Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 4 Fluid-Preservation Techniques 4.1 Preservation of tissue samples 4.2 Fixation and Preservation (Adult Fishes) 4.3 Formalin Fixation 4.4 Ethanol Fixation 4.5 Fixation and Preservation (Marine fish eggs and larvae) Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about ichthyology specimen preparation. Contributors Content generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Restoration/renovation 3.1 Rehydration 4 Labels and systems for printing 5 Identification and sorting of collected material 5.1 Accessioning 5.2 Georeferencing 5.3 Cataloging 5.4 Collection organization 6 Storage in collection (containers) 6.1 Sensitive and rare specimen handling/preserving 6.2 Clear glass, screw-top jars 6.3 Glass Gasket jars 6.4 Plastic Containers 6.5 Vials Containing Whole Specimens 6.6 Stainless steel tanks Statement of Purpose These links…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Fixation and Preservation 3.1 Preservation of tissue samples 3.2 Formalin Fixation Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about herpetology specimen preparation. See Preparation Procedure Resources below for links to detailed preparation guides Contributors Content generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting – 2016,…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Restoration/renovation 3.1 Rehydration 4 Labels and systems for printing 5 Identification and sorting of collected material 5.1 Accessioning 5.2 Cataloging 5.3 Collection organization 6 Storage in collection (containers) 6.1 Sensitive and rare specimen handling/preserving 6.2 Clear glass, screw-top jars 6.3 Glass Gasket jars 6.4 Plastic Containers 6.5 Vials Containing Whole Specimens 6.6 Stainless steel tanks Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Types of Geological Collections 4 Acquisition 5 Curation 5.1 Identification 5.2 Cataloging 5.3 Georeferencing 5.4 Labeling 5.5 Storage and Organization 6 Policies 6.1 Access 6.2 Health and Safety 7 Links 8 References Statement of Purpose Geological collections are extremely broad in scope and inlcude paleontological, petrological, mineralogical and many other types of materials. These collections are the foundation of our understanding of…
Published: March 26, 2025 Best Practices, Wiki Home
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Developing Policies 3.1 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 3.2 Guide to operations 4 Funding and Budgets 5 Facility Management 5.1 Access and security 5.2 Space planning 5.3 Lighting 5.4 Flooring 5.5 Ventilation 5.6 Oxygen monitors 5.7 Backup precautions 6 Genetic and Genomic Collections Storage 6.1 Temperature considerations 6.2 Liquid nitrogen cryovats 6.3 Liquid nitrogen supply 6.4 Mechanical freezers and refrigerators 7 Operational Best Practice 7.1 Facility functions and services…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributor 3 Introduction 4 Code of Conduct for Paleontological Collectors 5 Additional Resources Statement of Purpose This document is being created as a guideline for all field collections involving paleontology as a list of do’s and don’ts when you are on someone else’s land. Contributor Jacob Bridy Introduction While cultivating a friendly working relationship…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Recommendations 3 Food Management Policy & Procedures 3.1 Special events 3.1.1 Case Study: Special events 3.2 Staff issues 3.2.1 Case Studies: Staff issues 3.3 Visitor issues 3.3.1 Case Study: Visitor issues 3.4 Vendor food location 3.4.1 Case Study: Vendor food location 3.5 Design of food 3.5.1 Case Study: Design of food 3.6 Food preparation areas 3.6.1 Case Study: Food preparation areas 4 Links 5 Contributors Statement…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Importance of stable environment for long-term preservation 3.1 Unstable storage environment accelerates deterioration 4 Temperature based expansion of ethanol 5 Contributors 6 Source Material 7 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about best practices for fluid collections relevant to natural history collections. Introduction Fluid-preserved specimens may be plants,…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Preventing Evaporation 3.1 Risks of Evaporation 4 Topping Up 4.1 Quantitative Topping up Tools 5 Future Monitoring 6 Contributors 7 Additional Resources 8 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about best practices for monitoring fluid collections in natural history collections preserved in ethanol (EtOH). For additional information on fluid collection curation and management,…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Fluid Collections 2D Imaging 31 Workflows and Guides 3.2 Immersion tanks 4 Links Statement of Purpose This page is for information and workflows about imaging fluid collections Contributors Andrew D. Williston; Emily Braker Fluid Collections 2D Imaging Fluid-preserved specimens face some unique imaging challenges due to the risk of desiccation when…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Contributors 4 Fluid Collections 5 Links Statement of Purpose This section includes information related to fire safety and suppression within natural history museums. Introduction Fire can be caused by faulty construction, carelessness, improper protocols, or lack of policy within an institution. All aspects of a natural history museum or collection facility should…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Introduction 4 Budget and Funding 5 Long-term storage of specimens 6 Logistics 7 Scientific Supplies and Equipment 7.1 Chemical Agents 7.2 General Supplies for Documentation 7.3 Measuring and monitoring equipment 7.4 Specimen Collection Equipment 7.5 Specimen Fixation Supplies 7.6 Shipping materials 7.7 Sterilization Equipment 8 Camping Equipment 9 First Aid 9.1 Medications 9.2 General First Aid 10 Links 11 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Recording medium 4 Formatting 5 Field Catalog minimal data requirements 6 Field Journal 7 Voucher-less specimens 8 Examples Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about best practices for field notes. Contributors Content generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Introduction 4 Budget and Funding 5 Long-term storage of specimens 6 Logistics 7 Scientific Supplies and Equipment 7.1 Chemical Agents 7.2 General Supplies for Documentation 7.3 Measuring and monitoring equipment 7.4 Specimen Collection Equipment 7.5 Specimen Fixation Supplies 7.6 Shipping materials 7.7 Sterilization Equipment 8 Camping Equipment 9 First Aid 9.1 Medications 9.2 General First Aid 10 Links 11 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Introduction 3.1 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) 4 General Recommendations for Processing Specimens 5 General Methods 6 Ichthyology Specific Methods 7 Herpetology Specific Methods 7.1 Amphibians 7.2 Amphibians and Fish: Larvae and Embryos 7.3 Reptiles 8 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about best practices for euthanasia. Contributors Breda Zimkus and Dirk Neumann. Some…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Sustainability within the museum setting 4 Sustainable development goals within museums 4.1 Action Items 5 Educators and staff working directly with visitors 6 Researchers and Staff 7 Energy consumption 8 Waste Reduction 9 Materials reused 10 Materials discarded 11 Contributors 12 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about best practices for environmental specification for collections spaces…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Pinned collections 3.1 Hazards 3.2 Handling 3.3 Storage 4 Secondary Mounts 5 Envelopes 5.1 Sealing 5.2 Labeling 5.3 Material 6 Contributors 7 Source Material 8 Links 9 References Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about curating entomology collections. Introduction Entomology collections have methods that have been used successfully for many hundreds of years, and proper use of these methods…
About These links and documents contain information about best practices for disaster planning in the museum relevant to natural history collections. Museum SOS For many people in the museum community, the events that took place in New York and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001 brought home the vulnerability of our cultural heritage and added…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 1.1 Introduction to Digitization 2 Contributors 3 Related pages 4 iDigBio’s workflows for digitization 5 Six task clusters of digitization 6 Adam Summers workflow for CT scanning Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about digitizing natural history collections and their associated data. Introduction to Digitization In the context of the SPNHC wiki ‘digitize’ means…
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…
Contents 1 About 2 Contributors 3 Introduction 4 2D Imaging 4.1 Equipment 4.2 Fluid Collections Imaging 4.3 Dry Specimen Imaging 5 3D Imaging 6 Advocacy for Imaging 7 Links About These links and documents contain information about best practices for digital imaging of specimens. Both 2D and 3D imaging can be very important to collections and achieved in a variety of ways. This page…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Database choice and formatting Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about databasing as relevant to natural history collections. Contributors Content generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting – 2016, during an iDigBio sponsored workshop by the following individuals participating in…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Contributors 3 Data Aggregation (mobilization) 4 Identifiers (GUID) Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about data aggregation as relevant to natural history collections. Contributors Content generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting – 2016, during an iDigBio sponsored workshop by the…
South Carolina State Museum https://scmuseum.org/ Are you looking to be part of an innovative team of professionals dedicated to telling the stories of all South Carolinians? As the storytellers of South Carolina, the South Carolina State Museum (SCSM) strives to share the rich natural and cultural diversity of the state through its permanent collections, programs,…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 2.1 Paleontology 2.1.1 Defining the Professional Preparator Core Competencies 3 Contributors 4 Source Material Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about core competencies in different disciplines in natural history collections Introduction Paleontology Defining the Professional Preparator Core Competencies The below list of core competencies were drafted by Matthew Brown, Amy Davidson,…
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…
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…
Contents 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Introduction 3 Contributors 4 Collection Techniques 4.1 Herps 4.2 Fishes 5 Equipment Disinfection Statement of Purpose These links and documents contain information about best practices for collecting specimens. Contributors Content generated during The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH) Annual Joint Meeting – 2016, during an iDigBio sponsored workshop by the following individuals participating in…
Published: March 25, 2025 Collections Manager, Jobs
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County https://nhm.org/ Salary Range: $69,000.00 To $69,000.00 Annually The Natural History Museum of LA County (NHMLAC) seeks a Collections Manager of Vertebrate Paleontology. NHMLAC’s Vertebrate Paleontology (VP) collection contains over 150,000 catalogued specimens, primarily from California, the southwestern United States, and northwestern Mexico. They include representatives of every class of…