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<p>I have been working as a volunteer curator at a small herbarium
on the Patuxent Research Refuge for the past 10 years. It is a
reference herbarium for the refuge and holds over 5300 specimens
from over 1250 taxa. <br>
</p>
<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55
a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w
c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m"
dir="auto">Right now we are attempting to acquire a new cabinet
(a third one) for the herbarium and the donor wants to make sure
that the herbarium will be taken care of in the future. </span><span
class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j
keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb
iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m"
dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql
rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r
mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id
hzawbc8m" dir="auto">If a small herbarium like the Patuxent
herbarium has no one to actively work it, what are the pros
and cons of putting it into a "mothball" status (not
literally) until someone can start working it again? This
could happen if the person who has been curating it leaves,
passes away suddenly etc, but there is no one to take over. </span></span><span
class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j
keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb
iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m"
dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql
rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r
mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id
hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b
c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9
d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q
a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><span
class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55
a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r
mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh
oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto">My feeling is that
"mothballing" a herbarium is a bad idea if there is a POC
who can give access to outside researchers, and the
collection is safe and secure.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55
a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w
c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m"
dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql
rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r
mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id
hzawbc8m" dir="auto">I am asking this because I am retiring
and moving out of state. Currently, several volunteers are
working the collection and we have imaged about 85% of the
collection. We were on track to finish imaging the collection
this year until COVID came along. The volunteers have
committed to continue to maintain the collection and I will be
consulting remotely via the internet. I hope to visit the
herbarium two or three times per year to tie down loose ends.<br>
</span></span></p>
<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55
a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w
c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m"
dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql
rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r
mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id
hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Yes, I understand that the specimens of a
small herbaria like this one can be donated another
institution. However, I would like to do what we can to make
sure it stays on the refuge and only donate it as a last
resort. And even then, the herbarium should be kept together
as a unit.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55
a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w
c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m"
dir="auto"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql
rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r
mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id
hzawbc8m" dir="auto">Any suggestions?<br>
</span></span></p>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<b>Bill Harms</b><br>
<b>Volunteer Project Coordinator/Citizen Botanist</b><br>
<b>Patuxent Research Refuge - PRR</b><br>
<b>Plant Inventory Project - PIP</b><br>
<b>Laurel, Maryland</b>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:botanybill@verizon.net">botanybill@verizon.net</a>
<br>
<b>BLOG:</b><i>botanybill.info</i>
<br>
<b>FACEBOOK:</b> facebook.com/PatuxentPlantSurvey/
<br>
<b>PLANTS OF THE REFUGE PHOTO ALBUM:</b>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11582493@N02/sets/72157676590571301">https://www.flickr.com/photos/11582493@N02/sets/72157676590571301</a></div>
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