While it would be nice if the public had access to the scientific
collections of museums, it isn't feasible or desirable.  The scientific
collections in most museums are stored in drawers that are usually
closed.  The cabinets that hold the drawers are on tracks (if the
cabinets are modern to prevent Byrnes disease and other blights).  In
the drawers are a number of trays, or boxes, often without tops.  The
value of the collection is degrated if shells are picked up and then
returned to the wrong tray.  There are a number of cases where type
specimens were put back in the wrong species tray causing taxonomic
problems when malacologists were studying the types.

If all drawers were completly covered so that the collection wouldn't be
disturbed by visitors, the collection would be harder to manage and more
difficult for scientific observers to use in a study.  Sealing drawers
would also probably prevent necessary circulation of air needed to
prevent shell deterioration.  All problems can be overcome with very
different cabinets that would overcome the visitor disturbing the
collection problem.  However, that would require expenditure of a huge
sum of money, and money is normally in very short supply at most
museums.

With the cabinets and storage used in most museums, there would have to
be a guide for each visitor or group of visitors that could control the
visitor's actions.  We all know that while WE are responsible people who
wouldn't mix up a collection, or even steal irreplacable specimens, such
people do exist, as evidenced by a sizable prison population and an
always over booked court system.

Most museums do not have an adequate staff to provide guides to allow
tourists to visit scientific collections.  The displays open to the
public are almost always placed in display cabinets that take up a very
large area and allow only a select small part of the collections to be
on public display.

What is on display for the public is always a matter of what the museum
directors are interested in.  In the past (1950's to 1970), there was a
collection of shells on display in the Honolulu (University of Hawaii
operated) Aquarium and in a Children's Museum.  The shells at both
places were donated mostly by members of the Hawaiian Malacological
Society.  Time passed and the collection from the Children's museum
moved from place to place, finally ending up in Bishop Museum in one of
the old houses on the property.  Termites damaged the building to the
extent that it was dangerous to the public, so that was closed and never
restored, much to the dismay of people who had worked to provide the
displays.  Museum priorities did not place shell collections for the
public at all high, so money was not available for them, and the present
situation is a result.

Bishop Museum has allowed the HMS to have some meetings there that
involved a tour through the collection.  Time doesn't permit roaming
through much of the many millions of shells stored during a short tour.

Individuals engaged in a research project can get access to the
scientific collection by writing to the museum, or calling Malacology
Department by phone.  The scientific collection exists for research
projects.  People who have a particular field of interest in mind can
usually arrange a visit for a short period.  That is about the best that
personnel and funds permit.  For a period, Bishop Museum was short of
personnel and funds to the extent that a significant charge for visits
was needed.  This status changes from time to time.

There are a number of museum people on CONCH-L that can comment on use
of scientific collections in their museum.
--
                     Aloha from Wesley M. Thorsson
Editor of Internet Hawaiian Shell News, a monthly Internet Publication
           122 Waialeale St, Honolulu, HI  96825-2020,  U.S.A
       http://www.hits.net/~hsn                 [log in to unmask]