Number 3 - Geological Curators Group

troubles and he concluded by recommending theestablishment of "Museum standards ofcuratorial care . . . to include theenvironment, furniture, organization,documentation and conservation of museumcollections."The Guidelines make a start at settingthese standards and undoubtedly provide muchto think about when considering the propercare of geological materials. Readers of thepreliminary script from within and withoutgeological circles have enthusiasticallypraised the Guidelines, so please be sure toadvertise them widely and buy your copies assoon as possible. We must demonstrate to theGeological Society and the world at large ourconcern for geological materials - and howbetter than by creating a demand for the bookwhioh . . .. nrovides r- -information and standards atwhich to aim in preserving collectionssafelv. in good condition, and available,withall thzr data, for use now and in thefuture.1 offer a sincere thank you to all who havecontributed in so many ways to theGuidelines. but especially to fellowcontributors and editors John Cwper andTristram Besterman.CONTENTS LISTINTRODUCTIONA ACQUISITIONContentsSummary and recommendations1 General principles2 Acquisition methodsB DOCUMENTATIONContentsSummarv and recommendations1 ~arking and labelling: Entry documentationAcauisition documentation?I Specimen cataloguing5 Movement of material in the museumL. Material leaving the museumC PRESERVATIONContentsSummary and recommendations1 Field material in temporary store2 Specimen conservation3 Permanent storageD OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDSContentsSummary and recommendations1 Museum safety2 Hazards from specimensFig.1.Cover for the Guidelines.E USES OF COLLECTIONSContentsSummary and recommendations1 Information retrieval2 Scientific uses3 Exhibition and designREFERENCESAPPENDICESI AdhesivesI1 Products and suppliers, names andaddressesI11 Geological Site Documentation SchemeREFERENCESBrunton, C.H.C. 1982. Towards 'Guidelinesfor the Curation of Geologicalmaterials'. Geolopical _Curator, 3,182-185.Doughty, P.S. 1981. The state and status ofGeology in U .K. museums. Miscellaneous, Geol. Soc., London, 13, 1-118.Natural Environment Research Council. 1973.Research in the Geological Sciences.NERC Publication Series 'B', 7, 113pp.C. Howard C. BruntonDepartment of PalaeontologyBritish Museum (Natural History)Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BDTypescript received 19 March 1985