[Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep [faked-from]

[White, Rich]

In addition, learning to do all of the collection management work is a major part of the education of students coming up through the ranks, and a museum is the only place where this can reasonably be taught.  Thus, student interns or part time workers need this exposure.  If it is out-sourced, how will they get the experience?  And then what sort of trained labor pool will be available to the museum when one of the collection management staff leaves and must be replaced?


Richard S. White, Jr., Director
International Wildlife Museum
4800 West Gates Pass Road
Tucson, Arizona 85745

520-629-0100 ext 252
Fax: 520-618-3561



From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Steve Sullivan
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 10:06 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep [faked-from]

I agree.  Here we have a lab that is part of the exhibit floor, with no glass separating us from the public, where we do insect pinning, herbarium preparations and taxidermy.  This area is a highlight of the museum experience for many visitors.  It is also frequently the only time visitors have seen meat in an unbutchered state so gives us poigniant and customizable opportunities to convey a wide range of natural history messages.  Much of this work is done by trained volunteers, always under the supervision of staff.  By involving the community in doing prep work and teaching about the issues we increase intuitional capacity.  By making it a display we convey our messages even more effectively and increase public support for our institution and mission.  All the while, we maintain direct control over specimens, work quality, storage conditions, etc.

--Steve

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu]<mailto:[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu]> On Behalf Of Bryant, James
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 11:18 AM
To: O'Brien, Mark; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep

A modest counter proposal: I gather from the NCB Naturalis website that the organization portrays itself as a collections-oriented institution, one that exhibits collections for the general public to see. Why, then, should the processing of collections be outsourced and thus hidden that much further from public view? I'd suggest to management turning the processing of specimens into a public program, make it a visible part of the institution's fundamental services to the public. NCB Naturalis claims it is helping to train biodiversity experts for the future; what better way than exhibit the entire process for the public. The crowd sourcing of the transcription of entomology data through the efforts of Paul Flemons and his team in Australia has obviously been very successful. Why not fully realize this approach to all aspects collections management?

James

James M. Bryant
Curator of Natural History
Museum Department, City of Riverside
3580 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5273
(951) 369-4970 FAX
jbryant at riversideca.gov<mailto:jbryant at riversideca.gov>
From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of O'Brien, Mark
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 8:36 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep

My view on this is - we expect that any museum uses well-trained people that have a vested interest in doing things according to the accepted standards of whatever type of taxonomic group they work on.  Museums also have a responsibility for documenting the chain of custody and permit process.   Yes, there are many tasks that can be done by marginally-trained people, but they are done under the supervision of a curator or collection manager.

I would ask the bean-counters if they would have MacDonald's cater a state dinner.

Mark

------------------------------------------------------------
Mark F. O'Brien, Collection Manager
Insect Division, Museum of Zoology
The University of Michigan
1109 Geddes Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079
(734)-647-2199
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From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Desjardins, R.B.
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 8:00 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] outsourcing specimen prep

Hello all;

Upper management at my institute would like to being outsourcing all specimen preparation:  study skins of vertebrates, spirits for herps and fish, paleo and geo, inverts, everything (except plants, maybe) to save money.   I was curious if any other institutes  has done this or has experience with anything like this?  Personally, I think it is a bad idea (and it seems most folks here agree) but I would love to know if anyone is trying this.

Thanks,

Becky Desjardins

NCB Naturalis
Leiden, Netherlands
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