[NHCOLL-L:668] Shelves and plastic boxes for storing fossils

[Janet Waddington]

We recently had a sprinkler head fail in our collection room, with the result that we now have to replace several wooden "chest of drawers" style cabinets.  I am looking for a system that will provide the same protection and handling convenience as drawers, but with smaller units (the old drawers are two large to handle easily when full).  We also have a floor loading problem which means that metal cabinets are out.  The rest of our collection is stored in a combination of wooden cabinets and drawers, and open metal shelving.

I am considering a system of closely spaced metal shelves with lidded plastic boxes made of HDPE.  Has anyone else used this method of storage?  I'd appreciate hearing of your experiences, good or bad.

Thanks,

Janet Waddington
Royal Ontario Museum, Palaeobiology
janetw at rom.on.ca