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Archives database 

I am a Web Developer for UT Southwestern Medical Library in Dallas.  We 
have a small, but growing, archival collection that encompasses 
information about the history of the campus, and a smaller collection 
of healthcare historical objects. These have never been catalog, and 
their organization is inconsistent.  

We are attempting to provide some documented organization to the 
collection and to start cataloging them is some form or fashion.  
However, we currently do not have a full-time staff member for this 
job, so a small but dedicated group of staff members are devoting what 
time we can to this project.  

We are currently trying to develop/purchase/borrow a database system 
for this purpose.  We are not terribly satisfied with some of the 
proprietary systems out there (i.e. Sirsi's Hyperion, et al.).  It's 
not that they are not sophisticated enough...it's just that we want to 
have more control over the searching and display of our records.  We 
have extensive experience in developing our own systems to deliver some 
information, like our electronic journals list, and a links database.  
We like the freedom that the ODBC systems we use, combined with the 
middleware (ColdFusion) can provide.  

Which finally brings me to my question: has anybody else developed 
their own archival database system? If so, would you be willing to 
share your experience and/or data structure? 

If you are using a proprietary system and you are quite familiar with 
the database structure, would you please help me understand how they 
work.  I've tried looking at documentation, but it is scant and hard to 
find at this level of detail.

I have created a database myself, but not being a classically-trained 
database administrator, I am not sure that the structure is sound.  It 
is actually quite complex and very relational; it includes several 
descriptive object (i.e. vocabulary terms, persons table, buildings 
table, etc.) so that the items we catalog can be effectively described. 
But I want to be sure that it is something that is scalable and will 
not require major overhauling in the next few years.

Thank you very much in advance for any assistance you might be able to 
lend.


Karen R. Harker, MLS
UT Southwestern Medical Library
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX  75390-9049
214-648-1698
http://www.swmed.edu/library/
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