[Nhcoll-l] Compactors in collections

[Sagebiel, J. Chris]

Howdy Ann,

I installed compact storage for geological collections at the San Bernardino County Museum when I was geology curator there. It does save space . . . BUT

Objects move around in drawers when the system moves, even though the system was quite gentle in its movements, and even with improved housing for 3-D objects.

I know that I am in the minority, but based on my experience, I STRONGLY disagree with using compact storage for 3-D artifacts.
This is tied for #1 on my personal list of VERY BAD IDEAS for storing 3-D museum artifacts (tied with pin-mounting fossil teeth).
It introduces an actively destructive process to your collection, which is typically what we try to avoid, not purchase.

Moving the system puts energy into the system. There is no work-around. You gently shake the entire collection when you move the system. You cannot avoid basic the basic laws of physics

I have watched a sauropod vertebra sway in its cradle while the compactor moved in the Denver Museum collections. Even though it moved gently and was encased in foam. Ditto Chicago’s Field Museum collections.

You can try to improve the object housing, so everything is individually secured, but broad objects will still rock a little, tall objects will still sway. That is not good. Again, do we want to do bad things for the objects in the collection, or good things?

For 2-D art, archives, fabrics, or durables, such as some minerals, this is a great savings on storage space.

For 3-D objects, this is a bad idea. I will resign before seeing it done again in “my” vertebrate fossil collections.

Sincerely,

Chris

J. Chris Sagebiel, collections manager
Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Collections
J.J. Pickle Campus, The University of Texas
10100 Burnet Road, VPL Bldg. 6
Austin, Texas 78758




From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Ann Bogaerts
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2021 9:59 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Compactors in collections

Hello everybody,

We wish to renovate our herbarium with 4 milj. specimens and we want to get some feedback from other institutions who already renovated or renewed their collection buildings.

One of our main questions is the use of compactors yes or no? So what is your opinion about this? How much space do you save using a compactor and how is it working with this kind of system? For which collections do you use it?

We are really interested in the do's and don'ts and it would also be nice if you could send us a picture of the compactors you use.

Thanks a lot and enjoy your evening (day),

Ann

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