[Nhcoll-l] Loans to private companies

[Michael Howe - BGS]

Dear NHCollers,

In a somewhat analogous situation, we occasionally loan microfossil slides to commercial companies (generally service companies in the hydrocarbons sector). Many of these companies have a higher staff turnover than museums and university departments, and they move premises more often. They are also more likely to be taken over or shut down than museums and university departments. We therefore lend for much shorter periods than for academic loans (typically three months rather than 12 months). We also charge full cost recovery, including loan administration, condition surveys and overheads, as well as carriage & packing.

Regards,
Mike


Dr Mike Howe
Principal Curator

Working days: Tuesdays - Thursdays
 Phone: 0115 9363105  Email: mhowe at bgs.ac.uk<mailto:mhowe at bgs.ac.uk>
Web: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/staff/profiles/3858.html
GIH030  - British Geological Survey
Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG





From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of David Boyd
Sent: 24 March 2026 14:44
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Loans to private companies

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Dear NHColl community,



What, if any, extraordinary considerations do you take into account for tissue loans to private, for-profit companies? Our loan terms prohibit commercial use of tissues and sequence data derived therefrom. We receive requests from the biotechnology sector that are not directly commercial but that may produce profitable methodologies or technologies for use in industry. For example, projects aimed at species conservation and habitat restoration, goals that align broadly with our museum's mission.



Do you grant requests of this nature? If so, do you alter the terms of your institution's typical loan agreements to do so, and in what ways?


Thank you for any advice you care to share,
Dave

David A. Boyd, MSc
Collections Manager, Ichthyology and Herpetology
Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science
119 Foster Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 681-0456



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