Category: Best Practices

Digitization

Published: March 26, 2025    Best Practices, Digitization and Imaging

Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 1.1 Defining Digitization 2 Digitization Resources 2.1 Data Aggregation 2.2 Data Aggregators 2.3 Data Management 2.4 Data Mobilization 2.5 Data Standards and Mobilization 2.6 Data Transcription 2.7 Database Software 2.8 Georeferencing 2.9 iDigBio Digitization Resources Wiki 2.10 Imaging and Media 2.11 Key References and Further Reading 2.11.1 Herbarium resources 2.12 Webinars 2.13 Workflows 2.14 Workshops and Symposia 3 Contributors 4 References Statement of Purpose Realizing the import of collections [1][2][3], SPNHC…

Continuity of Operations

Published: March 25, 2025    Best Practices, Collection Management, Health and Safety

Contents 1 About 2 Contributors 3 Introduction 4 Continuity of Operations Policy 5 Notification and Essential Personnel 6 Packages and Mail 7 Checking on Collections 8 Communication with Stakeholders during Closures 9 Preparing to Work Remotely 9.1 Computers and Software 9.2 Projects and Employee Expectations 10 Links About Here we present a checklist of items to consider for maintaining business continuity during institutional closures, specifically when circumstances…

Collection Theft and Security Monitoring

Published: March 25, 2025    Best Practices, Collection Management Policies, Emergency Management, Health and Safety

Contents 1 About 2 Contributors 3 Introduction 4 Activities and Meetings 5 Preventative Actions 6 Staff Considerations: Hiring, Training, and Offboarding 7 Insurance and Value Assignment 8 Risk Levels 9 Response to Potential Theft 10 Communication Channels 11 Monitoring for Stolen Specimens 12 Education and Engagement 13 References About The aim of the SPNHC Collection Theft and Security Monitoring Toolkit is to provide information about measures that would…

Botany Specimen Preparation

Published: March 25, 2025    Best Practices, Botanical Collections, Cryogenic Collections, Field Collecting, Specimen and Material Type

Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Introduction 4 Mounted specimens 4.1 Pressing and drying botanical specimens 4.2 Mounting botanical specimens 5 Packets 6 Dried tissue (silica or cryo) 7 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about botany specimen preparation. Contributors This material was added by Katie Pearson on behalf of the Society of Herbarium Curators Early Career Section. Introduction Botanical…

Biodiversity Crisis Response and Conservation Resources

Published: March 25, 2025    Best Practices

Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Contributors 4 Links 5 References Statement of Purpose This page is produced by the Biodiversity Crisis Response Committee as a page of resources of use to collections to showcase how they can be used to address conservation and biodiversity crisis themes as a tool to increase advocacy for collections in general. If you know…

Access and Benefit-Sharing (Nagoya Protocol and the CBD)

Published: March 25, 2025    Best Practices, Botanical Collections, Collection Management Policies, Cryogenic Collections, Legislation and Regulations, Specimen and Material Type, Zoology Collections

Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 How are the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol Connected? 4 Scope 5 The Nagoya Protocol In Brief 6 ABS Clearing-House 7 National Focal Points and Competent National Authorities 8 Access Obligations 9 Benefit-sharing Obligations 9.1 Monetary and Non-monetary Benefits 10 Compliance Obligations 11 Monitoring User Compliance 12 Guidance for Compliance: Codes of Conduct, Guidelines and Best Practice…

Accession of Specimens

Published: March 25, 2025    Best Practices, Collection Management, Collection Management Policies, Collection Transactions, Legislation and Regulations

Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Accession procedure 4 Deed of Transfer 5 Example Repository Agreement Policy 6 Legal definitions 7 KU acquisition documents 8 Contributors 9 Source material 10 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about best practices for acquiring and accessioning specimens into natural history collections. Acquisition is a transaction and the legal process for transfer of…

Best Practices Committee

Published: March 24, 2025    Best Practices

Contents 1 About 2 Committee Members 3 Links 4 Committee 4.1 Committee Documents About The purpose of the Best Practices Committee is to assemble and disseminate best practices associated with natural history collection care and to provide infrastructure that allows the development and evolution of best practices in response to innovations within the field. By initiating and hosting web-based discussion…

Biocides

Published: March 24, 2025    Best Practices

Contents 1 Contributors 2 Introduction 3 The use of biocides in herbarium collections 4 Natural biocidal products 5 Miraculous chemicals and health risks 6 Classification of biocides 7 Characteristics of selected biocides used in herbaria 8 Inorganic compounds 8.1 Mercury chloride, (I) Hg2Cl2 and (II) HgCl2 (sublimate) 8.2 Arsenic (diarsenic trioxide), As2O3, As4O6; lead arsenate, PbHAsO4; other arsenic compounds 8.3 Hydrogen cyanide, HCN 8.4 Phosphine, PH3 8.5 Barium fluorosilicate BaSiF6,…

Best Practicies

Published: March 24, 2025    Best Practices

Contents 1 Introduction to SPNHC & Best Practices 2 Defining Best Practices 2.1 Definitions 2.2 Selected Bibliography 3 Contributors Introduction to SPNHC & Best Practices The development of best practices in collections care is a key function of SPNHC. The SPNHC wiki Best Practices pages are a product of the Society’s Best Practices Committee with contributions from the broader SPNHC membership. One…