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种区域植物标本，使其成为亚拉巴马最大（和最多样化）的植物收藏之一，同时也在很大程度上不为一般科学界所知。该项目将缓解过度拥挤的储存，提供长期的收藏安全，并使获取和教育宣传全面现代化。具体行动包括：（1）安装新的植物标本箱和一个移动的储存系统;（2）购置数字文献设备;（3）对整个JSU植物标本室的收藏进行管理和计算机化;以及（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。该项目是亚拉巴马农村科学教育的一个动态资源，为研究生和本科生提供即时培训机会，并在服务不足的社区进行长期推广。对馆藏的积压管理和全面整合将为自然历史研究提供一个功能齐全、易于使用的资源，计算机化将使科学家、教育工作者、学生和公众都能广泛使用。该项目将为互联网数据库，包括《亚拉巴马植物图集》，增加大量新的标本记录和数字图像，从而支持为创建亚拉巴马植物群综合在线数据库而开展的合作努力。

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.