Collection Use and Loan Policy
COLLECTION ACCESS
Access to specimens is open to qualified visitors, researchers, and students. Interested parties are requested to obtain authorization by contacting the Curator or Curatorial Associate.
Professor Farish A. Jenkins Jr.,
Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology
(Tel: 617-495-2499)
Charles R. Schaff,
Curatorial Associate in Vertebrate Paleontology
(Tel: 617-496-1053)
e-mail: cschaff@oeb.harvard.edu
Department of Vertebrate Paleontology
Museum of Comparative Zoology
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
(FAX: 617-495-5667)
ERNST MAYR GRANTS
support short visits to museums for collection based research. For guidelines and an application, contact Ms. Tina Calamese, OEB Administration: 617-495-5891 or tcalamese@oeb.harvard.edu. Applications are due annually on April 15th.
COLLECTION USE
All users of the collection are requested to fill out a pink specimen withdrawal card, and deposit this card in place of each specimen removed from a storage cabinet. When the specimen is returned, the card should be removed and destroyed. All users of the collection are requested to fill out a pink specimen withdrawal card, and deposit this card in place of each specimen removed from a storage cabinet. When the specimen is returned, the card should be removed and destroyed.
IN-HOUSE USE
No formal loan form is required for use of specimens within the MCZ, provided that permission is secured and withdrawal cards are deposited in place of the specimen.
LOAN PROCEDURES
1. Loan Requests should be directed to the Curator or Curatorial Associate, and should cite the MCZ catalog or field number as well as appropriate taxonomic information. Loans are ordinarily made for research purposes only (not for classroom teaching) with the following guidelines:
A . Institutional Affiliation: The borrower must have an affiliation with a research institution. Individuals without such affiliation may borrow only under the condition that they are sponsored by an individual with such an affiliation, and agree to study the material at the sponsor's institution. In such cases, loans will be sent to the sponsor at the sponsor's institutional address.
B. Students/ Faculty Sponsors: Student borrowers must have a faculty advisor who is willing to oversee for the care and safe return of the specimens. Delinquent student loans may delay the processing of new requests.
C. Specimen Stability: If the loan request is for type material or other historically important specimens, or if, in the opinion of the curatorial staff, the condition of the specimen is determined to be fragile, transportation by hand may be required.
D . Loan Form: The recipient is requested to sign and return a copy of the loan form upon receipt of the specimens. Any damage during shipping should be indicated on the loan form.
E . Shipping & Insurance is anticipated to be reciprocal. The MCZ pays for the loan shipment, with the borrower assuming responsibility for the return.
F. Care of Specimens. The borrower assumes responsibility for the care of specimens. All borrowed specimens are to be kept in association with their labels and other accompanying data.
G . Change of Address. It is the responsibility of the borrower to notify the MCZ curatorial staff of any change of address.
H. Loan Tenure. Specimens (including types) are ordinarily loaned for a period of five years.
I. Size of Loan Request. Researchers are requested to consider the practicalities involved in responding to requests for large numbers of specimens, or material that is very large. In these cases, an option may be to visit the MCZ .
J. Type Specimens. Researchers designating holotypes from MCZ material are requested to provide the curatorial staff with a copy of the published type designation. It is requested that type specimens be returned either via registered mail or hand-carried.
K. Loan Extensions are ordinarily granted in the absence of other requests for the material. Loans are not made for more than a 10 year period. It is the responsibility of the borrower to contact the Curatorial Associate for an extension, either by writing (cschaff@oeb.harvard.edu) or calling (617) 496-1053.
L. Loan Transfers may not be undertaken without the written permission of the curatorial staff.
M. Packing & Returning Specimens. Borrowers are requested to return all specimens as soon as possible upon completion of their research. Partial returns are acceptable. A copy of the original loan form should be enclosed with the returned loan. Types should be sent via registered mail. Specimens should be securely packed and boxed. Specimens with loose elements should especially be protected. Please do not ship any types and specimens during the month of December because of the uncertainty of the holiday mails.
PUBLICATION
A copy of any publication describing or referring to MCZ specimens is requested.
PREPARATION
Researchers should contact the MCZ curatorial staff for approval before undertaking preparation. If thin-sectioned specimens are prepared on glass or by other techniques, the sections should be clearly labeled with complete information from the original specimen. Types should not be electrocoated for SEM examination if such coating may impair other types of study.
EXHIBITION OR SHORT DURATION DEMONSTRATION LOANS
May be made with the approval of the curatorial staff.
MOLDING AND CASTING
May be undertaken with the approval of the curatorial staff.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Scientific and personal photographs require the approval of the Director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Policy regarding photographs of MCZ materials to be used in commercial publications are outlined in: "Museum Council of Harvard University, Policies on Photographic Services and Request for Reproduction Rights," available from the Director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.
