[NHCOLL-L:5422] RE: quick show of hands for wet collection temp/humidity levels

[Thomas Labedz]

Our rooms for fluid-preserved specimens are not on a separate air-handling
system from the dry collections areas.  For the fluid rooms typically the
temperature holds very steady at about 68F.  In winter the humidity holds
steady, but often varies from winter to winter, usually around 15%.  In
summer it holds steady but usually around 50%.  Spring and fall can see some
fluctuations as we transition.  We used to have all metal lids on the
specimen jars and even slight temp variation would cause some to "back-off".
All lids are now polypropylene with polyethylene liners. However, we've had
near total failure of the building's systems this week during repairs.  Temp
in my office hit 85F and humidity is about 60%.  I'll be checking things
thoroughly once conditions stabilize.

Thomas E. Labedz, Collections Manager
Division of Zoology and Division of Botany
University of Nebraska State Museum
W-436 Nebraska Hall
900 N. 16th St.
Lincoln, NE  68588-0514
402/472-8366   fax 402/472-8949
tlabedz1 at unl.edu   www.museum.unl.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu]
On Behalf Of Jess Rosales
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 2:03 PM
To: nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:5419] quick show of hands for wet collection
temp/humidity levels

Hi all,

Can I get a quick show of hands for wet collections that follow Simmons'
recs for temp and humidity levels? (65 deg F and 50% RH). If not, at what
temp/RH is your collection stored?

Thanks,

Jess

Jessica Rosales
Ichthyology Collection Manager
Texas Natural History Collections
Texas Natural Science Center
The University of Texas at Austin
10100 Burnet Road, PRC 176/R4000
Austin, TX 78758-4445 USA

512.471.8845 voice
512.471.9775 fax