From specimen sheets to archival boxes
Repackaging
Some steps in repackaging specimens from sheets into boxes.
Field Museum volunteer Wes Wallace repackages collections that are then added to the museum's online database. Historic specimens in the botany herbarium were mounted on herbarium sheets and put in folders. Fungus specimens were typically put in packets that were glued to the sheets along with all labels. Modern specimens are packaged in labeled boxes or packets.
The next step for these specimens is entering the label information into a database from which permanent labels are printed and glued to the box tops. Then a barcode number sticker is applied and scanned into the herbarium database. Scanned photos are loaded and viewable online.