5 
NETWORK INFORMATION SERVICE 
General Electric has just announced a nationwide grid of communications and 
interconnected computer systems. A central computer in Cleveland can be accessed 
from any of 40 metropolitan areas, coast to coast. Material stored by one user 
can be accessed by a second user through previous agreement, and therefore the 
the first step in a museum network is already available to MUDPIE. Any institution 
contemplating installation of time-shared computer should look carefully at what 
GE offers, because this system or something resembling it must eventually form the 
basis for an information exchange. The Flora North America Project of the AlBS 
and Michigan State University are already engaged in planning of initial imple¬ 
mentation of mutual access of each other 1 s stored data (See note above on MSU*s 
NSF grant). 
FLORA NORTH AMERICA STAFF 
The appointment of Harriet R. Meadow to the new position of Systems Develop¬ 
ment Manager of the Flora North America Project has just been announced by Dr. 
John R. Olive, Director of the American Institute of Biological Sciences. 
A major objective of the Flora North America Project is to develop an informa¬ 
tion system to support floristic-taxonomic research. As the Systems Development 
Manager, Mrs. Meadow will be the ’’chief architect 1 ’ of this system, and, in concert 
with the botanists of the project, will develop a system design and program imple¬ 
mentation plan for the FNA. 
Division of Reptiles and Amphibians 
National Museum of Natural History 
Smithsonian Institution 
Washington, D. C. 20560 * 
