suzanne(et al)
this question really should indicate a good reason why lose of us database
nerds keep recomending that we let the computer keep track of assigning
numbers.  then all we have to do is tell it what is related to what and in
what capacity.  an excellent example of this functionality was stated in the
comment about Multi Mimsy by Willoughby.  any well designed relational
database can handle this.  i know that everyone has old data that adheres to
some numbering scheme.  if we can forget about the 'meanings' of those numbers
and consider them merely unique identifiers that meaning nothing, then it
should become obvious that as long as the database has a unique ID for a
record then any number of records can easily reference that record.  again,
all we care about is the information in that record (and its related records).
 as far as we, as humans, are concerned the ID for the record is not
information.  it's only purpose is to tell the database system that it is
individual.

Gary Acord
Acord INformation Management
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-----Original Message-----
From:   Museum discussion list  On Behalf Of Suzanne Quigley
Sent:   Saturday, May 31, 1997 10:22 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        numbering contemporary works (was cataloguing....)

Watching this thread on museum-l, I would love to have respondents from
museums of contemporary art - anyone out there?

What do you do about numbering exhibition copies of an original (the
original is owned and permission exists to have or to fabricate exhibition
copies), or, refabrications (things for which a  cerificate is owned
allowing a museum to recreate a piece each time it is installed - ephemeral
pieces, for example).  What about when a museum owns both european versions
and american versions of the same work (objects which may contain either
electronics or lamps).  What can be done to number/track back up equipment
for objects where equipment is integral to the piece, but that same
equipment doesn't age too well (monitors from the 60's, etc.).   What about
master tapes and videodisk copies which are part of a work but not
necessarily the entire work?

It seems that something beyond .a.b.c or .1.2.3 is needed here.  Each
object or component has to be tracked, so it needs a unique number.




Suzanne

************
Suzanne Quigley
Head Registrar, Collections and Exhibitions
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
212 423 3568
fax: 212 423 3650
email: [log in to unmask]