data center. Maybe its in another
> university setting kind of like yours.
>
>
> In any case not all clouds are equal and comparisons should not be made
> off the cuff.
>
>
> If one is making one's evaluation on what thingamajig to select partly on
> the cloud-computing component with which it is associated, one
> will presumably want to evaluate said cloud carefully.
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
> Rob
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Amanda
> Bremner <Amanda.Bremner at nbm-mnb.ca>
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 21, 2020 3:12 PM
> *To:* Derek Sikes; Mayfield, Teresa
> *Cc:* Ginzbarg, Steve; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu; Arctos Working Group
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] collections based database software
>
> *[External Email]*
>
> Yes, definitely a lot of priceless time is put into these records.
>
> Thank you again Derek J
>
>
>
> Amanda
>
>
>
> *From:* Derek Sikes [mailto:dssikes at alaska.edu]
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 21, 2020 4:06 PM
> *To:* Amanda Bremner; Mayfield, Teresa
> *Cc:* Carla Cicero; Ginzbarg, Steve; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu; Arctos
> Working Group
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] collections based database software
>
>
>
> Amanda,
>
>
>
> Arctos is cloud-based computing like gmail. It's accessed entirely through
> web browsers. This has the advantage of never having to worry about loss of
> data on local computers or maintaining backups yourself (I've had computers
> crash & be stolen). Prior to moving to Arctos I had hundreds of thousands
> of records in a home-made database on a computer in my office & I became
> increasingly worried about the safety of the data. After spending a decade
> and hundreds of thousands of dollars getting the data into a database it
> becomes very very important that the data are safe. Buildings sometimes
> burn or flood etc. Having all your data in the 'cloud' is very reassuring.
> It's arguable that the data are safer than the specimens!
>
>
>
> I've cc'd Teresa Mayfield who I'm pretty sure can help with providing you
> a way to take Arctos for a 'test drive'.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Derek
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, May 21, 2020 at 10:43 AM Amanda Bremner <Amanda.Bremner at nbm-mnb.ca>
> wrote:
>
> Dear Derek, Carla and Steve,
>
> Thank you all for your responses J.
>
>
>
> I do have a question a couple of questions: Can you download Arctos on a
> single workstation to try it out for a small representative sample of
> records to test it out?
>
>
>
> Steve, can you elaborate a bit on what you mean by “*I think that Sustain
> Specify making their code available is defeating the purpose of having one
> unified program that serves many users*”?   I am very new to this.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Amanda
>
>
>
> *From:* Derek Sikes [mailto:dssikes at alaska.edu]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 20, 2020 3:51 PM
> *To:* Carla Cicero
> *Cc:* Ginzbarg, Steve; Amanda Bremner; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu; Arctos
> Working Group
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] collections based database software
>
>
>
> I've been happily using Arctos for the University of Alaska Museum Insect
> Collection
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.uaf.edu_museum_collections_ento_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=7cD-fdvj8KZKzcUGyR-Xb276cWX6WVFMMIhiYhPk-4E&e=>
> since 2012 and am also happy to answer any questions about it.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Derek
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 10:12 AM Carla Cicero <ccicero at berkeley.edu>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Steve - Thanks for this email. I just sent Amanda a separate email
> suggesting that they also consider Arctos, with a few details about the
> system and community.
>
>
>
> We are happy to answer any questions Amanda might have about Arctos.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Carla
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 20, 2020 at 11:09 AM Ginzbarg, Steve <sginzbar at ua.edu> wrote:
>
> Dear Amanda,
>
>
>
> I am looking at Arctos, https://arctosdb.org/
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__arctosdb.org_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=BBNTdJdpMOb3e0Lp4doeXRU06m1yXleot7G_kqc_Bxc&e=>.
> 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/
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__dwc.tdwg.org_terms_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=D6iKM5inS6_LehgAgizdmz1YaAY4hy5otWbbWxuWb4Q&e=>, 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  ]
>
>
>
>
>
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>
> --
>
> Carla Cicero, Ph.D
> Staff Curator of Birds
> Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
> 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building
> University of California
> Berkeley, CA 94720-3160
> TEL: (510) 642-7868
> FAX: (510) 643-8238
>
> http://mvz.berkeley.edu
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__mvz.berkeley.edu_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=mLKgMaNx3ZVI3pvuykr949J3l8YzRG3liD98UsQ80CQ&e=>
> https://carlacicero.net
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>
> http://vertnet.org
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__vertnet.org_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=lqzDz1dxHpJcK0Q8865OhJjcA4pKf3xOB1UZhjNfyK0&e=>
>
> https://arctosdb.org
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__arctosdb.org&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=7ouD7aBy_tV7LhwdXMVam90PNhvTrmffoVus21f7Aaw&e=>
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_collections
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Bird-5Fcollections&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=vLC0xbcICxigw0AZc5JKlM6K_0gZ99WqYkAediv1v_w&e=>
>
> http://americanornithology.org/
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americanornithology.org_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=kDNga2cVBt0mH3AtFLKWnkc57o0Nv2KeDVdTUiMY6cQ&e=>
>
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>
> _______________________________________________
> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See http://www.spnhc.org
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=Hk2PBXwk4vMpgl9ckkYT2j2QK-9Dy71C_A1d0npftik&e=>
> for membership information.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>
>
>
> --
>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Derek S. Sikes, Curator of Insects
> Professor of Entomology
> University of Alaska Museum
> 1962 Yukon Drive
> Fairbanks, AK   99775-6960
>
> dssikes at alaska.edu
>
> phone: 907-474-6278
> FAX: 907-474-5469
>
> University of Alaska Museum  -  search 400,276 digitized arthropod records
> http://arctos.database.museum/uam_ento_all
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.uaf.edu_museum_collections_ento_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=6vTo4o_bx89FefvwNFApBcYvi8kkFHahMfUVRaIQajk&e=>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Interested in Alaskan Entomology? Join the Alaska Entomological
> Society and / or sign up for the email listserv "Alaska Entomological
> Network" at
> http://www.akentsoc.org/contact_us
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.akentsoc.org_contact-5Fus&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=nyKfJK1xJpfzxoImbg7p5HJ5MIp9vndD31Hj2XIUjgs&e=>
>
>
>
> --
>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Derek S. Sikes, Curator of Insects
> Professor of Entomology
> University of Alaska Museum
> 1962 Yukon Drive
> Fairbanks, AK   99775-6960
>
> dssikes at alaska.edu
>
> phone: 907-474-6278
> FAX: 907-474-5469
>
> University of Alaska Museum  -  search 400,276 digitized arthropod records
> http://arctos.database.museum/uam_ento_all
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.uaf.edu_museum_collections_ento_&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=6vTo4o_bx89FefvwNFApBcYvi8kkFHahMfUVRaIQajk&e=>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Interested in Alaskan Entomology? Join the Alaska Entomological
> Society and / or sign up for the email listserv "Alaska Entomological
> Network" at
> http://www.akentsoc.org/contact_us
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.akentsoc.org_contact-5Fus&d=DwMGaQ&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=Yn_XqAH-fUIoUzzAysFQCJvh0kF-LjwYm0rghlpeFL8&s=nyKfJK1xJpfzxoImbg7p5HJ5MIp9vndD31Hj2XIUjgs&e=>
>

-- 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Derek S. Sikes, Curator of Insects
Professor of Entomology
University of Alaska Museum
1962 Yukon Drive
Fairbanks, AK   99775-6960

dssikes at alaska.edu

phone: 907-474-6278
FAX: 907-474-5469

University of Alaska Museum  -  search 400,276 digitized arthropod records
http://arctos.database.museum/uam_ento_all
<http://www.uaf.edu/museum/collections/ento/>
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Interested in Alaskan Entomology? Join the Alaska Entomological
Society and / or sign up for the email listserv "Alaska Entomological
Network" at
http://www.akentsoc.org/contact_us
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