Hi,  I am a new user to both e-mail and the Internet, so forgive me
if I bring up subjects which may have been already broadcast!
Many thanks to those of you who responded to the request last
September for the demonstration to the National Museum of Wales on
the value of the internet/e-mail.  A few of us have managed to sneak
in the back-way;  we are still fighting hard to be allowed to move
towards the next century. Most people were very impressed, but now it
is a matter of budget and conflicting demands on existing resources!
 
Request for information
1.  Use of handheld GPS for field data-logging
I am looking for a cheap way, within reasonable levels of accuracy,
to record latitude, longitude and elevation of sites in countries
with poor map coverage.  The use of hand-held GPS has been suggested
as a method of improving our accuracy.  Any comments on successful
use in mountainous terrain would be appreciated.  Any comments on the
ease of interfacing with laptop computers such as Powerbook Duos also
welcome.
 
2.  Endangered species of Molluscs
We are setting up a data-base on Museum collections holding material
of Endangered species of Mollusca.  Initially I would like to hear
from any-one who has material from the islands of Madeira in the NW.
Atlantic.  Just a note to say you have material, - the approximate
size of the collection, its source and date would also be useful. The
majority of collecting there was done last century, and the
collections widely swopped;  I am aware of some 15 museums in the UK
which hold material, but would like to know how widely it was
disseminated outside.  This will help us in the completeion of a
project we have been working on withthe Madeiran governement.
 
3.  Genus/species in the same field of a data- base
Any comments on the pros and cons of this.  It is an on-going debate
here.  Briefly!
 
With reference to the debate on training for working in a Museum.  In
common with many curators, I started as a volunteer/research
associate, and visited several museum.  Practical experience
certainly helps in the job-hunting, although it is not a pre-
requisite or substitute for some formal training in the field.  If we
are then required to become managers, or adminstrators staff-
development training in the job should be provided (to suitable
candidates) (but how often does that happen????).
 
Regards
 
Mary Seddon
Curator (Terrestrial Mollusca), Nat.Mus.Wales, Cardiff, UK, CF1 3NP
Tel. 44-222-397951x244, Fax 44-222-239009