Hi, Daniel,
    As a degreed librarian who's organized several museum research
collections, I have a couple of immediate suggestions for you:
   1) Do *not* invent your own cataloging system.  Instead, use
the Library of Congress system and the Library of Congress
subject headings.  Supplement liberally with locally-defined but
carefully controlled subject headings.
   2) Try to get a local librarian with cataloging experience to
spearhead the project as a volunteer--if not to actually do the
whole thing for you.
   3) Feel free to telephone me if you want to brainstorm.  My
work number is: 801-797-2672.
 
                         Jan Anderson (Campus Services Librarian)
 
 
                         Merrill Library, UMC 3000
                         Utah State University
                         Logan, UT  84322-3000
                         Phone: 801-797-2672
                         Fax: 801-797-2677
                         E-mail: [log in to unmask]