Units and their IDs

[Transcluded from Discussion page]

This page comes forth from Action 36 in the minutes of the HISCOM AGM in Canberra, 12–14 November, 2012. At the meeting it was decided to establish a working group to come up with a strategy for implementing GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers). As a start, we need to know what units (collection objects, gatherings, determinations etc.) we should assign GUIDs to. In earlier discussions and again at the AGM, it was felt that we don't have a sufficient overview of what different herbaria regard as "specimens" and what numbering practices are in place. Therefore it was decided to document specimen concepts at different herbaria and how unit IDs are assigned. It should be noted that a survey was initiated by Ben more than a year ago, but so far nobody has filled it in. The survey below repeats the questions in Ben's survey and gives some extra space for comments.

For the purpose of the survey, unit IDs can be identifiers (not primary keys) in a database, or the catalogue (or accession) number that is on the physical specimen. We want to know both, but it is important to know how the database record relates to to the physical specimen, so an extra question has been added to indicate to what units catalogue numbers are assigned.