Robert A. Baron writes:

>But what happens as the automated system begins to replace the written
>record, which it will as the generation of curators who are shy of
>computerization are replaced by those who have used it their entire lives.
>The kind of information contained in old accession files, in loan files,
>etc. is complex and the relationships between objects, perhaps easy to note
>on paper, require complexly fashioned database architectures.
>
>I foresee a tragedy in the making when the simple databases become the
>foundation for more complex structures as they become needed.  It is the
>same tragedy that librarians have suffered as card catalogues, often with
>handwritten annotations, are tossed out and replaced by databases that
>cannot accommodate the rich details and patina encoded by history.

I could not agree more.  Curators and museum managers should think long
and hard about this.

------
Stuart Holm, Heritage Documentation Projects     Tel: +44 1603 870772
2 New Road, Reepham, Norwich NR10 4LP, UK     E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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