[Nhcoll-l] Display/storage containers for study skins

[Dawn Lawson]

There is no arsenic in our collection, bar one very old mount that is not
used directly.  They were all locally prepared, and we know their history.

I have prepared, distributed, explained, pleaded, received pledges of due
care, and still have riker mounts being opened, materials removed and
mishandling occurring.  Primarily by the instructors.

On 23 February 2017 at 13:58, John E Simmons <simmons.johne at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Prepare a simple, friendly, one-page list of handling instructions for
> specimens that says tags cannot be removed, fur cannot be rubbed the wrong
> way, feathers cannot be separated, etc. Assume that none of the students or
> instructors have ever handled specimens before and take this opportunity to
> teach them how to do it right. You might also include a few statements
> about the importance of preserved specimens. On the bottom of the sheet
> include a place for each person to sign and date it to verify that they
> have read and will follow the directions.
>
> Personally, I would also require students (and everyone else) working with
> the specimens to wear nitrile or neoprene gloves while handling specimens
> and include cautions about washing hand after due to possible contact with
> arsenic or other pesticides.
>
> --John
>
>
> John E. Simmons
> Museologica
> 128 E. Burnside Street
> Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
> simmons.johne at gmail.com
> 303-681-5708 <(303)%20681-5708>
> www.museologica.com
> and
> Adjunct Curator of Collections
> Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
> Penn State University
> University Park, Pennsylvania
> and
> Instructor, Museum Studies
> School of Library and Information Science
> Kent State University
>
> On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 2:48 PM, Dawn Lawson <dmlawson at ualberta.ca> wrote:
>
>> Hello!  I'm new to the list, and as part of my job duties, I manage a
>> small zoology museum on a small campus.
>> In the last few years, use of the museum is increasing due to the influx
>> of ecology survey type courses, and other uses, and I need to be able to
>> protect specimens from handling (both generally, and to avoid such
>> behaviour as "pulling apart the tail feathers to look for field marks" type
>> manipulations.)
>>
>> I have some acrylic cylinders which I temporarily seal with a glue gun,
>> and some sheet plastic formed into tubes which can be opened, and some
>> small birds in large test tubes...but I cannot find midsize tubes that are
>> suitable for duck/jay/groundsquirrel-sized skins.
>>
>> I have two questions for the list members:
>> 1) What might be some good ways to reduce loss/damage from handling on
>> this type of collection and
>> 2) Where can I source display materials that are economical, varied
>> sizes, and appropriate to use?
>>
>> Dawn Lawson
>> University of Alberta, Augustana
>>
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