>
> Because of the problem with the date change in the year 2000, we are
having to redo our
> accession numbering. We've been accessioning by the last two digits of
the date and then
> the order in which it is received, i.e., 97-1, 97-2, etc. 00-1 posses a
problem for our
> system. What are other automated museums doing?
>

Here at The Farm Museum (formerly the Ontario Agricultural Museum), we used
the 2 digit system when I first arrived in 1987. When we decided to
automate, we went with a 4 digit accession year format BEFORE we started
inputting. Fat lot of good that info does you now, I suppose. I know that
our software has a "global change" feature, typically used when you rename
a storage location. It may work for a number field. I'd check with your
software's creator.
Reagrding changing to a 4 digit accession year system, existing paper
records are left, but as new material is added to the files, the revised
number is used. Numbers applied to artifacts are changed if there is an
opportunity (ie. during treatment).

Hope this helps!

Cliff. Jones
Collections Specialist
The Farm Museum
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