Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 23:30:37 +0100
From: Tony Irwin <tony.irwin@btinternet.com>
To: AVECOL-L@listserv.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: moving a collection

Charles -
We have recently moved our collections, including ca.10.000 birds, a short
distance by road to a newly-refurbished study centre. We had particular
problems with the birds because a large proportion of our collection is in
the form of historically important uncased Victorian mounts on turned wooden
museum stands. We always had problems with the birds toppling over on static
shelves, and moving them threatened to be a nightmare. Eventually we hit
upon the idea of gluing small ceramic magnets to their bases, and placing
them in plastic trays (600 X 400 mm) with steel sheet inserts. The whole
tray was then stuck with adhesive foam tabs into a large carton with fabric

handles and sealed up. When the birds were unpacked, the tray could be
slotted straight into the new cabinets which were designed to take the trays
on adjustable runners. The solution to the moving problem has become our new
(much improved) storage system.
The same cabinets hold the same plastic trays which contain the skin
collection. All the skins were pre-packed in heat-sealed polythene tubing
(part of a strategy to combat a dermestid problem) and laid in the new trays
with no extra padding. The polythene sleeves seem to prevent much of the
damage that large scale moves can cause. Trays containing small birds were
simply stacked within the same type of cartons, while trays containing
larger birds were separated by wooden spacers.
During the move, out of 300 boxes containing mounted birds, only one had
been evidently tipped over, with little damage. All the other mounts and
skins arrived in good condition, with minimal handling of the specimens
themselves. We used mostly volunteer help to sleeve the skins and apply
magnets to the bases. The packing was done largely by volunteers and
temporary staff. The move was carried out by our own manual staff (duly
threatened should any harm come to the specimens!). In fact, providing
cartons with handles proved to be a good move - there was less risk of
cartons being mishandled.
I do intend to write up our experiences and describe the storage system more
fully in one of the UK curatorial newsletters. I'll post a reference to that
when it's done. In the meantime if you or anyone else wants more detail,
contact me direct.
As for what I'd do differently? - start to pack a year earlier (avoids
panic, exhaustion and domestic disputes - my wife, sons, daughter, her
boyfriend and even our niece from Australia were all drafted in to help!)
Good luck!

Tony Irwin

Norfolk Museums Service, The Shirehall, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 3JQ, England
Tel: +44(0)1603 493642, Mobile: +44(0)7880707834, Fax: +44(0)1603 493623
E-mail: tony.irwin@btinternet.com