[NHCOLL-L:209] Changes at British Geological Survey: Palaeontological Collections

[Steve Tunnicliff]

Natural Environment Research Council

British Geological Survey

Kingsley Dunham Centre
Keyworth
Nottingham
United Kingdom
NG12 5GG

Telephone (0115) 936 3517
Fax (0115) 936 3200
E-mail s.tunnicliff at bgs.ac.uk
July 28th, 1999

Changes at BGS: Palaeontological Collections

The Palaeontological Collection of the British Geological Survey,
intimately connected with the maps published throughout the Survey's,
165 year history, is arguably the most important collection of British
fossils in the world.  It comprises some 2.5 million specimens
including about a quarter of a million specimens of museum quality or
of type, figured or cited status.

I am trying to alert as many *regular customers* as I can to impending
changes at BGS which may affect access to and use of the
Palaeontological Collections.

I am among twenty or so more-senior officers to be told that BGS no
longer needs their services i.e. are redundent.  In my particular
case, as far as I know,  this means that I am likely to effectively
cease work on the collections around the end of September 1999, but in
order to enable me to tidy existing matters up, I am already referring
all requests for information relating to the collections and for
visits or loans of material,  to my managers. From the time of my
departure there will be no specialist palaeontological curator, as far
as I know.

So far, no indication has been given of any plans for the future of
the Palaeontological Collections or  what arrangements may be made to
access them or what expertise will be available to visitors or
enquirers, but with immediate effect I suggest that all enquiries be
addressed to Dr N.J.Riley at the above address.

I apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Steve Tunnicliff