[Nhcoll-l] Seeking information on the multiple stacking of natural history cabinets

[Cody Thompson]

Hi, Don!  My suggestion is to not stack more than two 4-foot cabinets
high.  Adam, our colleagues, and I spend an exorbitant amount of time
accessing specimens, and it is difficult (if not impossible) to do any
level of browsing in the collection.

If there is no other option but to stack, I would consider getting shorter
cabinets to allow for future reconfiguration.  It also helps with handling
groups that are heterogeneous in size, e.g., marsupials, rodents.  The
shorter cabinets can be limiting if you are using a platform, but the lifts
that Adam suggests, as well as various ladders, will allow you to access
your collection.

Take care,
Cody

Cody W. Thompson, PhD
Mammal Collections Manager
& Associate Research Scientist
University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology
3600 Varsity Drive
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
Office: (734) 615-2810
Fax: (734) 763-4080
Email: cwthomp at umich.edu
Website: codythompson.org

*Please click here to support the UMMZ Mammal Division, its collections,
and research mission!!!*
<https://lsa.umich.edu/ummz/mammals/donate-to-the-mammal-division.html>


On Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 12:58 PM Adam Rountrey <arountre at umich.edu> wrote:

> Our paleo cabinets are triple stacked (highest drawers are at 15.5 ft).
> We use a WAV for individual specimens, but for pulling trays, the Big Joe
> J1 Joey with the optional oversized work platform (35 x 36 inches) is much
> better.  I line up the work platform with the glides and slide the tray
> onto the platform.
>
> -Adam
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 12:45 PM Donald McAlpine <
> Donald.McAlpine at nbm-mnb.ca> wrote:
>
>> The New Brunswick Museum is undergoing a $150 M building expansion that
>> will include some new collections space.  There is currently a plan
>> (proposed by architects) to double stack botany and entomology cabinets
>> (each on a separate shelf) on compactors.  Zoology cabinets will be stacked
>> 4 high, again, on shelves and compactors.  I would be interested in hearing
>> from anyone that is double stacking botany or entomology cabinets and
>> triple or quadruple stacking zoology cabinets.  We can get access to
>> cabinets using WAV 60 (Work Assist Vehicle), but removing trays from
>> zoology cabinets to accommodate rearrangement of collections is very
>> awkward and time consuming.  I would be interested  and grateful to hear of
>> any others who are stacking specimens cabinets more than 2 high and the
>> process around managing collections in these circumstances.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Donald F. McAlpine, Ph.D.
>>
>> Head, Department of Natural History
>>
>> Research Curator and Head, Zoology Section
>>
>> New Brunswick Museum
>>
>> 277 Douglas Avenue,
>>
>> Saint John, New Brunswick,
>>
>> Canada E2K 1E5
>>
>> Phone (cell) 506-343-4432
>>
>> fax 506-643-2360
>>
>> www.nbm-mnb.ca
>>
>>
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> 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.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
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