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Loan Policy

Eligibility - Loans are made to institutions and not to individuals. The borrowing herbarium has the responsibility for secure storage and handling and for proper return of loaned specimens. Specimens may not be removed from the institution to which they were loaned without written permission from the curator.

Requests for loans - Requests for loans must be signed by the curator/director or collections manager of the institution receiving the loan. Electronic loan requests are acceptable only from the curator/director or collections manager. Requests should include: name of researcher(s), title and scope of the investigation, and a complete list of taxa (with common synonyms) required for the study.

Duration - Loans are normally made for a specified period, usually two years. If additional time is required for an investigation, then an extension must be requested in writing.

Storage - All specimens must be stored in airtight herbarium cabinets with proper sanitation and insect control protocols.

Handling - Specimens should be handled properly. Do not bend or fold sheets and do not invert specimens. Place all fragments in packets on the sheets. Do not store sheets in contact with non-archival packing materials.

Dissection - The judicious dissection of specimens is permitted. Please use fragment packets for loose materials.

Destructive analyses - Permission of the Curator is required to remove permanently any material from specimens for destructive analyses such as SEM, DNA sampling, and palynological or anatomical investigations. Requests for destructive sampling should accompany a loan request and indicate the procedures planned and the specimens and materials required. A 'Destructive Sampling Agreement' must be signed and returned by the investigator.

Annotations - All material borrowed by the investigator must be annotated. Please use permanent ink or laser printing on 100% cotton, acid-free paper. Annotation labels should contain the complete scientific name (genus, species, authority), annotator's name, annotator's institution, and date. Labels are generally attached at one end and should be positioned so that they do not cover any writing or material on the sheet. Common sizes for annotation labels are 1" x 3" to 4" [max]. Do not write on the specimen sheet, label, or another annotation slip.

Return - Please return all loaned specimens in the original packing material (unless damaged) as they were sent originally.

Citation of specimens - Bebb Herbarium specimens should be cited with the herbarium acronym 'OKL' in all publications.

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