<div dir="ltr">Dear Heather et al.<div><br></div><div>I am currently the geological collections and database specialist at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Our museum is closed today due to the weather but I would be happy to check on Monday and see if that publication is available that Robert mentioned. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Also, per Dirk's comment "<span style="font-size:13.333333969116211px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">In my view, researchers need to understand that their samples have a value beyond their (own) research interest, and thus need to be documented thoroughly (e.g. detailed protocols of chemicals & buffers used for extraction & storage) and </span><u style="font-size:13.333333969116211px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">need to be</u><span style="font-size:13.333333969116211px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"> transferred with comprehensive data into university or museum based collections after termination of the respective research project. It is a prerequisite of good research to allow verification of (own) research results. This can only be achieved if the materials / samples remain "available"." </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size:13.333333969116211px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">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 <a href="http://www.egemsinfo.com">www.egemsinfo.com</a> </font></div>
<div><span style="font-size:13.333333969116211px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size:13.333333969116211px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">"</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:115%">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."</span></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:115%"><br></span></div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif">In response to your original question I believe in today's digital age, a major part of a collections management curriculum should be acquainting the students with the various databases and digital tools they are likely to encounter in their career.</font><br>
</div><div><font face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div>Thank you Heather for developing this course, I wish I could have taken it before I began my career in collections management! If yourself or anyone else wishes to contact me regarding this topic or any of these tools I would be happy to discuss further and I can be reached at <a href="mailto:stimm10@gmail.com">stimm10@gmail.com</a>. </div>
<div><br></div><div>~Sarah</div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 9:50 AM, Bentley, Andrew Charles <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu" target="_blank">abentley@ku.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Heather<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I would also suggest that you scavenge some course ideas from some of the better natural history track museum studies courses out there. There is one here
at KU and they have outlines of their course material online at:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://museumstudies.ku.edu/overview" target="_blank">http://museumstudies.ku.edu/overview</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I have also developed a short handout for the collection tours that we give these students outlining some of the aspects they need to be aware of – see attached.
I would be happy to provide any of the materials mentioned therein if this is useful.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I would also have a look at the SPNHC organizations Collection Forum and newsletter for appropriate articles on collection based research -
<a href="http://www.spnhc.org/19/publications" target="_blank">http://www.spnhc.org/19/publications</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Hope that helps<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Andy<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> A : A : A :<br>
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°><br>
V V V<br>
Andy Bentley<br>
Ichthyology Collection Manager<br>
University of Kansas<br>
Biodiversity Institute<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dyche Hall<br>
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard<br>
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561<br>
USA<br>
<br>
Tel: <a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-3863" value="+17858643863" target="_blank">(785) 864-3863</a><br>
Fax: <a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-5335" value="+17858645335" target="_blank">(785) 864-5335</a> <br>
Email: <a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu" target="_blank">abentley@ku.edu</a> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/" target="_blank">http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">SPNHC President-Elect<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.spnhc.org/" target="_blank">http://www.spnhc.org</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> : : <br>
A : A : A :<br>
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°><br>
V V V</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Robert Waller<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 07, 2014 7:52 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Heather Lerner'; <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Care & Use of Natural History Museum Collections Class--your input requested<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div><div><div class="h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Hi Heather,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">In connection with (1) you might want to look at the publication by Cato et al:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Paisley S. Cato, Robert Waller, Llyn Sharp, John Simmons and Stephen L. Williams. Developing Staff Resources for Managing Collections. Virginia Museum of
Natural History, Special Publication Number 4, Martinsville, 71pp., 1996.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">It should still be available from the Virginia Museum of Natural History.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Rob<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a> [<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Heather Lerner<br>
<b>Sent:</b> March 6, 2014 2:29 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Care & Use of Natural History Museum Collections Class--your input requested<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I have the wonderful opportunity to be the director at the Joseph Moore<br>
Museum at Earlham College. With that position, I get to teach one course<br>
per year in "Museum Studies." My goals with the course are to first train<br>
students in the most useful skills they will need to go on as collections<br>
managers or curators or researchers who use collections, and second, for<br>
students who may never work in/for a museum in the future, to convince them<br>
of the importance of biological collections so that they will be educated<br>
lifelong museum advocates.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Here is where I ask for *your input:*<br>
(1) what are the *skills *you want incoming collections manager, graduate</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">students or curators to have?<br>
<br>
(2) we will read an article each week in which someone has published their<br>
research using specimens/collections as a primary source of<br>
information/data. For example, ancient DNA, isotope, morphological studies.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">What are some of the best *examples of collections-based research* you</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">thinkI should include?<br>
<br>
Thanks for your input,<br>
<br>
Heather<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">-- <u></u><u></u></p>
<div>
<p>Heather<br>
<br>
*******************************************<br>
<span style="font-size:13.5pt">Heather R. L. Lerner, Ph.D., M.S.</span><br>
<a href="http://earlham.edu/jmm" target="_blank">Joseph Moore Museum</a> Director<br>
Assistant Professor of Biology<br>
Earlham College<br>
801 National Road West<br>
Richmond IN 47374<br>
<br>
*******************************************<br>
Google Voice: 949-GENOMES<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:hlerner@gmail.com" target="_blank">hlerner@gmail.com</a><br>
<a href="http://heatherlerner.com/" target="_blank">http://heatherlerner.com/</a><br>
*******************************************<u></u><u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
</div></div></div>
</div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Monotype Corsiva';FONT-SIZE:18pt">Sarah Timm</span><br><br><i><font style="FONT-FAMILY:garamond,serif" size="4">
<p style="LINE-HEIGHT:normal;MARGIN:0in 0in 7.5pt"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Garamond','serif';FONT-SIZE:13.5pt">Geological Collections & Database Specialist, <span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Garamond','serif';FONT-SIZE:13.5pt">Virginia Museum of Natural History</span><br>
<span>MS in Geosciences with Focus on Geological Collections Management<br>Phone: 845-774-9994</span></span></i></p></font></i>
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