Marie-Claude Lariviere - 28 September, 2000
Barcodes / New Zealand Arthropod Collection
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 08:02:30 +1200
From: Marie-Claude Lariviere
To: pick@pick.uga.edu
Subject: Barcodes / New Zealand Arthropod Collection
Dear Dr Pickering,
I am the Curator of Hemiptera at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.
We are looking at using barcodes to database specimens in our
collection. I have recently been in touch with Rob Colwell because we
also want to trial his Biota programme.
Until recently I had pretty much made up my mind that we would use
Code128 for vials and Code 49 for pinned specimens and microscope
slides. However, I had not started looking into availability, methods of
production, scanners etc
Rob tells me that he is using Code 49 for everything, i.e., vials, slides,
pinned material. This is an attractive proposition as we would only need
to buy or produce one code and code49 can cary quite a bit of
information.
However, I looked at some 1999 correspondence between yourself and
other North American colleague on www.discoverlife.org/sc/ui and I got
a bit disappointed to hear that 1) Code 49 may not be available
anymore, 2) that it is very difficult to read.
I also read the letter by Ashe suggesting that code 128 could be used
for vials, slides and pinned material; it is in fact not much bigger than
most insects labels in collections already.
We are starting from scratch here. We need a flexible and affordable
solution. I am also conscious of the need to work according international
standards for material and information to be shared globally.
Finally, ideally I would like us to be able to produce the codes ourselves
on our laser printers.
Would you have any recommendations to make re: code to use,
methods of production, or other aspects of barcode use for insect
collections given the fact that we are starting from scratch and are thus
open to adopt the current best practices in this area.
Sincerely,
Marie-Claude Lariviere
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Dr Marie-Claude Lariviere
Invertebrate Systematist &
Curator of Hemiptera
N.Z. Arthropod Collection
Landcare Research
Private Bag 92170
Auckland, New Zealand
Ph. 64 9 815 4200 ext. 7064, Fax 849 7093
E-mail LariviereM@landcare.cri.nz
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