[Nhcoll-l] slide storage questions

[Dirk Neumann]

Hi Tonya,

all you ever wanted to know about microslides, but never dared to ask is brilliantly summarised in Birger Neuhaus' bible on microslides. This opus was not exclusively compiled by Briger alone, but is co-authored by Thomas Schmid and Jens Riedel at the German Federal Institute of Material Research and Testing.

Free download of this 173 page-opus: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-bam/files/42332/Zootaxa.pdf

As the embedding medium ages, it would be recommended to digitise all slides when rehousing / handling them to secure their scientific value. Preferably, the slides should be stores horizontally, not vertical (e.g. by putting boxes upright). Wooden boxes may off-gas formaldehyde and may be less preferable. Cardboard may have the disadvantage of providing a perfect but difficult to monitor habitat for (paper) silverfish.

Hope this helps,
Dirk


Am 14.02.2023 um 01:22 schrieb Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace):
Hello all,

I wonder if any of you have experience with archival microscope slide storage – I have a few long-term slide storage questions. We have a lot of histological and other microscope slides that need to be rehoused - for some preferably in boxes and others preferably in slide cabinets.

First, I would love to know people’s thoughts on whether or not there a problem with storing slides in slide boxes long-term? I’m talking about the type where the slides are on their edge, not laying flat.  If it is not a problem, is it acceptable to use polystyrene boxes in this case? They seem to be the only ones I can (easily) find online, but I know that polystyrene is not an archival material. I also have slides that are stored flat in boxes, but they too need to be rehoused because of a problem with mould growing in the cardboard boxes they’re in.

This leads me to also ask if any of you have good references or suggestions for the best way to transfer slides from boxes into slide cabinets? Or more to the point, what is the best way to manage the data about each slide, which is often written on a piece of paper or cardboard in the slide box itself? I see this as a both risky and time consuming part of rehousing the slides.

Finally, we have slides of different sizes – a standard side and an extra wide size. Do any of you have thoughts on if there is an ideal way (or an ideal box) to house such slides?

Your thoughts and advise would be, as usual, very welcome.

Cheers,

Tonya

-------------------------------------------------
Dr. Tonya M. Haff
Collection Manager
Australian National Wildlife Collection
CSIRO
+61(0)419569109
https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/collections/anwc




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Dirk Neumann
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--
Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst
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