Computer storage and surveys of large sets of data should be an attractive technique for users of carbon-14 dates. This pilot project demonstrates the effectiveness of a text retrieval system, NOVA STATUS. A small database, comprised of approximately 100 dates which were selected from results of the Trondheim carbon-14 laboratory, is generated. Data entry to the computer is made by feeding typewritten forms through a document reader capable of optical character recognition. A text retrieval system allows data input to be in a flexible format. Program systems for text retrieval are in common use and easily implemented for a carbon-14 database. -- AATA