LIMS for Light Stable Isotopes is a laboratory information management
program based on Microsoft Access for managing samples, analyses, and
other data in an isotope laboratory.  In April, LIMS for Light Stable
Isotopes (LIMS) was taught in Vienna to 24 students from 24 nations.
As a result of their requests, tritium, 14C, several other isotopes,
and chlorofluorocarbons have been added to it.  A new manual is
available (USGS Open-File Report 98-284).

LIMS is intended for laboratories that perform at least a few thousand
analyses per year from numerous individuals.  It will not likely be
worthwhile to laboratories who analyze only a few samples per day
because of the investment in time that it takes to learn and apply
fully.

There are two versions of LIMS: version 7.0 for Microsoft Windows 95,
98, and NT 4.0, and version 1.4 for Windows 3.1x.  Version 7.0 requires
Access 97 and Excel 97 on the user's computer.  Version 1.4 requires
Access 2.0 on the user's computer.  The manual (Open-File Report
98-284) is for both versions.

There have been numerous updates.  The current versions are 7.0j and
1.4j (Sept. 2, 1998).  Users of LIMS are advised to obtain the latest
version (it can be sent as an attachment to an email message).

Although LIMS is free, we have recently been advised that we must charge
for copying diskettes, photocopying the manual, and shipping.  The costs
are as follows:

    Manual Only (Open-File Report 98-284)               USD 28.00
    Diskettes for version 7.0                           USD 20.00
    Diskettes for version 1.4                           USD 12.50

    Shipping and handling for 1 or more of the above    USD 20.00


Thus, the cost for 1 manual and 1 set of diskettes for version 7.0 is
USD 68.00.

Cash, checks or money orders (payable to U.S. Geological Survey) should
be sent to:

    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: T. Coplen
    431 National Center
    Reston, Virginia 20192