The San Diego Natural History Museum houses one of the oldest and most diverse collections of western North American amphibians and reptiles in the United States. Dating from the late 1800's, the collection is recognized for its large and comprehensive series of rattlesnakes and sceloporine lizards, among other taxa from the far West, Baja California, and northern Mexico. Less well known but increasing rapidly in size and significance is the collection of reptile and amphibian skeletons. The approximately 31,000 reprints and books in the Departmental and Klauber libraries are also regarded as an important resource by the scientific community. Thus the San Diego Natural History Museum contains one of the most important regional herpetological collections in North America. During the past five years, the Department of Herpetology has undergone many positive changes in policy and productivity with the aim of modernizing the collections, stabilizing curatorial procedures and increasing the use and value of the facilities. This project will continue that trajectory by implementing computer management of the collection catalogue. Funding will provide appropriate hardware, software, professional consultation and a half-time data entry person. These improvements are directly related to increasing the use of the collection and preserving its value to herpetology.
