It is easier to catalog whole groups of entities than to remember which ones are the right ones. Everything, and especially free text, should be fully and Boolean searchable. You should always buy a program more powerful than you anticipate you will need, since inevitably you will not have anticipated everything you will need, for which compare Principle Three. 10. The official rule for relational databases that no piece of information should be repeated exists only to be broken. If using the database is easier with information repeated, then do so.
Storage is the least of problems.
Now, in the 1990's, those concerned with image databases are particularly concerned with the intellectual problems of cataloging as well as systems servicing a wider user need. Now, we find ourselves back to Panofsky's essay with a more workable vocabulary for librarians involved in cataloging images. This avenue begins the complex and serious intellectual questions that must be answered before erecting an image database. Pictures prompt an immediate reaction and users can see an indexer's choice of heading at once, agreeing or disagreeing on the basis of a glance , whereas books have less instant impact. The most interesting point Krause makes concerns the indexing of buildings.