CSBR: Natural History Collections: A Hidden Treasure in Northeastern Alabama - Revitalizing the Jacksonville State University Herbarium

杰克逊维尔州立大学的植物标本馆包括超过75,000个地区性植物标本，使其成为阿拉巴马州最大(和最多样化)的植物学收藏之一，同时也是普通科学界基本不知道的。该项目将缓解过度拥挤的存储，提供长期的收藏安全，并使获取和教育推广完全现代化。具体行动包括：(1)安装新的标本馆案例和移动存储系统；(2)购置数字文件设备；(3)对整个JSU标本馆馆藏进行管理和电脑化；(4)利用新的互联网资源和跨学科倡议，提高知名度和协同作用。积压的馆藏和完全整合的馆藏将产生一个功能齐全、易于使用的自然历史研究资源，而计算机化将使科学家、教育工作者、学生和普通公众都能广泛地获取它。该项目将把各种各样的新标本记录和数字图像添加到互联网数据库，包括阿拉巴马州植物地图集，从而支持为阿拉巴马州植物区系创建一个全面的在线数据库的合作努力。

The herbarium of Jacksonville State University consists of more than 75,000 specimens of regional plants, making it one of the largest (and most diverse) botanical collections in Alabama while also being largely unknown to the general scientific community. This project will alleviate overcrowded storage, provide long-term collection security, and fully modernize access and educational outreach. Specific actions include (1) installation of new herbarium cases and a mobile storage system; (2) acquisition of digital documentation equipment; (3) curation and computerization of the entire JSU Herbarium collection; and (4) enhancement of visibility and synergy, utilizing new Internet resources and interdisciplinary initiatives.The project represents a dynamic resource for science education in rural Alabama, providing immediate training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students and long-lasting outreach in an underserved community. Backlog curation and full integration of the holdings will result in a fully functional, easy-to-use resource for natural history research, and computerization will make it broadly accessible to scientists, educators, students, and the general public alike. The project will add a vast diversity of new specimen records and digital images to Internet databases, including the Alabama Plant Atlas, thereby supporting collaborative efforts to create a comprehensive online database for the flora of Alabama.