Web/database integration solutions

[BROWN KEVINL]

Fellow list members,

I'm looking for the right software setup for a foundation that has two
research centers in different states and is looking to build a database of
annotated bibliographies and articles for users to search with a web
browser.  We are not maintaining much of a physical hard copy library,
other than something to organize materials for the staff, so we probably
would not need a software with circulation managing abilities.

I've come up with some preliminary recommendations, but need to solicit
some more information from people with some "combat experience" in setting
these systems up.

In my initial assessment I'm favoring Lotus Notes, mainly because we could
use the project management and "groupware" aspects of that software as
much as the web-integrated database.

The runner up would be a Back Office set up, or some configuration using a
Microsoft SQL server, although I'm a little leery of Microsoft systems.
I've heard that their systems are difficult to administer and not as easy
to merge with other databases as they claim. 

I know it's better to design this type of setup with the whole system in
mind, rather than build a database and figure out how to connect the
interface and server setup later.  The problem is I'm under some pressure
to start compiling entries and build the database now, although the web
site won't be developed till much later.

>From what I hear Microsoft Access can't handle a lot of simultaneous
queries and is better for the desktop than the web, but I'm tempted to
just start building a database with Access and worry about the web side
later just to relieve some of the pressure I'm under. 

Anyways, the main questions I would greatly appreciate some help with are:

If I build a database in Microsoft Access how hard would that be to
migrate to a web server set up?

What systems are popular for small web-based libraries with minimal staff
and don't require hard-core administration?

I've taken a brief look at Brodart, Winnebago,etc.,  but those systems
seem designed more for the circulation management details of large
libraries.
Are there any automation systems that I might be overlooking? 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!  I can compile and post the results
of responses as well, thanks!

Kevin Brown
Orton Family Foundation