A method for electronic data processing of paleontological/stratigraphic information has been devised and is in operation. Through use of a species accession reference number, paleontologic, stratigraphic, and ecological data (including synonymies of species) can be collated to reveal essential information on a given form. In addition, retrieval can be effected through use of the genus and species names as a retrieval code, although this is a slower process.

A bibliographic accession reference number allows complete treatments of bibliographic data, including abstracts, faunal lists, and other important collateral information. This bibliographic accession reference number is added to the species index cards to effect a cross-reference and corollary check of data.

This system is in operation for the McLean Card Catalogue of American Foraminifera, the Card Catalogue of Ostracoda, and the H. S. Puri Card Catalogue of Recent Ostracoda, all of which are completely cross-indexed by the system. With minor modifications, the index can be used for museum types and collections; it will be used for numerous other applications. The basic file will be available, through mechanical reproduction, to anyone desiring to use it.

Electronic data processing methods will partially replace, and greatly augment, manual methods; but for most operations, manual searches will still be the most efficient method of retrieval. Computers are advised only for extensive searches and, periodically, to correct and arrange the files. The interpreted, mechanically reproduced file cards are efficient for manual use.

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