[NHCOLL-L:3387] Re: Labels for wet collection

[Dean Pentcheff]

There is exceedingly little experimental work testing combinations of
papers, printers, and solutions for durability.  It's surprising that
such an important aspect of collections management has received so
little formal testing.  In spite of that, many collection managers
have very strongly-held opinions, based on assortments of anecdote and
personal observation.  Almost none of that lore has been formally
tested.  I suspect that you'll receive numerous unequivocal
recommendations, some of which will contradict each other, and most of
which will be unsupported by data.

We did run some tests of laser printed labels (but in the absence of
specimens) and found them to be durable on a range of paper types.
That's published as: Zala et al. (2005) Collection Forum 19(1/2):
49-56.  I have little doubt that you will be told unequivocally that
laser printed labels do not work.  It would be very helpful if the
data supporting that negative opinion on laser printed labels were
published.

Given the dearth of published test results, you'll need to run some
tests with your own collections.  Rumor has it (anecdotal evidence
again) that oils in some fish can badly affect some labelling
techniques.  Of course there's no peer-reviewed publication where that
problem has been explored.

If you do run some tests, strongly consider setting them up as a
formal experiment whose results you can publish -- it would benefit us
all!

-Dean
--
Dean Pentcheff
dean at crustacea.nhm.org


-- 
Dean Pentcheff
dean at crustacea.nhm.org