UNLOCKING RESEARCH COLLECTIONS: THE UI PALEONTOLOGY REPOSITORY COMPUTERIZATION PROJECT

The University of Iowa Paleontology Repository holds over one million specimens including more than 25,000 type and referred specimens, yet approximately 90% of the collection is uncatalogued, impeding research access. As part of an NSF-funded collection reorganization project (completed 2005), a collection survey identified and prioritized parts of the collection for computerization. A new 3-year NSF-funded computerization project began in April 2006. This new project will involve: 1) computerization of priority collections using SPECIFY to preserve data and make them accessible to researchers and the public; 2) development of partnerships with database projects including the Paleontology Portal, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Neogene Marine Biota of Tropical America (NMITA), and FAUNMAP, to increase visibility of the Paleontology Repository and improve data access; and 3) a Digital Image Project in which existing and new images of type material will be digitized and made available on-line.

Priority collections include the Amoco conodont collection, Amoco South Florida collection, midwest echinoderms, Quaternary micromammals, the Paleozoic coral collection, and a stratigraphic collection from now inaccessible localities. An on-line educational resource will be developed using the Amoco South Florida collection. In addition, a pilot study will involve hosting SPECIFY databases for the University of Missouri conodont collection and new collections at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD), Dominican Republic.

The computerization project will provide employment, training, and collections experience for graduate student research assistants, geoscience undergraduate students and museum studies program interns. Wider dissemination of collections data will increase use of the collection and emphasize the continuing commitment of The University of Iowa to support the stewardship of the collection. Computerization of the Paleontology Repository's major holdings and development of web resources and partnerships with other projects and institutions will greatly increase our research, education and outreach abilities.