Hello-I used to use DBASE to catalog my collection. When I moved away from 
Windows XP, the DBASE program would no longer work and I started using 
LibreOffice . The drawback of these newer programs is that they do not 
maintain the native order of the file with separate index files, rather 
every field sorted becomes the order of the file.

I had a fire at my shop in which about 2/3 of my collection was lost. As I 
replace copies of the records that were lost, I add "NC" which is shorthand 
for new copy so that I am aware of the updated record.

I still refer to my original DBASE file to see if I had a particular record 
before the fire. These newer programs discard this valuable information 
which has a negative effect on the catalog-Mickey Clark

Mickey Clark
710 Westminster Avenue West
Penticton BC
Canada
250-462-7881
V2A 1K8
http://mcproductions.ca
1-250-462-7881

-----Original Message----- 
From: James Harrod
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2020 10:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Question for Archivists and Preservationists

On a related note, I would like to hear what software programs are being 
used to catalogue these digital collections, and concerns for long term 
support of those software systems and programs.

Jim Harrod

Jazz Research
jazzresearch.com
Stars of Jazz: A Complete History of the Innovative Television Series, 
1956-1958
https://www.mcfarlandbooks.com/product/Stars-of-Jazz/
Jazz:West Records - Art Pepper on Jazz:West and Intro Records
https://books.apple.com/us/book/jazz-west-records/id1059914689

> On Dec 28, 2020, at 9:07 PM, Stephen M.H. Braitman 
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Hello, one and all:
>
> We almost made it through this mad year. Glad you’re all still around.
>
> I’d appreciate some feedback to this issue directed to those of you who 
> manage collections and archives and are tasked with preservation, 
> acquisition, and/or “refinement” :
>
> Is the importance of physical material in libraries and archives 
> decreasing due to the surge in usage of digital files?
>
> Do you see a future when physical artifacts are no longer collected, 
> archived, preserved, once they have been effectively digitized or 
> otherwise electronically manifested?
>
> And, finally, is this situation causing institutions to, at least, look 
> more seriously at their archives and collections for their pertinence and 
> relevance, thus causing a paring down or refocusing of their priorities?
>
> Sorry to be long-winded, but thanks for any thoughts you might have.
>
> Happy new year!
>
>
> Stephen
>
>
>
>
> Stephen M.H. Braitman, ASA
> Accredited Senior Appraiser of Music
>    Archives & Memorabilia
> American Society of Appraisers
>
> www.MusicAppraisals.com <http://www.musicappraisals.com/>
>
> 415-897-6999