From: gwr@temin.Lanl.GOV (Graham W. Redgrave)
Newsgroups: bionet.announce
Subject: LiMB Release 3.0
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:13:20 GMT


Dear Colleagues,

     We are pleased to announce release 3.0 of LiMB, (LIsting of
Molecular Biology databases).  LiMB contains information about the
contents and details of maintenance of databases related to molecular
biology. It was created to facilitate the process of locating and
accessing data sets upon which the research community depends; we
believe it will also be of use to those who are doing research in
designing and linking these databases.

     The data in LiMB were gathered from questionnaires, journals, and
the BIOSCI electronic bulletin board.  Release 3.0 contains 25 new
entries not listed in release 2.0.  Release 3.0 is a preliminary 
release only, however, and is based only on information received to 
date.  A complete questionnaire/release cycle will commence shortly.

     The data in a LiMB entry are divided into 57 fields or linetypes,
(the computer - readable versions of the database are distributed as
flat files), including new fields for fax numbers for contact persons.
The first LiMB entry contains definitions for the data contained in
these various fields.  Standardized vocabularies have been used where
possible to facilitate computer-assisted searches and index-building.  
The first field in each entry provides a mnemonic identifier for that 
entry, usually based on the common acronym/abbreviation for the described 
database.  If you are having problems finding a particular entry using 
the name with which you are familiar, you should consult the name.* fields.

     We have no objections to your using these data for your own
purposes or redistributing it.  We do request that if you redistribute
it or describe use of it in any public forum that you credit our group.  
(The appropriate formal citation would be: G. Keen, G. Redgrave, J. 
Lawton, M. Cinkosky, S. Mishra, J. Fickett, and C. Burks (1992) `Access 
to molecular biology databases'  <Mathl. Comput. Modelling> 16, 93-101.
If you do redistribute LiMB, we also request that you include a copy of 
this cover letter with it.  

***NOTE:  The easiest way to acquire LiMB (for you and for us) is to 
send the message text "limb-data" to:

bioserve@life.lanl.gov

If you wish to receive information only about LiMB, send the message
text "limb-info".  Additional copies of LiMB in hardcopy or floppy disk
are available upon request.

     We would greatly appreciate any ideas for improving future
releases.  We also apologize in advance for any factual errors or omissions
that appear in the database, and would be grateful if you would inform us of
any errors you find.  If you know of any molecular biology or related
databases not listed here, please inform us so that we may take steps
to have them included in the next release.

		 Sincerely yours,

		 Christian Burks, Ph.D.  
		 Principal Investigator

		 Graham Redgrave 
		 Database Manager

		 e-mail:           limb@life.lanl.gov

		 telephone:        (505) 667-7510

		 postal address:   LiMB
                                   Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group
				   T-10, Mail Stop K710 
				   Los Alamos National Laboratory 
				   Los Alamos NM 87545  
                                   U.S.A.