[NHCOLL-L:4674] RE: labeling small fluid-preserved specimens

[Bentley, Andrew Charles]

Ashley

In my view, a specimen label should not be an all encompassing regurgitation of all information associated with the specimen.  The label should convey a bare minimum of information necessary to both find the specimen on the shelf and to give the user a brief snapshot of the relevant information needed - catalog number, species name, family and brief locality information.

The font should also be small enough as to make the label legible and specimen visible in the jar or vial at the same time.  Some entomology collections use 4 point font which is still legible but is usable for the size of specimens they house.

We have had great success with thermal transfer printers and polyester media sold by Alpha Systems in Virginia.  The media is inert and virtually indestructible while the printer is capable of printing legible print to 4 point font and below.

Let me know if you would like more details.

Andy

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager/Specify Usability Lead
University of Kansas
Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7593
USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335
Email: ABentley at ku.edu       
                                                
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-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Ashley Henderson
Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 4:36 PM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4672] labeling small fluid-preserved specimens

Hi Everyone,

We have a small collection of fluid-preserved spiders in small vials. 
Currently, each has a large label inside the vial with full
identification of the specimen and collection information.  The labels
wrap around the entire inside of the vials so the specimens cannot be
viewed without removing them from the vials.  Are labels like this
common in such collections?  If not, what information do you include on
your labels to make them smaller and allow the specimen to be visible? 


Thanks,



Ashley Henderson
Collection Manager
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
www.ccmuseum.com
(361) 826-4659