[Nhcoll-l] Care & Use of Natural History Museum Collections Class--your input requested

Tue Mar 11 16:37:32 EDT 2014

Dear Heather,

I found the article that Robert Waller was mentioning. Unfortunately, due
to copyright laws, we cannot scan a copy and post it. It is available for
purchase though from our museum store and is currently 25% off. Here is the
link if you are still interested:
http://www.vmnh.net/products/details/id/18/catid/58/special-publication-04

If you have any other questions regarding this article I direct you to our
museum librarian Mary Catherine Santoro, she can be reached at
marycatherine.santoro at vmnh.virginia.gov.

Thank you,
~Sarah

On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 12:15 PM, Anita Cholewa <chole001 at umn.edu> wrote:

> When I hire students to work in our collections - two skills come to
> mind.  Are they familiar enough with databases (of any kind) to be able to
> parse out information into correct fields -- this can be taught.  The
> second parallels David's "museum sensibility" and is an attention to
> details.  So many times students say "oh yes, I can handle details" but oh
> no they can't, and forget to do this or that or watch for this or that.
> Asking about hobbies is a great idea (I think I'll incorporate that in my
> interviews) as certain hobbies will definitely require manual dexterity and
> attention to details.
>
> As for references for collection management:
> 1. Storage of Natural History Collections: Ideas and Practical Solutions,
> edited by C.L. Rose and A.R. de Torres; available from the Society for the
> Preservation of Natural History Collections
> 2. Manual of Curatorship: A Guide to Museum Practice, edited by J.M.A.
> Thompson, published by Butterworth Heinemann but I believe it's available
> from the American Association of Museums
> 3. Managing the Moder Herbarium: An Interdisciplinary Approach, edited by
> D.A. Metsger and S.C. Byers; also available for the Society for the
> Preservation of Natural History Collections
>
> Cheers,
> Anita
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 11, 2014 at 9:40 AM, Heather Lerner <hlerner at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Kevin, Mariko, Barbara, Dave, John, Andy, Sarah, Ellen, and others,
>>
>> Thanks for your thoughtful responses. I've gotten some great references
>> from this list so far and some syllabi--I can't thank you enough!! I'm sure
>> my course will be much improved this year thanks to the insight from this
>> list! Some of the responses came directly to me, so I'm copying some links
>> below for anyone else who is interested.
>>
>> I was thinking that the course would be 50/50 in terms of readings, with
>> half of the readings focusing on topics in collections care (permits, IPM,
>> deterioration etc.) and half of the readings from research papers. They'll
>> also have a three-hour lab in which they'll be in the collections working
>> with Specify, prepping specimens, testing fluids, cleaning specimens etc.
>> My reasoning with the 50/50 split was that most of my students are going on
>> in academia or research, so I want them to be aware of the ways specimens
>> can help them answer questions. I also want to get them experience reading
>> more papers and discussing them. And, selfishly, I enjoy reading papers
>> about great museum research!
>>
>> They'll have a salvage requirement in which they aim to find at least 5
>> specimens to contribute to the collections (they each will get a road and
>> series of windows to walk each week so the campus area is covered well each
>> day). Some years we actively collect salamanders so they've also addressed
>> the reality of taking an animal's life for a collection.
>>
>> Finally, a number of curators at FMNH, UMMZ, and NMNH have done skype
>> interviews with the classes in which students learn that the same issues
>> are largely present in collections around the country, regardless of size
>> of the institution/collections.
>>
>> Please contact me if you have more ideas for me. I am not teaching the
>> class until this fall, so I still have time to incorporate more of your
>> great ideas!
>>
>> Thanks again,
>>  Heather
>>
>> Here are some links:
>>
>> paper on the changing definition of the biological voucher specimen:
>>
>>
>> https://www.academia.edu/245195/The_changing_significance_and_definition_of_the_biological_voucher
>>
>>
>> Link to: Gardner et al. (2009) Shifting latitudinal clines in avian body
>> size correlate with global warming in Australian passerines. Proc R Soc. B.
>> 276(1674: )3845-3852
>> http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/276/1674/3845.full
>>
>> Also recommended Van Buskirk et al 2010) Declining body sizes in North
>> American birds associated with climate change. Oikos 119(6)1047-1055
>> *http://www.researchgate.net/publication/227668742_Declining_body_sizes_in_North_American_birds_associated_with_climate_change/file/3deec51991002edc72.pdf
>> <http://www.researchgate.net/publication/227668742_Declining_body_sizes_in_North_American_birds_associated_with_climate_change/file/3deec51991002edc72.pdf>*
>>  <http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/276/1674/3845.full>
>>
>> Simmons, J.E. and Y. Muñoz-Saba.  2006.  The future of collections
>> management:  an approach to collections management training for developing
>> countries.  *Collection Forum*, 20(1-2):83-94.
>> http://www.spnhc.org/media/assets/cofo_2006_V20N172.pdf
>>
>> Simmons, J.E., and Y. Muñoz-Saba. 2003. The theoretical bases of
>> collections management. *Collection Forum* 18(1-2):38-49.
>> http://www.magsq.com.au/_dbase_upl/john%20simmonds%20paper.pdf
>>
>> Unfortunately, there is still not a good textbook on natural history
>> collections management available in English, although Yaneth and I have
>> published one in Spanish (we are currently working on a new edition, and
>> may do an English version as well), which you can download for free here:
>>
>> http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/pdf/directorio/c/cervantes/clases/sistem/Cuidado_Manejo_y_Conservacion_de_las_Colecciones_Biologicas.pdf
>>
>> I agree wholeheartedly and I think it is growing more and more important
>> to focus on preservation not only of the specimens themselves but their
>> associated data. In my opinion the easiest way to preserve specimen data,
>> and share it with the community of both present and future scientists, is
>> to make it digital. I attached an article which I wrote that is currently
>> in press or I would provide you a link to the published version. This
>> article discusses the importance of preservation, but more importantly the
>> tools for implementing preservation strategies. I hope you find it
>> insightful. Below is an excerpt from this article which pertains directly
>> to this conversation thread. I should mention that EGEMS is a digital
>> record-keeping system for geological materials. More information on EGEMS
>> can be found at www.egemsinfo.com  or contact Sarah Timm
>> stimm10 at gmail.com
>>
>> "In addition to the more commonly known materials (Rocks, Minerals,
>> Fossils) EGEMS also has the capability to store information for other
>> materials such as Research Products. Research Products are geological
>> materials that can be used for future research purposes or were derived
>> from pre-existing research projects. Examples include: thin sections
>> (polished or covered), billets, experimental powers, synthesized materials,
>> etc. When information for these are fully filled in they act as a recipe
>> that can be re-created in the future (Figure 10). Most of the fields for
>> Research Products in EGEMS are new to digital record keeping systems
>> everywhere."--contact
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 3:44 PM, Kevin Winker <kevin.winker at alaska.edu>wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, Heather. Sounds like an interesting course. Personally, I'd flip the
>>> reading around to emphasize collections development and collections care
>>> rather than collections from the perspective of researchers. The latter can
>>> artificially narrow perceptions of collections' myriad values (i.e., more
>>> than what is on the table needs to be incorporated into the collection).
>>> I'd echo many of the other responses, especially those related to manual
>>> (dis)abilities, but also emphasize the importance of instilling a vision
>>> and passionate appreciation for the building of these critical research
>>> infrastructure resources. Everyone can and should be involved.
>>>
>>> Best, K.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 10:29 AM, Heather Lerner <hlerner at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have the wonderful opportunity to be the director at the Joseph Moore
>>>> Museum at Earlham College. With that position, I get to teach one course
>>>> per year in "Museum Studies." My goals with the course are to first
>>>> train
>>>> students in the most useful skills they will need to go on as
>>>> collections
>>>> managers or curators or researchers who use collections, and second, for
>>>> students who may never work in/for a museum in the future, to convince
>>>> them
>>>> of the importance of biological collections so that they will be
>>>> educated
>>>> lifelong museum advocates.
>>>>
>>>> Here is where I ask for *your input:*
>>>> (1) what are the *skills *you want incoming collections manager,
>>>> graduate
>>>> students or curators to have?
>>>>
>>>> (2) we will read an article each week in which someone has published
>>>> their
>>>> research using specimens/collections as a primary source of
>>>> information/data. For example, ancient DNA, isotope, morphological
>>>> studies.
>>>> What are some of the best *examples of collections-based research* you
>>>> thinkI should include?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for your input,
>>>>
>>>> Heather
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Heather
>>>>
>>>> *******************************************
>>>> Heather R. L. Lerner, Ph.D., M.S.
>>>> Joseph Moore Museum <http://earlham.edu/jmm> Director
>>>> Assistant Professor of Biology
>>>> Earlham College
>>>> 801 National Road West
>>>> Richmond IN 47374
>>>>
>>>> *******************************************
>>>> Google Voice: 949-GENOMES
>>>> Email: hlerner at gmail.com
>>>> http://heatherlerner.com/
>>>> *******************************************
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>>>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
>>>> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>>>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>>>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>>>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>>>> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kevin Winker
>>> University of Alaska Museum
>>> 907 Yukon Drive
>>> Fairbanks, AK 99775
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Heather
>>
>> *******************************************
>> Heather R. L. Lerner, Ph.D., M.S.
>> Joseph Moore Museum <http://earlham.edu/jmm> Director
>> Assistant Professor of Biology
>> Earlham College
>> 801 National Road West
>> Richmond IN 47374
>>
>> *******************************************
>> Google Voice: 949-GENOMES
>> Email: hlerner at gmail.com
>> http://heatherlerner.com/
>> *******************************************
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
>> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> __________
> Anita F. Cholewa, Ph.D.
> Curator of the UM Herbarium (MIN)
>    and Acting Curator of Lichens
> J.F. Bell Museum of Natural History
> University of Minnesota
> 1445 Gortner Ave
> ST PAUL MN 55108-1095
>
> campus mail code: 6022
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nhcoll-l mailing list
> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
>
> _______________________________________________
> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
>
>

-- 
Sarah Timm

* Geological Collections & Database Specialist, Virginia Museum of Natural
HistoryMS in Geosciences with Focus on Geological Collections
ManagementPhone: 845-774-9994*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20140311/9e35cd4b/attachment.html 