Museum Acronyms

Thu Jul 25 07:14:05 CDT 2002

I would like to know what is the procedure to standardize museum acronyms in
zoology?

Keep care and be of good cheer

Regards

(name) Vratislav Richard Eugene Maria John Baptist
(surname) of Bejsak (Bayshark)-Colloredo-Mansfeld
Coleoptera - Australia, Tenebrionidae of the World (incl. Lagriinae,
Alleculinae)

websites:
http://www.coleoptera.org. and
http://www.egroups.com/group/coleoptera

University of Sydney
The Wentworth Bldg., B 62
NSW 2006
AUSTRALIA
phone  :  +61 414 540 465
email: vratislav at bigfoot.com
ICQ: 13610107

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----- Original Message -----
From: "christian thompson" <cthompson at SEL.BARC.USDA.GOV>
To: <TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG>
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 1:44 AM
Subject: Re: Museum Acronyms

> Taxacomers:
>
> The 4 letter CODEN (not acronyms) are a vestigal feature of the original
> version of Ross Arnett's directory to entomological collection. Back then
> they had IBM punch cards and 4 columns were reserved for the CODEN. Hence,
> Ross added another letter for those collection which used only 3 letters
in
> their official ACRONYMs. Hence, MCZ became MCZC, etc.
>
> Sorry, Andrew, but once some of us had hoped that we could have
> standardized acronyms, like the Botanical community has. The purpose was
be
> able to create unique barcodes, where the code would have the alpha
acronym
> for the collection, followed by a sequential number. Such as
INBIO000222445
> or USNM ENT 00012345. Then intelligent programs could parse the barcode,
> then go onto the Internet and retrive the specimen label data from the
> appropriate database.
>
> Unfortunately, that was a dream.
>
> Cheers
>
> F. Christian Thompson
> Systematic Entomology Lab., ARS, USDA
> Smithsonian Institution
> Washington, D. C. 20560-0169
> (202) 382-1800 voice
> (202) 786-9422 FAX
> cthompso at sel.barc.usda.gov [NB: no terminal "n"]
> visit our Diptera site at www.diptera.org
>
>
> >>> Andrew Smith <asmith at UNLSERVE.UNL.EDU> 07/24 11:06 AM >>>
> Dear Robin
>
> In my opinion, as long as the acronyms are clearly defined in the
> paper, it doesn't really matter if different authors use different
> variations (CNC vs. CNCI, SMUK vs. SEMC, BM vs. BMNH etc.).  The four
> letter standards I often use can be found on the Bishop Museum
> (otherwise known as the BPBM) website at:
>
> http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/codens/codens-r-us.html
>
> Sincerely,
> Andrew
>
>
> >Hi Taxacomers,
> >
> >Does anyone have access to an approved/accepted list of acronyms for
> >the world's museums?  Is it on a website somewhere where I can take
> >a peek?
> >
> >I know that one had the acronym SMUK (Snow Museum, University of
> >Kansas), but that this was somehow later turned around.
> >
> >In particular, I am under the impression that all, or perhaps most
> >all, museums were to be designated with a 4-letter acronym.  The one
> >in Ottawa used to be CNC (Canadian National Collection) - full stop.
> >Then I heard/read that it is now the CNCI (Canadian National
> >Collection of Insects).
> >
> >Can anyone confirm for me if the latter is now correct?
> >
> >Robin Leech
> >Edmonton, Alberta
>
> --
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
> Andrew B. T. Smith
> W436 Nebraska Hall
> Division of Entomology
> University of Nebraska State Museum
> Lincoln, NE 68588-0514  U.S.A.
>
> Phone:  (402) 472-2664
> Fax:    (402) 472-8949
> E-mail: asmith at unlserve.unl.edu
> http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/index.htm
>
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