Infrared and Raman Users' Group (IRUG)

The Infrared and Raman Users' Group (IRUG) has been awarded a Type 3
Information Management grant by the National Center for Preservation
Technology and Training (NCPTT), an office of the National Park
Service (NPS).  The NCPTT grant will support the development and
implementation of an Internet accessible version of the Infrared and
Raman Users Group Spectral Database, which results from a continuing
international collaboration administered by IRUG.  The one-year
project will facilitate, for the first time, the large-scale
web-based exchange of infrared and Raman data by scientists in the
conservation and preservation fields. IRUG, an independent
not-for-profit corporation, promotes the sharing of spectral data
and technical expertise among conservation professionals studying
the world's cultural heritage.

The new NCPTT funded initiative is intended to provide internet
access to IRUG's Edition 2000 Spectral Database, a compilation of
more than 1250 peer-reviewed reference spectra of artists' and
conservation materials contributed by scientists from more than 50
institutions worldwide.  At the completion of the project, Edition
2000 will be viewable and searchable at <URL:http://www.irug.org>,
making it a readily accessible, cost effective resource.  The
easy-to-use web site will also feature a searchable bibliography of
spectroscopic literature, news of upcoming conferences, and
hyperlinks to contributors' web sites.  The project will further
enable IRUG to collect, review and disseminate high quality,
reliable, conservation-specific spectra.

In addition to the interchange of data and expertise, the enhanced
IRUG web site is expected to promote communication and foster a
sense of community among infrared and Raman users in the
conservation and preservation fields. It also establishes a model
for the exchange of other types of scientific data.  Digital
Bridgeway of Philadelphia, PA, working with IRUG, is constructing
the on-line database and associated programs.  The estimated project
completion date is October 2003.

For more information about IRUG, its activities and the Web Database
Project, contact:

    Beth Price (North and South America Chair)
    Philadelphia Museum of Art
    +1 215 684 7552
    bprice [at] philamuseum__org

    Janice Carlson (Asia, Africa, and Australia Chair)
    Winterthur Museum
    +1 302 888 4732
    jcarls [at] winterthur__org;

or

    Boris Pretzel (Europe Chair)
    Victoria and Albert Museum
    +44 20 7942 2116
    boris.pretzel [at] vam__ac__uk

Beth A. Price
Senior Scientist
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Conservation Department
Box 7646
Philadelphia PA 19101-7646
215-684-7552
Fax: 215-684-7550


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:46
                 Distributed: Friday, January 31, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-16-46-005
                                  ***