Herbarium Computerization at the University of Minnesota

The computerization of label data in the University of Minnesota (MIN) Herbarium is described along with some of the advantages of using the data base management system called "System 2000." This system is very versatile, economical, easy to use and the data bases are directly transferrable to other institutions. So far all of the lichens in the MIN and ABSL herbaria have been computerized (about 48,000) and are in several data bases. Label data are keypunched on cards for entry and the arrangement and format of the data entered on the cards is presented. Of the numerous retrievals possible a few examples are described including computer generated distribution maps and local species lists. The computerization is progress- ing to other groups of plants and comments are presented about some of the prob- lems in such a project. As herbarium collections grow and as more kinds of information are desired from the collections, access to the information becomes more difficult. The new emphasis on area ecological studies for environmental impact studies often results in requests for data from herbaria that are very time consuming to produce. In other cases the herbarium contains information that is impossible to obtain for practical reasons. Storing the label data in a computer data base can provide quick, economical access to all of the label data and also can assist in the curatorial operations of the herbarium. The computer data base management system in use at the University of Minnesota Herbarium has proven to be well worth the effort in answering requests for local and state species lists and in pro- ducing reports for agencies funding floristic studies. It is described here as one example of an economical system which other herbaria may wish to use or modify for their own use. Several herbaria in the world have started computerizing the label data for different groups of plants and for special purposes. Some herbaria curators have computerized label data for all or parts of a complete