Resources

Please explore the Governance section of this website for more resources pertaining to the Society itself.

Libraries and Museums in an Era of Participatory Culture

Published: November 26, 2012    

“As you will read in the report, accepting the notion of democratic access, placing a major emphasis on public value and impact, and embracing lifelong learning were “imperatives for the future” that emerged from the deliberations (please see page 30 of the report for a list of key messages from the seminar). Additional session resources…

Health and Safety for Museum Professionals

Published: November 16, 2011    

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections have jointed forces on the ultimate reference book for museum professionals: Health and Safety for Museum Professionals, edited by Catharine Hawks, Michael McCann, Kathyrn Makos, Lisa Goldberg, David Hinkamp, Dennis Ertel, and Patricia Silence.…

Best Practices – what does that imply?

Published: June 26, 2011    

Best practices have been variously defined as techniques or methodologies that, through experience and research, have proven to reliably lead to a desired result; procedures that are generally agreed upon but not legislated; or commendable actions and philosophies that successfully solve problems, can be replicated, and demonstrate an awareness of professional standards. The development of…

Membership Brochure

Published: November 26, 2010    

Our ability to understand the natural world depends on the collection, preservation and ongoing study of natural history specimens. These collections are the physical record of Earth’s life forms and processes. The systematic organization of natural science collections gives us the means to understand the Earth’s formation and the diversity of life. In turn, the…

How to Pack a Herbarium Specimen for Loan

Published: November 12, 2010    

Although digitization of specimens can help to protect specimens by making loans unnecessary for certain types of research, physical loans will always be needed for systematic research. Practices differ from institution to institution, but the following packing suggestions will help ensure that herbarium specimens arrive in perfect shape.

How to Prepare Seaweed Specimens

Published: November 12, 2010    

This sheet gives some methods and hints on how to prepare seaweed specimens from collection to dry storage. Little specialist equipment is required, and the natural mucilage that seaweeds produce makes mounting relatively easy as they glue themselves to paper. Larger and/or coralline specimens may need a little help from straps and glue.

Introduction to Insect Storage Techniques for Small Collections

Published: November 12, 2010    

This sheet is intended to be of help to the non-specialist in small museums, nature centers, libraries, and schools; or to those people who may ‘inherit’ an insect collection but who aren’t familiar with the basics of insect collections care. Do you have a display box or two of pinned insects on a shelf? Perhaps…

Collection Forum 24/1-2

Published: September 1, 2010    

Articles Maintaining concentration: A new practical method for profiling and topping up alcohol preserved collections David G. Notton Detecting pesticide residues on museum objects in Canadian collections — a summary of surveys spanning a twenty-year period P. Jane Sirois, Jennifer Poulin, and Tom Stone A curatorial assessment for stratigraphic collections to determine suitability for incorporation…

NHCOLL-L

Published: August 23, 2010    

In support of the international collections community, SPNHC hosts NHCOLL-L, a discussion list dedicated to sharing knowledge in natural history collections care. Many of the Society’s business announcements are also posted there. Subscribers can both contribute to and benefit from a lively, active, and interdisciplinary global community of professionals dedicated to the advancement of natural…

Museum Pests

Published: July 23, 2010    

The MuseumPests Working Group (formerly the Integrated Pest Management Working Group) is a group of collection managers, conservators and other collection care professionals interested in issues surrounding the implementation of integrated pest management in museums and other collection-holding institutions. The mission of the MPWG is to promote and facilitate best practices in pest management for the…

The Global Registry of Biorepositories (GRBio)

Published: June 23, 2010    

This registry allows institutions and collections to register a globally unique identifier that can be used in a wide variety of applications. Global uniqueness ensures citations to specimens, collections, and institutions remain accurate over time.