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Building database query: summary of responses



Greetings, all,

About three weeks ago I promised that I would
summarize for the list the responses I received from
my late-April inquiry about college campus building
databases. (You may recall that we?re thinking about
implementing one here at the University of Iowa,
possibly using Access, and pulling information from
our vertical files, photo collections, and other
sources. We were interested in knowing what other
campus archives have done, particularly for the Web.)

Not surprisingly, the designs range from the simple
and straightforward to the elaborate. As for us? we?re
still weighing the possibilities.

Thank you to those who replied. Here is a summary of
responses, in no particular order:

1. University of Houston: The content is generated in
an Excel file, later moved to Access and eventually
ColdFusion for the Web. Data elements are: building
name, alias, date occupied, date of groundbreaking,
date of dedication, date removed (if applicable),
architect(s), notes (building use, name changes, who
named for, etc), thumb image (links to larger image),
and namesake (links to bio info about namesake; i.e.,
president, dean, alum, etc.). Still in testing phase.

2. University of Kentucky: Web site uses FileMaker Pro
for a brief buildings database and may in the future
be modified so that it conforms to a vocabulary
standard, such as AAT (Art and Architecture
Thesaurus). Go to http://www-sca.uky.edu/buildings/.

3. Dickinson College: Web site incorporates building
information within a larger feature called
Encyclopedia Dickinsonia. Go to
http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/.

4. University of Northern Iowa: Two lists are used,
linked off the special collections home page; one
alphabetical, the other chronological. These lists
utilize basic HTML mark-up but may be enhanced with
new features in the future. Go to
http://www.library.uni.edu/depts/speccoll/unifacts.html#Build

5. Davidson College: Web site offers a front page that
is a table linked to individual pages with more
information. Go to
http://www.davidson.edu/administrative/library/archives/buildings/buildings.asp

6. Penn State: Began developing such a site last year,
using Access, with three tables linked through the
unique building ID number. The site itself is run with
ColdFusion. Go to http://www.psubldg.libraries.psu.edu
(Note that this site may be down temporarily because
of server changes underway.)

7. University of Idaho: The database is in Access and
on the Web as a static list in HTML. Go to
http://www.lib.uidaho.edu/special-collections/uibldngs.html

8. Hope College: An online tour of the Michigan campus
is at http://www.hope.edu/resources/arc/walkingtour/

9. Alfred University: An alphabetical and
chronological listing of all campus buildings is at
http://www.herr.alfred.edu/special/archives/histories/

Again, my thanks to everyone who responded. There are
some great projects out there!

David McCartney
University Archivist
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa
david-mccartney@uiowa.edu



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