[Nhcoll-l] Display/storage containers for study skins

[John E Simmons]

Prepare a simple, friendly, one-page list of handling instructions for
specimens that says tags cannot be removed, fur cannot be rubbed the wrong
way, feathers cannot be separated, etc. Assume that none of the students or
instructors have ever handled specimens before and take this opportunity to
teach them how to do it right. You might also include a few statements
about the importance of preserved specimens. On the bottom of the sheet
include a place for each person to sign and date it to verify that they
have read and will follow the directions.

Personally, I would also require students (and everyone else) working with
the specimens to wear nitrile or neoprene gloves while handling specimens
and include cautions about washing hand after due to possible contact with
arsenic or other pesticides.

--John


John E. Simmons
Museologica
128 E. Burnside Street
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
simmons.johne at gmail.com
303-681-5708
www.museologica.com
and
Adjunct Curator of Collections
Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
and
Instructor, Museum Studies
School of Library and Information Science
Kent State University

On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 2:48 PM, Dawn Lawson <dmlawson at ualberta.ca> wrote:

> Hello!  I'm new to the list, and as part of my job duties, I manage a
> small zoology museum on a small campus.
> In the last few years, use of the museum is increasing due to the influx
> of ecology survey type courses, and other uses, and I need to be able to
> protect specimens from handling (both generally, and to avoid such
> behaviour as "pulling apart the tail feathers to look for field marks" type
> manipulations.)
>
> I have some acrylic cylinders which I temporarily seal with a glue gun,
> and some sheet plastic formed into tubes which can be opened, and some
> small birds in large test tubes...but I cannot find midsize tubes that are
> suitable for duck/jay/groundsquirrel-sized skins.
>
> I have two questions for the list members:
> 1) What might be some good ways to reduce loss/damage from handling on
> this type of collection and
> 2) Where can I source display materials that are economical, varied sizes,
> and appropriate to use?
>
> Dawn Lawson
> University of Alberta, Augustana
>
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