Loan Policy
The loan policy is liberal. It is our policy to respond quickly to requests. Material
for thesis research by graduate students is usually sent in care of the candidate's major
adviser. The usual length of the loan is 24 months. All loans may be renewed when
justified and requested in writing.
Exchange of duplicates is encouraged. If new species are decribed from our material,
paratypes are to be returned and the holotype is deposited in the United States National
Museum.
Utilization on an Annual Basis for the Past Five Years
The C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity is highly utilized by researchers
throughout the United States. Over 100 requests for museum specimens (>5,000 specimens)
are filled yearly and material has been used in over 75 taxonomic revisions in the past 2
years. Approximately,100 researchers visit the Collection annually.
Relationship to Other Similar Collections
Our relationship with other such collections is as follows:
1. Our response time to loan requests is usually within two weeks of the initial request.
2. Our Collection is available for in-house study without restrictions to visiting
workers.
3. We have a present, exchange and loan arrangement with all major collections.
User Charges
The Department, or its personnel, have not charged for identification or lending service
in the past, and have no such plans in the future.
Assurance of Compliance with Legislation
for Protection of Endangered Species
The administration and curator of this institution are providing here assurance that
preserved materials of endangered species will be handled in Compliance wit the Endangered
Species Act, Lacey Act and the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora. Dr. Paul A. Opler, National Biological Survey is very familiar with
these acts and will provide advice.