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Fossil Butte National MonumentMuseum Management Planning Team

Arvid Aase, Museum SpecialistFossil Butte National Monument

Kemmerer, Wyoming

Kent Bush, Lead CuratorColumbia Cascades Support Office

Seattle, Washington(Team Leader)

Linda Clement, Staff CuratorIntermountain Region

Denver, Colorado

Ann Elder, Museum CuratorDinosaur National Monument

Vernal, Utah

Lynn Marie Mitchell, ArchivistWestern Archeological and Conservation Center

Tucson, Arizona

Matthew Wilson, Staff CuratorIntermountain Region

Denver, Colorado

Museum Management PlanFossil Butte National Monument

Recommended by:

Kent Bush, Staff CuratorColumbia Cascades Support Office

Concurred by:

Karen Wade, Regional DirectorIntermountain Region

Approved by:

David McGinnis, SuperintendentFossil Butte National Monument

Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Plan iii

Executive Summary

The Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Plan outlinesissues facing the park concerning management and use of museumcollections, and recommends corresponding actions to address those issues.The collections are growing as a result of partnerships and active scientificresearch in and around the monument. The museum objects are central to thepark’s operation and are used by researchers and park staff for research andpublic interpretation.

The legislative mandate creating Fossil Butte National Monument requiresthat the park exhibit and interpret scientific specimens from paleontologicalsites and related geological phenomena. The sediments of Eocene EpochFossil Lake encompass more than 930 square miles (595,200 acres).Consisting of 13 square miles (8,198 acres), Fossil Butte National Monument isnear the center of the ancient Fossil Lake. Fossil fish are common in shallowand deep-water deposits, while extremely rare terrestrial vertebrate fossils aremore frequently found in near-shore deposits. The landforms and fossildeposits within the monument contain only a tiny fraction of the ancientlake’s paleontological resources, and almost none of the geologicalphenomena (deltas, beach deposits, tidal flats, etc.), that are within themonument’s legislatively mandated area of interest. In order to comply withthe authorizing legislation, the monument must adopt innovative measures tocollect and interpret the necessary resources.

By their nature, fossil parks are rich in museum collections and associateddata. In few other types of parks is the primary resource so closely tied to thescientific community. There is a great need for reference center services thatserve the needs of the monument as well as other federal and state agenciesand the general public.

Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Planiv

The recovery, preparation, and documentation of fossils requires a dedicatedworkspace, an extensive research library, and a fossil study area. The limitedinfrastructure available for these functions prevents full compliance with themonument’s enabling legislation. There is an immediate need for more space,more staff, and more funding to support the monument’s core mission.

The reference center at Fossil Butte National Monument is presently in adevelopmental stage; it requires refinement of park management philosophy,and creation of the physical space, staff and budget required to manage andinterpret monument resources. This plan offers recommendations that willhelp the monument move forward with these requirements in a proactive andresponsible manner.

Key Recommendations

• Develop the reference center concept required to support the resourcemanagement and interpretive needs of the monument, federal and stateagencies, and the general public.

• Begin an aggressive program to design and construct an integratedpreparation, storage, and study area dedicated to preserving and using themonument’s archives, collections, and library.

• Promote and foster partnerships with other federal and state agencies andthe commercial quarry interests to provide reference resources andrepository services for fossil resources where possible.

• Continue efforts to raise funding and staffing to the levels required toadequately protect, manage, and interpret the monument’s uniqueresources.

The following sections of this plan contain detailed recommendations andactions that the monument is considering to improve existing programs andcreate new program initiatives.

Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Plan v

Table of Contents

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... iiiKey Recommendations ............................................................................................................... iv

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................9

History of the Park Museum Program .................................................................................11The Researchers ........................................................................................................................11

1800s....................................................................................................................................111900s....................................................................................................................................12

The Collectors ...........................................................................................................................16The Museum .............................................................................................................................16

Issue A — Scientific Research and Partnerships ................................................................19Issue Statement.........................................................................................................................19Background...............................................................................................................................19Discussion .................................................................................................................................20Recommendations.....................................................................................................................23

Issue B — Reference Center.....................................................................................................25Issue Statement.........................................................................................................................25Background...............................................................................................................................25Discussion .................................................................................................................................26Recommendations.....................................................................................................................28

Issue C — Collections Storage and Workplace Environment ..........................................29Issue Statement.........................................................................................................................29Background...............................................................................................................................29Discussion .................................................................................................................................30Recommendations.....................................................................................................................35

Issue D — Programming, Funding, and Staffing...............................................................37Issue Statement.........................................................................................................................37Background...............................................................................................................................37Discussion .................................................................................................................................38Recommendations.....................................................................................................................40

Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Planvi

Appendix A — Suggested Archival and Museum Access Policies..................................41Levels of Access to the Archives and Museum Collections .........................................................41Conditions for Access................................................................................................................41Access Policy Administration......................................................................................................43Research Application for Museum Collections and Historic Documents .....................................44Museum Objects Reviewed by the Researcher ...........................................................................46Museum Collections and Archives Register................................................................................47Guidelines for the Use of Archival and Museum Collections ......................................................49Availability.................................................................................................................................49Registration ...............................................................................................................................50Use of Archival Records and Manuscripts ..................................................................................50

Duplication............................................................................................................................50Copyrights and Citations .......................................................................................................51Restrictions on Use ................................................................................................................51

Responding to Off-Site Reference Inquiries................................................................................51Guidelines for Handling Museum Collections ............................................................................52Special Objects ..........................................................................................................................53Reporting Damage ....................................................................................................................53Behavior ....................................................................................................................................53Guidelines for Photography of Collections and Duplication of Historic Documents ....................54

Duplicate Photographs of Museum Collections......................................................................54Duplication of Historic Photographs and Documents .............................................................55

Request for Photographs of Items from the Museum Collections...............................................56

Appendix B — Suggested Library Operating Policy ..........................................................57Introduction ..............................................................................................................................57Objective ...................................................................................................................................57Responsibility.............................................................................................................................57Scope of Collection ...................................................................................................................58Selection Guidelines and Procedures..........................................................................................58

Periodicals .............................................................................................................................58Operating Guidelines.................................................................................................................59

Loan Privileges.......................................................................................................................59Vertical File ............................................................................................................................60Paperbacks ............................................................................................................................60Duplicates .............................................................................................................................60Replacement .........................................................................................................................60Gifts ......................................................................................................................................60Controlled Access Collection .................................................................................................61Exhibited Materials ................................................................................................................61Research Files ........................................................................................................................61Photocopying ........................................................................................................................61Adding New Publications.......................................................................................................62Excluded Publications ............................................................................................................62Inventories.............................................................................................................................62Binding..................................................................................................................................63Weeding ...............................................................................................................................63

Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Plan vii

Appendix C — Procedures for Evaluating and Retaining Monument-SpecificRecords .........................................................................................................................................65

Bibliography................................................................................................................................67Park Reference List ....................................................................................................................67Suggested Reading List..............................................................................................................68

Collection Management References ......................................................................................69Exhibits and Programs References .............................................................................................72

Archives Management References .........................................................................................73

List of Illustrations

Front cover Mass mortality layer of Knightia and Diplomystus from the Green RiverFormation.

Inside frontcover

Map showing visitor center, facilities, and trails within Fossil Butte NationalMonument. Map courtesy of the National Park Service.

Page 34 Floor plan concept for future museum facility at Fossil Butte NationalMonument.

Inside backcover

Left image: Geologic time scale. Right image: Significant geologic andpaleontologic sites in Fossil Basin.

Back cover Artistic renditions of five fossils from Fossil Lake. Left to right: Icaronycterisindex, Boavus idelmani, Priscacara liops, Sabalites sp., and Heliobatus radians.

Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Plan 9

Introduction

The museum management plan (MMP) replaces the collections managementplan (CMP) referred to in the National Park Service publications, Outline forPlanning Requirements, Cultural Resource Management Guidelines, and NPSMuseum Handbook, Part I. The CMP process generally followed anOperations Evaluation format and concentrated on the technical aspects ofmuseum operations, including a full review of accession files, status ofcatalog, adherence to guidelines, and making very specific recommendationsfor corrections and improvements. As a new approach to museummanagement planning, the MMP seeks to evaluate all aspects of museum-related programs within a park, and makes broad recommendations to guidedevelopment of park-specific programs that address the identified needs ofthe park.

The MMP recognizes that specific directions for the technical aspects ofarchival and collections management exist within the NPS Museum Handbookseries; therefore, this MMP does not attempt to duplicate that type ofinformation. Instead, the MMP serves to place museum operations in a moreholistic context within park operations by focusing on how variouscollections may be used by park staff to support the goals of this particularpark. This approach recognizes that there are many different ways thatarchives, libraries and museum collections may be organized, linked and usedwithin individual parks, and seeks to provide park-specific advice on how thiscan be accomplished.

At Fossil Butte National Monument, the MMP was requested to assist thepark in developing a viable and multifaceted program — related to FossilBasin as a whole — to support park programs. Many elements of this plan aretherefore developmental in nature and designed to guide the park throughthe initial steps in creating workable concepts and systems that support allaspects of park operations.

Fossil Butte National Monument Museum Management Plan10

To help with this process, the park staff identified opinions and concernsrelated to management of the archival and museum collections, the library,and various related services needed by the staff. The information collectedallowed the team to make a quick evaluation of numerous factors affectingmuseum operations, and also provided valuable insights into how a well-designed museum management program will address the needs of park staff.

The benefits of a well-organized and administered archival and museumcollections management program are often not well understood by parks. Forthis reason, a program's potential may be overlooked and undersupported.Stated in the most basic terms: The museum management program should bedesigned to collect and preserve park-specific data, and make that informationavailable to park staff and the public in the most efficient manner possible.

Considered in this light, it is easier to understand how different types ofresources in collections might be administered in different ways, dependingupon the local needs for documentation, preservation and use. The need for aunique, park-specific approach to managing these resources is what the MMPprocess seeks to provide.

This MMP was developed over a nine-day period from August 20 - 29, 2001.The team became familiar with park resources and operations and thendeveloped, organized, and recorded the central issues and the necessarysupporting information that comprises the plan. An out-briefing wasconducted with the superintendent and park staff on August 29, 2001.

This plan is the result of team and park collaboration, including discussionand consensus regarding all issues and recommendations. Individualcontributors to the plan include Arvid Aase, Kent Bush, Linda Clement, AnnElder, Lynn Mitchell and Matthew Wilson. The appendices were gatheredfrom a body of suggested methodologies and reference materials generatedover time by various NPS curators for other planning documents as well asoriginal material developed for this specific plan.

The MMP team thanks the staff of Fossil Butte National Monument for thecourtesy, consideration, and cooperation extended during this planningeffort. Their time, effort, and involvement were very much appreciated, andhave served to make our job much easier. It is apparent that these individualsare dedicated and committed to preserving park resources and interpretingthose resources for the public. It was a pleasure to work with suchprofessionals.


History of thePark Museum Program

The Researchers

1800s

During the 1840s, missionaries and explorers such as John C. Fremontdocumented the discovery of fossil invertebrates in the Green RiverFormation. In 1856, geologist John Evans made the first recorded discovery ofa Green River fish fossil near what is now the town of Green River, Wyoming.He sent his discovery to Joseph Leidy, a professor of anatomy at theUniversity of Pennsylvania. This fish fossil eventually became known asKnightia, now Wyoming's state fossil and the most abundant completevertebrate fossil found in the world.

As the railroads moved west, enormous amounts of soil and rock wereexcavated and new fossil localities were uncovered. In the late 1860s, UnionPacific workers uncovered the first major fossil fish beds of the Green RiverFormation (Lake Gosiute) near Green River, Wyoming. The workers turned anumber of these fossils over to Professor Ferdinand Hayden, director of theGeologic and Geographic Survey of the Territories. In 1879, a member of thesurvey, mineralogist A. C. Peale, was the first to record a description of FossilButte itself.

The fossils from Green River, Wyoming, were eventually studied andidentified by another famous member of that survey, Professor EdwardDrinker Cope, who collected in the Fossil Butte area during the 1870s. Heidentified a number of specimens not yet described.


1900s

After the publication of Cope’s research in 1884, few scientific papers werepresented on the fossil fishes of Fossil Basin and the greater Green RiverFormation until after World War II. From the 1920s to the 1960s Dr. WilmotBradley, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, produced a considerableamount of information on the geology of the Green River Formation. In oneof these publications he described, “the beautifully preserved fish, withdelicate fins, tail rays and scales, all virtually undisturbed, are entombed herein thinly levered sediments recording the abundant life and ecology of anancient subtropical lake.”

During the 1920s and 1930s, Dr. R. W. Brown, also of the U.S. GeologicalSurvey, extensively described the plant life of the Green River Formation.During the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Lewis Gazin of the Smithsonian Institutionstudied the mammalian faunas of southwestern Wyoming, and notedindividual animals from the Green River and Wasatch formations, such asprimates and early horses. Although found in Fossil Basin during the 1930s,the early bat, Icaronycteris, was not described until 1966 by Dr. Glenn L.Jepsen of Princeton University. Dr. Paul O. McGrew, of the University ofWyoming conducted substantial research in Fossil Basin throughout the1960s and 1970s. He coauthored with Dr. Michael Casilliano, also of theUniversity of Wyoming, The Geologic History of Fossil Butte NationalMonument and Fossil Basin. Dr. McGrew also provided considerablescientific input to the developers of Fossil Butte National Monument.

The 1974 publication, The Geologic History of Fossil Butte National Monumentand Fossil Basin, contains a detailed discussion of the plant and animal fossilsfound in Fossil Basin, as well as paleoecology and taphonomy. Paleoecology issimply the study of the ecology of an ancient environment, in this case that ofFossil Lake.

Taphonomy is a relatively recent scientific discipline studying what happensto organisms after death. Fossil Butte National Monument exists inrecognition of the remarkably preserved and diverse fossils found in the area.

Sediments of Fossil Lake contain numerous well-preserved fossils, a rareoccurrence on earth known amongst paleontologists as a lagerstatten. ThisGerman word, meaning mother lode, describes sites that are so wellpreserved that entire paleoecosystems can be examined from the variety offossils found there. It has been said that Fossil Basin contains possibly theworld's best paleontological record of aquatic communities since the Age of


the Dinosaurs to the Ice Age. In addition to The Geologic History of Fossil ButteNational Monument and Fossil Basin, Dr. McGrew also discussed thetaphonomy of Fossil Basin fish in the Field Museum of Natural History,Chicago, publication, Fieldiana. And in 1974, Michael Nelson of Kansas StateUniversity described numerous rodents from the southern part of FossilBasin in sediments somewhat younger than those of the Green RiverFormation of Fossil Basin.

In 1975 William W. Rubey, Steven S. Oriel, and Joshua I. Tracey, Jr. produceda paper for the U.S. Geological Survey describing the geology of the Sage andKemmerer area. Dr. Rubey died in 1974, prior to publication of their paper.Prow Point, a prominent geographic feature of Fossil Butte NationalMonument, was renamed Rubey Point after him. He and his coauthorsproduced a detailed geologic map and structure sections depicting thegeometry of Fossil Basin and a portion of the western Wyoming thrust belt.

In 1976, Paul Edwards published the results of his study of fish coprolitesfrom Fossil Butte. Coprolites are fossilized animal droppings, and can provideevidence about the diet and environment in which animals lived. Edwardsnoted that the occurrence and preservation of these fossils are unique in thefossil record. In that same year Robert M. West of the Milwaukee PublicMuseum described the condylarths of Fossil Basin. Condylarths are anextinct group of mammals, some of which may be close ancestors to moderneven-toed ungulates. Fossils of these animals are found in the channel andstream deposits of the Wasatch Formation in and around Fossil ButteNational Monument. In 1977, Storrs L. Olson of the Smithsonian Institutiondescribed a frigatebird from Fossil Basin. An interesting contrast betweenearly frigatebirds and their modern representatives is that the modern birdslive in a wholly marine coastal environment while their fossil predecessorsclearly flew in the skies above the inland fresh waters of Fossil Lake.

In 1978, Hans Eugster of Johns Hopkins University studied the depositionalenvironment of the Green River Formation in Fossil Basin. He described amodern lake in Israel that seemed a near analog to ancient Fossil Lake.Researchers continue to ponder modern lake environments when studyingthe fossil and sedimentological evidence within Fossil Basin. Suchcomparisons provide insight into possible explanations for the massmortalities of fishes, and the remarkable degree of preservation of the fossilshere.


Dr. Lance Grande, of Chicago's Field Museum, began his studies of thepaleontology of Fossil Basin in the 1970s, and has maintained an associationwith Fossil Butte National Monument for many years. Although the bulk ofhis research takes place beyond the boundaries of the monument, hiscontributions to our understanding of this unique paleoenvironment haveenabled the staff to present an increasingly more detailed picture of the pastto visitors. He studies in Fossil Basin almost annually, and his work has madethe Field Museum of Natural History one of the world's most completerepositories of Green River Fossils.

Dr. Grande's work includes the initial description of Eohiodon (mooneye) inFossil Basin, revisions to the fossil genus Knightia (a herring-like fish), andmonographs on the evolution and descriptions of paddlefish and bowfins(Amiid fishes). His work currently emphasizes the study of fossil gars andtheir relationship to their modern descendants. Dr. Grande’s best-knownwork is the Geological Survey of Wyoming's Bulletin 63, Paleontology of theGreen River Formation, with a Review of the Fish Fauna.

Dr. Paul Buchheim, of Loma Linda University in California, is another regularresearcher at Fossil Butte National Monument. Having studied Fossil Basinfor over 25 years, he has contributed enormously to the interpretive story ofthe monument. Dr. Buchheim is a sedimentologist and stratigrapher and hisinquiry over the years has led to a picture of Fossil Lake quite different fromthe one believed to be accurate at the time Congress designated themonument.

In 1980, Dr. Buchheim generated a computerized diagram of the type-sectionof the Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation. A type-sectiondepicts the typical sequence of rocks for a specific part of a formation. Thistype section is on Fossil Butte itself. This information permits an accuraterelative dating for tuff (lithified volcanic ash) beds and the establishment ofpopulation dynamics. It also enables observation of biologic, geologic, andenvironmental change through long periods and to reconstruct a model ofthe environment as it existed 50 million years ago.

Dr. Buchheim has studied fluctuations in Fossil Lake's size, shape, and depth,in addition to its geochemistry, salinity, and depositional environment.Perhaps his most significant contribution to our understanding of Fossil Lakeis a study of the thin layers of limestone stacked one on top of the other thatform most of the Fossil Lake deposits. For over 40 years it was accepted that apair of these layers (one lighter limestone, one dark, organic shale)


represented a one-year period; hence, by studying a stack of these "couplets,"one could determine the period represented by the stack: 6,000 pairs of layersequals 6,000 years. Through the painstaking and wide-ranging sampling andcollection of information, Dr. Buchheim, his colleagues and students wereable to present evidence that counting layers to represent years is impreciseand inaccurate. It is now believed that the layers represent not only annualevents, but increased seasonal events such as spring floods as well as isolatedcatastrophic events, rather than a regular, predictable deposition of sedimentyear after year.

The paleobotany of Fossil Basin has been largely ignored by scientists due tothe great abundance of vertebrate fossils and the relative rarity of fossil leaves.A recent discovery of a leaf locality south of the monument may provide anadequate number of specimens to complete initial research on the plantcommunities around the lake.

Recently, Bill Bartels and Greg Gunnell, of Albion College in Michigan, havecompleted a detailed study of the Wasatch Formation in and around themonument. The deposition of this formation preceded Fossil Lake sediments,surrounded it, and continued after the lake disappeared. Although theWasatch Formation is extensive at lower elevations in the monument, thereare only scant erosional remnants atop the Green River Formation. Afterstudying the contact between the Wasatch and the Green River formations,Bartels and Gunnell concluded the age of Fossil Lake could be more preciselyconstrained than at present.

Scientific research on Green River Formation continues today. Since itsinception, Fossil Butte National Monument has supported this research in avariety of ways: from National Park Service funding sources, scientificsupport from the park paleontologist, logistical support from monumentstaff, as well as functioning as an informal base of operations. Through suchefforts, researchers are better able to interpret this remarkable resource fornot only other scientists, but for the thousands of people from around theworld who visit Fossil Butte National Monument annually.

The paleontology of Fossil Basin tells a story of change, not only of change inthe paleoenvironment, but of many changes in our understanding of FossilLake. From the evidence, it appears that Fossil Lake was not the very deepand completely fresh-water lake it was once believed to be, but a fairlyshallow, and at times, very saline environment. While it was once believed thedeepest parts of the lake were represented by Fossil Butte itself, it is now


accepted that the perennial lake center is south of the monument. This storyof change is ongoing as scientists continue their study of Fossil Basin. FossilButte National Monument strives to present the most up-to-date informationobtained by these researchers to visitors.

The Collectors

Commercial fossil collectors such as Samuel C. Small began operating inearnest in the 1880s. They sold fossils to laymen and to institutions around theworld. Often they would donate a particularly significant scientific specimenfor additional study or display.

In 1897, Robert Lee Craig began a 40-year tenure of fossil collecting in FossilBasin. Although Craig lost a leg in a mining accident three years earlier, henevertheless made a 275-foot climb daily to his quarry on Fossil Ridge, justsouth of Fossil Butte, to "fish" for fossils. He then trundled the fossils downby wheelbarrow to prepare them with a knife blade.

In 1918, David Haddenham began collecting fossils. Haddenham and hisfamily continued the practice for over half a century. He dug fossils in thesummer and prepared them in the winter. His primitive A-frame cabin stillstands in the monument.

During the late 1940s, Carl and Shirley Ulrich began a commercial collectingenterprise, near the old town of Fossil, which continues to this day. In the1950s, other collectors began employing the popular 19th-century practice ofdynamiting. In 1958, the Ulrichs contacted the Department of the Interior, theService's parent agency, seeking to protect an increasingly threatenedresource by establishing a national monument.

Commercial collecting of fossils continues on private and state lands aroundFossil Butte National Monument. At its peak in the mid-1990s, there wereover 20 quarries operated by approximately 12 quarriers.

The Museum

After the creation of Fossil Butte National Monument in 1972, developmentcame slowly. Dinosaur National Monument prepared the feasibility study forthe monument, which was later administered by Grand Teton National Parkwith no on-site staff. The monument’s first visitor center was a single-wide


trailer placed at the base of Fossil Butte in 1974. The administrative officeswere then transferred from the Grand Teton to rented space in Kemmerer, 15miles to the east of the monument.

It was not until 1979 that Ted Fremd was hired as the monument’spaleontologist and first staff member with museum responsibilities. At thistime the museum did not exist. In an effort to build the research andinterpretive collections, Fremd purchased several specimens for accessioninginto the monument’s collections. Fremd transferred to John Day Fossil Bedsin 1984, a few years before the monument developed plans for permanentfacilities in 1986. The monument’s paleontological and geological exhibitswere developed by Harpers Ferry, which contracted with Drs. Lance Grande(of Chicago's Field Museum) and Paul Buchheim (of Loma Linda University)for technical assistance. Additional fossil specimens were purchased andmany donated in an effort to present the variety of organisms present inFossil Lake. Field mseum staff were consulted to furnish a small room in thevisitor center with appropriate fossil preparation equipment. Without theguidance of museum staff, planned facilities did not include museum storageor workspace.

Not until 1991, when the maintenance facilities were being planned, that thenewly hired museum specialist, Rachel Benton, raised the issue of museumstorage. A small room was added to the facility where museum storage hasbeen maintained to date. Benton hired a museum technician, Nancy Swartos,from spring 1992 through spring 1993. Swartos clarified many of the museumrecords and consolidated objects into the museum storage room in the newlyconstructed maintenance facility. Benton facilitated the acquisition of areference collection of mammal teeth casts of the Eocene from the AmericanMuseum of Natural History. Benton transferred to Badlands National Park in1994.

Peter Ambrose was museum specialist from June 1994 to February 1998.During Ambrose’s tenure, hundreds of photo archives were accessioned intothe collection, creating the core of the current photo archive collection.Ambrose transferred to the U.S. Forest Service in 1998.

Arvid Aase was hired as museum specialist in 1998. During his tenure to date,the monument collections have doubled. This has resulted from increasedphoto archives, 800 new herbarium specimens, 400 extant insects, 400archeological objects, numerous fossils acquired through donation and fieldcollection, and identification of a significant number of archival materials


(park resource management records). The paleobotanical collections ofWilliam D. Tidwell of Brigham Young University were donated to the parkand cataloged into the collection. Additional space was created for newspecimens by trimming excess matrix from cataloged fossils and byrearranging the room to accommodate additional cabinetry (2 standard, 1herbarium, 1 wet specimen, 1 entomology, and narrow open shelving forpetrified wood donated by Tidwell). New equipment was also acquired,including a dedicated computer, scanner, and X-ray machine. The X-raymachine permits cataloging and data collection without the physicalpreparation of each fossil, a time-consuming and potentially damagingactivity.

The monument’s collections are expected to grow as relationships withcollectors and hobbyists are fostered and additional donations are offered.The photo archives are a top priority of the staff. The monument’sresearch/interpretive quarry will continue to produce specimens at anaverage rate of 200 per year. The research library has grown rapidly over thepast four years and currently has holdings in excess of 1,700 articles andbooks, and is anticipated to double over the next three years. Thearcheological collection is also expected to grow, because much of themonument has never been surveyed for prehistoric or historic sites.

The monument currently holds 6,548 museum objects and specimens. Thereare an estimated 3,000 additional specimens to add from the 2001 field season,plus an estimated 41,600 individual items (26 linear feet) to be added to thepark archives. The total collections at this time are an estimated 49,000individual items.


Issue A — Scientific Researchand Partnerships

Issue Statement

Accomplish the mission described in the monument's enablinglegislation through scientific research and partnerships supportingthe acquisition and exhibition of specimens to preserve andinterpret Fossil Basin resources.

Background

The monument's enabling legislation mandates that it display and interpretscientific specimens for present and future generations. The Statement forManagement (June 1996) states that the monument will interpret “one of theworld’s best known, preserved and accessible examples of an ancient lake andassociated deposits.”

Fossil Butte National Monument is located near the center of a large fossillake, appropriately named Fossil Lake. The lake was about 50 miles long and20 miles wide at its maximum, of which the monument covers about 13 squaremiles. The fossils found in the monument represent flora and fauna foundonly in deep-water deposits. The majority of the Fossil Lake story iscontained outside the monument’s boundaries. The shallow areas of the lakerepresent a different environment, holding materials and specimens notpresent in deeper water deposits. Therefore, the rocks and fossils found inthe park represent a very small piece of the Fossil Lake ecosystem.


Discussion

To properly interpret the story of Fossil Lake, it is necessary to look outsidethe monument’s current boundaries. The shore and shallow water deposits ofFossil Lake are richer in terrestrial fossil animals than deeper water deposits.The mammals, crocodiles, turtles, lizards, amphibians, and birds that livednear the lake were more likely to be deposited near shore rather than float 10miles to the center lake deposits. The shallow and deep areas of the lake werean integrated environment; therefore, the natural processes in each cannot beinterpreted independently. By studying and interpreting the entire FossilLake, the monument opens the door for the public to understand the story ofthe whole ecosystem.

There are many stakeholders in Fossil Basin. The Bureau of LandManagement, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service are federal agencies that have an interest in this area.The state of Wyoming, including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department,the Wyoming Department of Transportation, and the State Land Commissionare also involved in managing the Fossil Basin resources. Local ranches,stockman’s associations and P&M coal mine also have interests in FossilBasin. There are several privately operated fossil quarries found on bothprivate and state lands. For a fee, some of the private quarries allow the publicto excavate for fossils. These quarriers sell fossils in local shops and nationalfossil and gem shows.

The monument is interested in taking a proactive role in interpreting theFossil Lake ecosystem. To fully comply with the legislative mandate, the parkmust provide the region with a reference center. A library, including reprintsof scientific papers, would be available for use by the public and localstakeholders. This facility will serve as a repository for specimens for researchand exhibit to the public. The exhibits would concentrate on the Green RiverFormation ecosystems and the Fossil Lake ecosystem in particular, during thePaleocene to middle Eocene. The monument is developing good workingrelationships with the local quarries. One aspect of this relationship involvesidentifying unusual fossils and geologic features found in the quarries. Whenmade available, these newly identified specimens are temporarily exhibited atthe monument, which keeps the public informed about the Eocene biotabeing found in Fossil Lake.


Fossil Butte National Monument operates a research quarry in the park.During the summer, a staff member in the quarry demonstrates how fossilsare excavated and data is collected. This staff member also supervises visitorsas they excavate fossils. As fossils are identified and removed from the quarryfor accession into park collections, their location and associated data arecarefully documented. The monument is attempting to collect acomprehensive data set that will lead to a three-dimensional diagram showingspecimen position and species distribution. These data will provide a moreaccurate assessment of fossil density, population diversity, and makeup.

The quarry also gives the monument the opportunity to present apreservation message that fossils are a nonrenewable resource: there’s not anendless supply of fossils to be quarried. Once the fossil-bearing formation isexcavated, there is not another formation to excavate that also holds thesefossils. The specimens that are removed from the quarry in the monument arecataloged into the museum collection. The data set and any additional reportsresulting from this research will enter the monument’s archival collections.These specimens and archival materials are available for research.

Museum specimens are acquired in several different ways. Some are obtainedthrough excavation or field collection within the boundaries of themonument, under permit on Bureau of Land Management land, and obtainedthrough donation or purchase. If the monument is to interpret the entireFossil Lake, specimens collected outside monument boundaries must beobtained. Because there is a market for fossils from the Green RiverFormation, and private quarries make their living excavating and sellingfossils, it is financially difficult to obtain a good representative of rarespecimens. The monument is open to donation of specimens and has onoccasion purchased them. Currently, there is limited funding for the purchaseof fossil specimens, though additional funds can be generated throughdonations targeted for fossil acquisition. Any specimen added to the museumcollection must meet the criteria defined in Fossil Butte NationalMonument’s Scope of Collection Statement (April 2000).

In 1999, discussions were held with one of the local quarriers regardingpurchase of a collection of 36 fossil birds. The quarry owner wanted the fossilbirds to stay in the local area and be in the pubic domain. Having so manyfossil birds in one location for comparative analysis was a uniqueopportunity. Nonetheless, the quarry owner had worked hard to excavatethese specimens and wanted financial compensation. The owner believedthat the specimens were being offered to the monument for a bargain price; if


sold individually the specimens would command a much larger sum of moneyand end up in private collections. Some National Park Service personnelbelieved they should not support the purchase of fossils because sometimesfossils are obtained illegally, and purchasing them may perpetuate illegalacquisitions. On the other hand, a rare opportunity to purchase a very specialcollection of legally quarried fossil birds had been offered to the NPS. NPSpolicy 4.8.2.1 states that fossils may be purchased if certain criteria are met.This policy is supported by the bylaws of the Society of VertebratePaleontology, which forbids barter of vertebrate fossils except when purchasebrings them into the scientific domain.

A proposal by the monument to purchase the collection was submitted to theSaving America’s Treasures campaign sponsored by the National ParkFoundation. Unfortunately, this rare bird collection was not purchased dueto other priorities. The Smithsonian Institution and The Field Museum weresolicited to purchase the collection before Fossil Butte knew of theiravailability. Both institutions turned away the offer, citing lack of funds.However, due to a successful public fundraising campaign, The FieldMuseum purchased the bird collection along with two lizards, a mammal, andthe only fossil frog known from Fossil Basin. All are now in the publicdomain, can be described, and are available for future research.

As new fossils are found and new theories are developed, the exhibit text inthe visitor center must be updated to reflect the new information. Temporaryexhibits should be used to disseminate information about current researchand recent discoveries.

In 1994, the monument’s lead interpreter, Marcia Fagnant received theRegional Freeman Tilden Award for developing a traveling fossil educationkit for school groups to learn about fossils. Fagnant believes it is time toreview the themes and materials in these kits to ensure that they reflectcurrent knowledge and to replace materials that are inaccurate or worn out.The Smithsonian Institute and other granting agencies may offer educationalgrants for development and maintenance of traveling exhibits. This could alsobe an opportunity to explore the possibility of expanding the audience bylending the traveling trunk exhibits to international audiences, particularlyCanadian schools.


A Comprehensive Interpretive Plan will refine the park's interpretive goalsand allow the park to take a more proactive role in interpreting the entireFossil Lake. This plan will refine the role of the monument and the directionof the interpretive message. The NPS initiative to inventory and monitorspecific biota in each NPS area will increase the monument’s knowledge ofthe extant flora and fauna within the park. Having a data set of present-dayspecies will help the monument manage NPS lands and add more informationfor comparative analysis when viewing the present ecosystem with theenvironment that existed 50 million years ago. With assistance from themonument’s partners, a solid interpretive plan can be developed and a morecomprehensive message of Fossil Lake delivered to the public.

Recommendations

• Continue developing partnerships with local stakeholders so thecomplete story of Fossil Lake is told.

• Review the research quarry operation to ensure that it continues to meetthe goals of the monument and the needs of the public.

• Write a Comprehensive Interpretive Plan with the assistance of localpartners and include a listing of the resources located outside themonument’s boundaries.

• Apply to the Smithsonian Institution and other granting agencies for aneducational grant to update the monument’s traveling kits to reflect newtheories and replace worn components. Explore opportunities to expandto an international audience, particularly with Canadian schools.

• The monument must follow NPS policy relative to fossil acquisition.


Issue B — Reference Center

Issue Statement

Develop a reference center focusing on paleontology and geology toenable the monument to facilitate scientific activities related to theEocene Greater Green River paleoecosystem.

Background

Fossil Butte National Monument was established to “preserve outstandingpaleontological sites and related geological phenomena, and to interpretscientific specimens.” The monument has interpreted the paleontologicalsites and geological phenomena to include the Green River, Wasatch,Evanston, and Bridger Formations. In this way, a more holistic view isobtained in which Fossil Basin can be interpreted.

Many of those involved in the monument’s designation and members of thelocal community presumed that this directed Fossil Butte to open a quarry onmonument land, prepare specimens from that quarry in the visitor centerpreparation laboratory, and display those specimens in park exhibits. Thisconcept was also included in the monument’s Developmental Concept Plansand Interpretive Prospectus. Comparisons were made between Fossil ButteNational Monument and Dinosaur National Monument that furtherpropagated the assumption that an active, scientific quarry on park land,which the public could visit, was the proper way for the National Park Serviceto interpret fossil resources.

During the development associated with construction of the present-dayvisitor center, Fossil Butte opened a small research quarry on monumentland. The purpose was twofold. First, the quarry was to produce exhibit-


quality, scientific specimens and associated data. Second, the quarry was toprovide a place where visitors could view scientific specimens in the ground.In 1993, the quarry was closed due to weathering and vandalism. After a briefinactive period the quarry was reactivated in 1996. But because the quarry isaccessible only to those who are able-bodied, many visitors interested inattending the monument’s most popular program are excluded.

Although excavating in the quarry is a popular and educational visitoractivity, the number of exhibit-quality, scientifically significant specimensproduced by the quarry have not met the monument’s expectation or needs.To accomplish the mandate of interpreting scientific specimens, additionalfossils representing the latest discoveries from throughout the entirepaleoecosystem of the Green River Formation are needed. In hopes ofdeveloping additional quarries from which to collect the needed specimens,Fossil Butte commissioned a study of alternative quarry sites both within andoutside the monument (1995 Quarry Study Report for the National ParkService, Fossil Butte National Monument). Though potential sites wereidentified on Wyoming State lands and Bureau of Land Management lands,Fossil Butte has not been able to establish additional quarries for political andlogistical reasons.

Recently, Fossil Butte successfully acquired specimens by developingrelationships with local commercial quarriers and university researchers.Acquisitions have been in the form of loans or gifts. As a way of fostering thisnetworking process, Fossil Butte began developing a scientific referencelibrary that is available for use by outside researchers and quarriers. The parkalso visits both commercial and research quarries to open lines ofcommunication, provide technical assistance, disseminate information, andlearn about interesting geologic and paleontologic discoveries.

Discussion

Developing a reference center focused on Eocene paleontology and geologyof the Greater Green River Lakes paleoecosystem would meet a number ofthe monument’s needs. As envisioned, the Fossil Butte Reference Centerwould consist of a facility large enough to store the growing museumcollection, archives, and scientific reference library, and provide a well-equipped work area for research activities. A lab would also be availablewhere rock slabs containing fossils could be cut to size, and specimensprepared. Because the facility would be a reference center (as opposed to a


research center), Fossil Butte staff would not conduct research per se, butrather use professional contacts to network and facilitate the scientificprocess. Through these contacts, and by offering services of a well-equippedwork area, the monument will likely increase the number of exhibit-qualityand scientifically significant specimens it has the opportunity to acquirethrough loan or gift.

Even though the fossils of the Eocene Green River Lakes are aninternationally significant resource, no dedicated reference center currentlyexists. Fossil Butte National Monument is located in the heart of the GreenRiver Formation with more than 10 active quarries within its immediatevicinity, on state, federal and private lands. Researchers regularly utilize parkresources with 9 to 15 research requests annually. (A need for a storagerepository was demonstrated when Loma Linda University, home of one ofthe most active Green River Formation research programs, recently returnedits collection to Fossil Butte because its own storage facility was inadequate.)The State of Wyoming receives all rare fossils from state-leased quarries. TheWyoming Geological Survey receives these fossils and currently houses themin two lab rooms where proper storage is inadequate and they have becomecovered with dust from lab activities. The Bureau of Land Managementdesignates repositories for specimens when research permits are issued.Specimens are therefore housed at universities nationwide. The BLM mayalso be interested in repository partnerships that would consolidatecollections for research and accountability.

By developing a reference center, the monument has the opportunity tosatisfy several needs. First, the additional space will allow proper storage ofthe current museum collection while providing for anticipated growth.Though the focus of the reference center will be on Eocene resources, theentire museum collection will be stored there, allowing expansion of thebiological and cultural collections as well. Second, the reference center willprovide a valuable service to local quarriers. By fostering a good relationshipwith them, there will be a greater likelihood of rare and unusual fossils androcks being made available to the monument. These specimens will facilitatescientific understanding and accurate and exciting programs for the public.

The center will truly be a one-stop facility for comparing specimens,reviewing scientific references, doing rough preparation before transportingto outside research institutions, reviewing historic photos related to fossilcollection and final deposition of collections. These services will attractresearchers and quarriers working in the Eocene deposits of southwestern


Wyoming, northeastern Utah, northwestern Colorado, and other areas wherecomparable Eocene deposits exist (such as the Messel Formation in Germanyand London Clay in England). Such professional contacts will be invaluable ifthe monument is to obtain scientifically current specimens through loans andgifts. A reference center will also give the monument an opportunity tobecome recognized by the science of paleontology and the NPS forfacilitating research while networking with academic researchers, otherfederal and state agencies, and commercial and private collectors alike. Noother fossil park has undertaken such a role. A reference center would put themonument on the cutting edge in developing partnerships within the NPS.

Recommendations

• Develop and refine the concept of a reference center through a draft Roleand Function Statement. Involve all potential partners in the planningprocess to the greatest possible extent.

• Aggressively acquire scientific references focusing on the Eocenepaleontology and geology of the Green River Lakes paleoecosystem. Anoutstanding scientific reference library will attract all levels of researchers.Include citations from related formations from throughout the world,such as the Messel Formation in Germany. Utilize reprints andphotocopies of original articles to keep costs down.

• Explore and develop partnerships with academic researchers, federal andstate agencies, and commercial and private collectors. Because of thevaried interests represented by the potential partners, mutual goals,common ground, and trust levels will need to be explored and nurtured asthe reference center concept is realized.

• Continue developing a virtual quarry through continued research in themonument’s quarry. This will facilitate research and access through theInternet.


Issue C — Collections Storage andWorkplace Environment

Issue Statement

Develop appropriate collection facilities for anticipated growth to permitproper care and use of collections while providing a safe workenvironment.

Background

The monument and adjacent public and private lands are internationallysignificant for both the quality and quantity of fossilized fish and associatedfossil flora and fauna found within the Fossil Lake Basin. Over 20 species offish have been discovered and millions of specimens from this early Eocenelake community are found in museums and private collections throughoutthe world. Among the most extraordinary are the mass mortality layers thatpreserve as many as several hundred fish per square meter. Rarer are thedelicate remains of flowers, insects, snails, mollusks, and clams. Largercreatures like birds, bats, snakes, frogs, turtles, stingrays, and crocodiles arealso found in the basin sediments.

As an internationally recognized fossil site for animals, plants, and insects, themonument’s mandate is to preserve, protect, document and interpret theunique paleontological resources found in the field and stored in itscollections. To preserve the fossils and the associated records for futurescientific investigations and the benefit of the public, the monument mustensure that adequate collection storage and workspace is available forcuration of archives and related reference library materials.


Discussion

The monument’s facilities are insufficient to accomplish its mission. The 1996Resource Management Plan (RMP) states that the “current facilities andfurnishings are inadequate” and that the monument “... lacks equipment andphysical space to make current and new [research] data useful.” An informalsurvey of monument staff conducted in conjunction with the MMP team’son-site visit echoes these concerns. Frequently heard were such comments as,“...not enough space,” “need more space as the library grows, without takingit away from someone else’s space,” “... still the storage area is cramped,” and“...workspace for identification, preparation, handling specimens isinadequate.”

Collections storage space is limited. Workspace for curatorial and researchwork involving the collections was not planned for in the final design of thevisitor center. Limited office space, a small library, paleontology lab, andexhibit area are all that exist. No provisions were made for a staff break roomor conference/meeting room, so these functions are shared with the libraryand office area. Combining eating facilities with research/curatorialworkspace poses a risk to the archives and library materials stored in thisarea.

The growing collection of library reference books and reprints overflowsevery shelf. The lunch table serves as project work space for both seasonaland permanent staff. Crowded conditions in this multipurpose space make itdifficult to complete normal job duties and tasks, as well as specificrequirements such as housekeeping and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)monitoring. The tiny paleontology lab preparation area, used to preparespecimens and conduct interpretive activities, is too small to accomplish theseimportant functions. There is barely enough room in the lab to store thenecessary equipment used to prepare the fragile fossils and the specimensawaiting preparation. The small lab does not provide for the effectiveinterpretation of this important aspect of the monument’s work. In additionto expanded preparation facilities, a permanent museum technician is neededto prepare specimens acquired through collection and donations. In general,a lack of adequate work and storage space in all facilities is damagingcollections, limiting research, and detracting from the visitor’s experience atthe monument. The lack of space is the result of the political atmosphere andresulting artificial limitations on space during the design and construction ofthe visitor center in the late 1980s.


Due to the space problem, a small room (12’ x 14’) for collection storage wasadded to the monument’s maintenance facility during its construction in 1991;however, no dedicated workspace for accessing and utilizing the collectionswas provided. The current museum storage room is severely overcrowded.Rapid growth of the collections has forced the monument staff to double-stack almost all the museum storage cabinets. And all but a few of the cabinetshave reached their maximum capacity. Specimens too large to go in cabinetsare stored on top of cabinets. Open shelving located above the cabinets isused to store a collection of fossilized wood. Access to these shelves abovethe cabinetry is difficult and dangerous for collections and staff attempting toutilize them. Because the monument has experienced an earthquake, suchstorage techniques are not recommended, and constitute a health, life, andsafety risk to the staff and collections. A rolling ladder and a cart used withcollections have to be moved into the entry hall each time the staff needs toopen a cabinet. Aisle space between the stacked cabinets is less than thesuggested 48 inches, or even the minimal 36 inches, which makes opening thedoors and using the pull-out drawers difficult for staff and dangerous for thefragile fossil collections.

Additionally, there is no dedicated research workspace and storage space islimited for curatorial tools, archival supplies, and reference materials.

A combination desk/computer workstation with a small 5-drawer map/flatfile underneath it is situated outside the storage room in the adjacentmaintenance office along with a double-wide cabinet, used to house incomingacquisitions and specimens collected during the current field season. A utilitycabinet located in the hallway contains supplies, tools and small equipment. Afew accessioned collection items, including the monument’s collection ofmaps, large-format documents and building plans are stored in the desk’smap/flat file due to lack of space for them in the collection storage room.Above the desk are additional wall-mounted shelves housing the museummanagement reference materials and copy stand used to photographspecimens. A pair of standard storage cabinets and a double-wide cabinet arelocated under the stairs in the nearby seasonal housing apartments and areused to house uncataloged materials pending accessioning, X-raying, ordisposal.

Current crowded conditions in both the library and collection storage areasare creating significant health and safety problems for the staff andresearchers using the collections. The monument’s staff has done anincredible job of making the most of the available work and storage spaces.


Removing excess rock from specimens (in order to store them in the mostefficient manner possible) has allowed most of the current paleontologycollection to fit within the existing cabinets. Other efforts to create adequatework and storage space for collections have been ingeniously accomplished.In addition, the staff is pursuing the possibility of using the AutomatedNational Catalog System and ProCite databases to provide increasedcomputer access to the museum, archival, and library collections, and archivalmaterials such as the historic photographs. However, all these efforts arebeing hampered by a lack of space, staff, and funding.

The Automated Checklist for the Preservation and Protection of MuseumCollections (ACP), completed in 2000 by monument staff, noted 12deficiencies. For example, the monument does not have a MuseumHousekeeping Plan (MHP) and housekeeping activities are being completedon an irregular basis. There is no IPM Plan, so insect monitoring and controlis also being done ad hoc. The monument has never had a CollectionCondition Survey (CCS) to identify preservation needs and conservationpriorities. The current Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) does not addressthe specific needs of the collections or facilities housing them. These andseveral other important museum-related planning documents, such as the1995 EOP, need to be revised and updated.

The need for and funding to complete and implement all such plans must beidentified. Needs identified on the current checklist include a media safe forstoring photographs and other plastic-based media, additional data loggersfor monitoring temperature and relative humidity conditions in storage andexhibit areas, and the funds for purchasing this equipment.

The monument staff developed detailed plans for an addition to the visitorcenter (Pod #2), which was incorporated into the original visitor centerdesign. Preliminary concept plans were discussed with Andy Beck, architectat the Denver Service Center (DSC), regarding the design and constructionfunding requirements for this addition. In June of 1997, monument staffinvested significant time and effort developing a concept plan to meet theirspecific long-range needs. The proposed facility includes innovative ideasthat should not be lost, such as using living exhibits of modern fish and otheranimals and plants related to the fossilized ancestors at the monument,simulated quarry, dioramas, and Eocene climate environments. The conceptplan includes the “missing” components not found in the visitor center,including the dedicated collection storage area for museum, archives, andlibrary resources, and the development of future park facilities, such as an


amphitheater for public programs, expanded traditional exhibits, larger fossilpreparation lab, offices for current and future staff, research workspace, anda dedicated records storage area.

As an alternative, the monument submitted a $56,000 Project ManagementInformation System (PMIS)/Special Emphasis Allocation System (SEPAS)Project (FOBU #53430) for a Preliminary Assessment for a DedicatedMuseum Storage Facility. This stand-alone building would incorporatecollection storage, preparation lab, research workspace, and curatorial officesin a separate location from the proposed Pod #2, but near the visitor center(see Figure 1, the Preliminary Concept Floor plan). Other interim options forcorrecting the lack of collection storage and workspace should consider thefollowing:

• Locate a modular building for curatorial workspace in the maintenanceyard. Relocate the seasonal offices and interpretive library to this locationto create more space at the visitor center for the reference library andother functions.

• Design and construct a permanent addition to the maintenance facility toenlarge the existing collection storage room and create a dedicatedcuratorial/research workspace. Such a space would provide for collectiongrowth and curatorial activities until a long-term solution can beimplemented.

• Rehabilitate one of the garage bays beneath the seasonal housing unit asan interim museum storage and research area. Subdivide the space intocollection storage and curatorial workspace. Insulate the walls and ceilingand install drywall. Paint and seal the concrete floor. Install a heating,ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control theenvironment (temperature and relative humidity) within the space.

• Shared space at GSA buildings for BLM and NSF in Kemmerer forcuratorial storage.

• Design the visitor center addition in stages and build the basement asstage one for use as curatorial and office space.


Figure 1. Concept floor plan for future museum facility at Fossil Butte National Monument.

emergency exit emergency exit

emergency exit

conservationworkroom

chemicalconservation

room

office

office

safetyshower

&lockerroom

garage door5 ftArvid Aase

August, 2001

mechanicalequipment

photoroom

museum collections storage room

total of 5,425 square feet

catalogue workroom

referencelibrary

seasonal/volunteerdesk area


Recommendations

• Update the monument’s museum checklist and carefully identify theplans, equipment and funds required to correct existing park-identifieddeficiencies. Develop and submit PMIS/SEPAS projects and costestimates to accomplish these projects.

• Develop a Line Item Project Statement for design and construction of thePod #2 modular addition to the visitor center.

• Design and construct a stand-alone museum storage and reference centerin the draw adjacent to the visitor center.

• Consider rehabilitating one of the garage spaces below seasonal housingunits as an interim secondary museum storage and research area.

• Consider installing a modular building in the maintenance yard in orderto provide additional space for the interpretive library, seasonal staff, andresearcher offices.

• Add ANCS+ and Pro-cite to computers accessible to all staff for use inaccessing information on collections.


Issue D — Programming,Funding, and Staffing

Issue Statement

Raise funding and staffing levels to keep pace with increased collectionsacquisition from research and donations.

Background

The museum, archive, and library collections at the monument are growingrapidly in support of the monument’s mission. The primary museumcollection is composed of fossils from the Green River Formation. There aresecondary collections of extant biota (mostly vascular plants) andarcheological material (both prehistoric and historic).

The biological collections are expected to develop with the addition ofentomological specimens, starting in 2002. The monument’s biotechniciancompletes most of the preparation and documentation services required forthe biological specimens created as part of resource management activities.

Seventeen documented archeological sites are identified at the monument.While the current archeological collections are small, this portion of thecollection is likely to increase since the entire monument has not been fullysurveyed.


The monument library continues to grow as reference material becomesavailable and is required to document, reference and interpret the material inthe park collections. A recently completed archival survey of the monument'srecords identified 49,000 individual items to add to the collections asmonument archives.

The Program Management Information System (PMIS) entries for themonument show a total of 39 current entries — two of which are related tothe management of archives, museum, and library collections. Review of thepark spreadsheet for funding from all sources (FY2001) did not indicate aseparate account for combined archives/museum/library operations.

Currently there is one GS-1016-09 Museum Specialist (Geology) on staff withprimary duties related to the management of archival, museum, and librarycollections. This position also supervises quarry operations and thepreparation of resulting specimens, and initiates contacts related to fossilswith other federal and state agencies and commercial quarry operations. Atpresent this position has collateral responsibilities in the monument’smaintenance program. Natural Resource Preservation & Protection (NRPP)projects are funding a three-month museum technician from 2000 - 2002, anda second position during 2002 - 2003.

In 2001 the monument secured the seasonal services of an interpretive rangerto prepare fossil specimens as part of the interpretive program at the visitorcenter. This work is a valuable addition to the interpretive program, andproduces a limited number of prepared specimens for the museumcollections.

Discussion

The effective development of the programs, budget, and staff necessary topreserve resources and complete the monument’s mission requires anaggressive approach to long-range planning and regional priority support.The monument should explore the possibility of external funds for planningand construction. If the necessary documentation of need followed by therequisite planning and programming of the required work does not occur,tasks will be performed in a disorganized and inefficient manner.


As a nonspecialist ultimately responsible for all park programs, thesuperintendent depends upon the professional and technical advice of themuseum specialist to make informed decisions regarding monumentcollections. It is the responsibility of the museum specialist to provide thenecessary documentation, programming, and planning required to makesound fiscal and staff decisions resulting in efficient management of theresources. In filling these responsibilities, the collections manager must bevery clear in the documentation and associated cost of all assigned duties, andthe presentation of this information in a timely manner.

The most efficient method to document current and projected activitiesinvolving curatorial staff is a time/cost analysis. This approach establishes apoint of credibility for the monument’s Museum Management Program, andprovides the superintendent with a logical basis from which to select optionsfor work that gets done, and for work that is placed in backlog. It alsoprovides good information to use in defense of unit requests for staff andfunding. Some very basic time/cost analysis questions might include:

• How many accessions have been processed each year for the last threeyears?

• What is the average time/cost to process an accession?

• Is the rate of new accessions entering the collections increasing ordecreasing?

• Are we keeping up with basic registration, or is material goingunprocessed?

• What is the average time/cost to catalog an object?

• What is the average time/cost to prepare a fossil specimen for storage?

• What is the average storage cost per cubic foot of storage per year?

• What is the time/cost to provide exhibit case monitoring/cleaning peryear?

• How many requests for research access to collections were received peryear for the last three years?

• Is the rate of requests for research access increasing or decreasing?

• What is the time/cost to comply with the “average” research request?

Similar analysis should be done for all assigned duties (both primary andcollateral) and the results compiled both in terms of time and direct costs.


Once this information is collected, analyzed and formatted for presentation,both the employee and superintendent will be able to recognize the time anddirect costs associated with the various facets of the entire work load, anddetermine how to balance and accomplish the necessary work. Additionally,this data will document where collateral duty activities may detract fromessential work, and where the use of other levels of support would be morecost-effective.

The current Resource Management Plan (RMP), revised in January 1998,identifies 90 project statements, 12 of which are related to collectionsmanagement. There is some duplication and overlap in the statements, andsome of the work has been completed.

To assist with development of project statements for the RMP, themonument received a computer disk containing draft “generic” (fill-in-the-blank) statements to review and adapt for unit-specific needs in the nextrevision of the Resource Management Plan. The monument is encouraged touse the search function of the Service PMIS program to identify successfulprograms worded by other units, and adapt these to monument use.

Recommendations

• Develop a list of essential archival, museum and library managementactivities, and begin a time/cost documentation and analysis for eachactivity.

• From the above, develop a staffing plan to address identified anddocumented shortfalls in collections management.

• Revise the Resource Management Plan. Remove redundant and invalidcollection management project statements. Add new project statements todocument needs.

• Revise the Project Management Information System for the monument.Add new project statements that accurately define current park needs incollections management.

• Draft Operations Formula Systems (OFS) statements directed towardshortcomings in museum staffing.


Appendix A — Suggested Archivaland Museum Access Policies

It is National Park Service policy that park-specific cultural and naturalcollections be available for educational and scholarly purposes. The NPS isalso charged with managing these for optimum preservation. To minimize thepotential impact on the archives and museum collections and to ensure basicsecurity and preservation conditions, it is necessary to document, restrict,and monitor access. The guidelines provided here allow for supervisedmanagement of these park-specific resources.

Levels of Access to the Archives and Museum Collections

Providing differing levels of access to collections is a standard curatorialphilosophy underlying the policies of most major museums. Based upon theinformation provided on the Research Application, individuals will beprovided access to differing types of collections information or material,depending upon their needs and the amount of staff time available.

All serious research — regardless of educational level — is encouraged.

Conditions for Access

• The Research Application must be completed; it will be used as a basis fordetermining the level of access necessary, and to maintain a record of usefor statistical and security purposes.


• Level of access will be determined by the superintendent and/or thecollections manager(s). Prior to allowing direct access to the archives andcollections, alternatives such as access to exhibits, publications,photographs, and catalog data will be considered.

• Access will be made with the assistance of the curatorial staff duringregular working hours. A fee to cover the cost of staff overtime may berequired for access outside of the normal working hours.

• Individuals provided access to archives and collections in nonpublic areasare required to sign in and out using the Visitor Log.

• The Guidelines for the Use of Collections and Archives will apply to allindividuals with access to the collections.

• While no user fee will be required for access to the archives or museumcollections, the superintendent and curatorial staff will determine whatservices may be reasonably offered and what charges may be required forsuch services as staff overtime, photography of specimens, orreproduction of documents.

• All photography of specimens and duplication of documents will takeplace on-site per the Guidelines for Photography of Museum Collectionsand Duplication of Historic Documents.

• A limited amount of space is available for use of archives and museumcollections. Researchers are required to check in all collections andremove all personal possessions each evening.

• Fossil Butte National Monument reserves the right to request copies ofnotes made by researchers, and requires copies of research papers orpublications resulting in whole or part from use of the collections.

• There may be legal considerations (such as the Native American GravesProtection and Repatriation Act, 1991) that allow or limit access to part ofthe archives and museum collections.


Access Policy Administration

This statement of policies and procedures is public information, and isavailable upon request from the following:

SuperintendentFossil Butte National MonumentP.O. Box 592Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101-0592

Implementation of these policies and procedures is delegated to thecollections manager(s); however, the superintendent has final authority togrant access to the archives and museum collections.

The evaluation of requests should consider the motives of the researcher, theprojected length of the project, the demands upon available space, staff andcollections, and possible benefits of the research project. Access may bedenied if thought not to be in the best interests of the resources, themonument, or the National Park Service. The superintendent will make thesedecisions in consultation with the collections manager(s).

With increased attention and use, the archives and collections will requireincreased monitoring to provide security, to detect developing preservationproblems, and to facilitate prompt treatment. Regular inventory of the mostheavily used portions of the archives and museum collections will be requiredto ascertain object location and condition.


FOSSIL BUTTE NATIONAL MONUMENTResearch Application for Museum Collections and Historic Documents

Name ___________________________ Telephone Number (_______)________________

Institution/Organization ______________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________

Date you wish to visit _______________________________________________________

(An alternate date might be necessary due to staffing limitations.)

Have you previously conducted research in the park’s museum collection? ❏ Yes ❏ No

Research topic and materials you wish to see ____________________________________

Indicate which activities you wish to do

❏ Consult catalog cards ❏ Consult archeological records

❏ View objects in storage ❏ Study objects in storage

❏ Draw objects ❏ Consult historic documents

❏ Other __________________________________________________________________

Purpose of your research

❏ Book ❏ Article

❏ Lecture/conference paper ❏ Term paper

❏ Thesis ❏ Dissertation

❏ Exhibit ❏ Project

❏ Identify/compare with other material

❏ Other commercial use or distribution __________________________________________

❏ Other __________________________________________________________________

I have read the Museum Collection Access and Use/Research Policies and Procedures and agree toabide by it and all rules and regulations of Fossil Butte National Monument. I agree to exercise all duecare in handling any object in the museum collection and assume full responsibility for any damage,accidental or otherwise, which I might inflict upon any museum property. Violation of National ParkService rules and regulations may forfeit research privileges.

Signature _________________________________________________________________

Date _____________________________________________________________________

Please return to: Superintendent, Fossil Butte National Monument, PO Box 592,Kemmerer, WY 83101-0592


(reverse side : Research Application)

Park Service Use Only

Identification (provide at least one)

Institutional ID _________________________________

Driver’s License Number _________________________

Research Topic

____________________________________________________________

Location of Research (check one)

❏ Curatorial Office

❏ Storage

❏ Exhibit Area

❏ Others _________________________________________________________


FOSSIL BUTTE NATIONAL MONUMENT

Museum Objects Reviewed by the Researcher

Park Catalog ObjectName

Location Accession Acronym Number

Approved by:

Name _____________________________________

Title ______________________________________

Date ______________________________________

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Guidelines for the Use of Archival and Museum Collections

The guidelines provided here regarding use of the park's museum collectionsand archives are followed at Fossil Butte National Monument. It should benoted that these resources are separate from the monument’s general library,which is managed by the Division of Interpretation.

It National Park Service policy that museum collections and archivalresources be available for educational and scholarly purposes. The NPS isalso charged with managing these resources for optimum preservation. Tominimize impact on these collections, it is necessary to regulate access to thematerials.

Copies of the Research Application and the full text of the Guidelines for theUse of Archival and Museum Collections are available to the public, uponrequest from:

SuperintendentFossil Butte National MonumentPO Box 592Kemmerer, WY 83101-0592

Availability

The museum collections and archives are open Monday through Friday, from8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monument staff should contact the park collectionsmanager(s) for access. The museum archives are "nonlending," and thematerials will remain in the building.

For nonstaff users, a completed Research Application (attached) is required.The park should be contacted in advance to assure assistance is availableupon arrival. Access is not normally available on weekends.

All materials must stay within the study areas provided. The size and locationof these areas may vary according to the time of year, requests from otherresearchers, and staff available. The researcher may bring only those materialsneeded for research into the assigned study area. Smoking is not allowed inthe building. Food and drink are not allowed in the study areas.


Registration

The Guest Register, used to record access to museum and archivalcollections, must be signed when the collections are used by staff or nonstaffmembers. Nonstaff researchers are required to complete a ResearchApplication (attached). These forms are retained indefinitely for statisticalanalysis and as a permanent record of collections use. A new application isrequired for each research project, and must be renewed each calendar year.

As part of the registration process, the researcher will be given a copy of theseprocedures to review and sign, thereby indicating his/her agreement to abideby them.

Use of Archival Records and Manuscripts

The archives user is responsible for the careful handling of all materials madeavailable. Remove only one folder from a box at a time. Do not remove oralter the arrangement of materials in the folders. Maintaining the exact orderof materials in a folder and folders within a box is of singular importance. If amistake in arrangement is discovered, please bring it to the attention ofmuseum staff. Do not rearrange material yourself.

Marks on documents may neither be added nor erased. Materials may not beleaned on, written on, traced, folded, or handled in any way that may damagethem.

Only pencils may be used for note taking. The use of pens of any kind isprohibited. Typewriters and computers may be used for note taking ifprovided by the researcher.

Duplication

The park will consider requests for limited reproduction of materials when itcan be done without injury to the records and when it does not violate donoragreements or copyright restrictions. Depending upon the number of copiesrequested, there may be a charge for photocopying. Fragile documents andbound volumes will not be photocopied. All photocopying of archivalmaterial is to be done by the museum staff.


Copyrights and Citations

The revised copyright law, which took effect in 1978, provides protection forunpublished material for the life of the author plus 70 years. In addition, allunpublished material created prior to 1978, except that in the public domain,is protected at least through the year 2002. Permission to duplicate does notconstitute permission to publish. The researcher accepts full legalresponsibility for observing the copyright law, as well as the laws ofdefamation, privacy, and publicity rights.

Information obtained from the park museum collections and archives mustbe properly cited, in publications and unpublished papers. The citationshould read:

"(object name and catalog #) in the collection of Fossil Butte NationalMonument, Kemmerer, WY. Photograph courtesy of the National ParkService."

Restrictions on Use

The use of certain materials may be restricted by statute, by the creator, or bythe donor. For the protection of its collections, the park also reserves theright to restrict access to material that is not fully processed, or isexceptionally valuable or fragile; and to information that may be restricted orconfidential in nature.

Responding to Off-Site Reference Inquiries

It is the responsibility of the park curatorial staff to answer inquiries receivedby letter or telephone within 20 days from the date of receipt. Clearly, theextent to which this reference service is undertaken will depend uponavailability of staff time and the nature of the question. The receipt of writteninquiries will be acknowledged by telephone if a full response cannot beprovided promptly. The staff must set time limits for answering researchquestions, so researchers are encouraged to use the collections in person.

A record of all research inquiries will be maintained. Such a record is usefulfor security and for compiling statistics on research use of the collection. Useof the collections by park staff will be included in these statistics.


Guidelines for Handling Museum Collections

Handling museum collections may be hazardous. Follow the guidelinesprovided to ensure safe handling.

Archeological collections may contain broken glass and rusty metal objectswith sharp edges. Historic material may retain chemical or biologicalcontamination. Natural history collections contain chemical preservativesand possible biological contamination. Archival collections may becontaminated with mold, insects, and vermin droppings, or may containasbestos or cellulose nitrate film.

• Use caution in handling collections, and wear gloves when requested todo so.

• Curatorial personnel will retrieve and replace material for anyone usingthe collections. Direct access to material may be restricted if the object isvery fragile.

• Do not remove materials from storage packaging without the permissionand assistance of the curatorial staff. The packaging is necessary toprevent damage and deterioration of the specimen, and to protect theresearcher from potential injury.

• Always handle objects with clean hands. Use white cotton gloves whenhandling metal, photographs, paper, and leather objects; washed whiteduck gardener's gloves may be required for heavy objects.

• Do not use white cotton gloves when handling glass or other objects withslippery surfaces, very heavy objects, or items with friable or brittlesurfaces.

• Do not pick up anything before you have a place to put it down and yourpath to this place is clear.

• Look over an artifact before lifting it to see how it is stored and to observeany peculiarities of its construction, fragility, etc. If an object is made inseparable sections, take it apart before moving it. Do not attempt to carryheavy or awkward objects alone. Never carry more than one object at atime, and be particularly careful with long objects.

• Except for small items, always grasp an object with two hands, and graspthe largest part or body of the object. Slide one hand under fragile items asyou lift them.

• If an artifact has a weak or damaged area, place or store it with that areavisible.


Special Objects

• Place mounted herbarium specimens on a flat surface and handle thefolder cover and specimens gently, taking care not to bend the sheets ortouch the actual specimen.

• Handle pinned insect specimens as little as possible, and then only by thepin. Avoid bumping and strong drafts when handling these specimens.

• Keep skulls and skeletons in their jars or containers while examining.

• Support ceramics and baskets from the bottom, never lifted by the rim orhandles.

• Handle photographs, transparencies and negatives by the edges, and keepthem in protective mylar sleeves whenever possible. Always wear whitegloves should always be used when handling photographs.

• Support unrolled textiles broadly from underneath rather than from theedge.

Reporting Damage

Please report any damage you observe or cause to specimens.

Behavior

• Food, beverages, smoking and pets are not allowed in the storage or studyareas.

• Staff members are responsible for the behavior of any personaccompanying them into the collections.

• Children under six years of age must be physically controlled by anaccompanying adult at all times. Other minors must be under the directsupervision of an accompanying adult at all times.

I have read and understand the above policy.

Name ___________________________________________________________

Date ____________________________________________________________



Guidelines for Photography of Collections and Duplication ofHistoric Documents

This policy documents appropriate procedures for photographing FossilButte National Monument museum collections, and for duplicating originalhistoric photographs and documents. The policy is intended to preventdamage or loss through mishandling or exposure to detrimentalenvironmental conditions.

Duplicate Photographs of Museum Collections

There are many possible uses for photographs of the items in museumcollections, the most common being exhibit, publication and research. It isthe policy of the National Park Service to encourage the use of its collectionsin these legitimate ventures and to make photographs of museum collectionsavailable within reasonable limitations.

Photography involves exposing often fragile museum objects to potentialdamage or loss from handling and exposure to heat and light. The NPS wantsto minimize potential damage by photographing items as few times aspossible. To this end, the park will develop a reference collection of objectphotographs available for public use. A minimal fee may be required forcopies of the photographs.

To provide this service and build the necessary reference collection, thefollowing procedures will be followed:

• Requests for photographs of items in the museum collections will besubmitted to the park curator, who will establish any necessary priorityfor the work. Requests should be made on copies of the attached form.

• Requested items that do not have copy negatives will be photographedbased on these priorities. A cost recovery charge for photography andprocessing may be required.

• Photography will be done at the park by park personnel to preclude thepossibility of artifact damage or loss. The resulting photographicnegatives and their copyrights belong to the National Park Service.

• Once an object has been photographed, the monument will maintain thenegative for future requests for photographs of that object. A minimalcost recovery charge may be required for prints.


Duplication of Historic Photographs and Documents

There is a wide variety of historic photographic processes and documenttypes, but they all are subject to rapid deterioration from exposure to visiblelight and are very susceptible to damage from handling. Handling thesematerials causes damage such as tears, cracks, abrasions, fingerprints, andstains. Handling also subjects historic photographs and documents tofluctuations in temperature and humidity.

To prevent further deterioration, copies will be made of all historicphotographs and documents, with the copy replacing the originals as theprimary item for research and use. The original material will remain instorage, for the most part, as primary source material.

Because of increased requests for access to and copies of historicphotographs and documents, the following procedures are necessary toestablish priorities for the duplication work:

• Requests for duplicate historic photographs and documents aresubmitted to the monument collections manager who will establish anynecessary priority for copy work.

• Requested items that do not presently have copy negatives will beduplicated based on these priorities. The originals must be accessionedand cataloged into the monument collection. A cost recovery charge forduplication may be requested.

• Duplication will be done at the monument, or under monument control,to preclude possibilities of loss or damage.

• Once the photographs have been duplicated, copy prints and modernnegatives of the originals will be maintained and used for further use andduplication. Microfiche copies of historic documents will also bemaintained and available for use. A cost recovery charge may be requiredfor copy prints.

The monument will provide the sufficient quality duplication necessary tofulfill all the normal requirements for suitable reproduction. Non-NPSindividuals or organizations that request use of the images must use onlythose copies provided by the monument; and they must acknowledge NPScredit if the photographs are published or exhibited to the public. By law,users must also credit the photographer, if known.



Request for Photographs of Items from the Museum Collections

Catalog # Object Name B&W/Color Size Finish

The undersigned agrees to provide the following credit statement for allpublication use:

"(object name and catalog #) in the collection of Fossil Butte NationalMonument, Kemmerer, WY. Photograph courtesy of the National Park Service."

Signature ________________________________________________________

Date ____________________________________________________________


Appendix B — Suggested LibraryOperating Policy

Introduction

The library at Fossil Butte National Monument is an essential resource thatthat enables staff to carry out the park's mandate. This appendix establishesguidelines and standards for the development and operation of the FossilButte National Monument library, helping to ensure stability, continuity, andefficiency in its operation. These policies are intended to guide and supportdecisions of the librarian and to inform park staff and other library users ofthe library's objectives. These policies will be reviewed and updated by parkstaff every two years and be approved by the superintendent, unless policychanges require action sooner.

Objective

The primary objective of the Fossil Butte National Monument library is toselect, preserve, and make available material that assists monument staff andsite-related researchers in their work. Primary emphasis is the support ofinterpretive services to monument visitors.

Responsibility

Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the park librarymanager. This employee will be designated by the superintendent and will beresponsible for compiling a list of desired acquisitions, promptly adding newlibrary items to the collection, shelving materials, ensuring that material isreturned in proper condition, accounting for the collection, and maintainingcatalog materials in computerized and physical form.


Scope of Collection

The collection consists of books, periodicals, microfilm, videotape, maps,photographs, and research files. These materials cover Paleocene and Eocenepaleontology and geology, extant plants, animals, and ecosystems of high-desert steppe, the cultural history of Southwest Wyoming, monumentmandate and development, and NPS material.

Selection Guidelines and Procedures

The Interpretation and Resource Management Divisions will use thefollowing criteria in selecting materials for the library:

• Importance of the subject matter to the collection

• Authenticity and accuracy

• Permanent value and/or historic potential

• Author’s reputation

• Publisher's reputation and standards

• Readability

• Price

• Availability in nearby libraries

The monument library manager will compile a list of desired acquisitions inAugust of each year. Input from all staff will be considered. Copies will beforwarded to the superintendent and team leaders for budget and referencepurposes.

Periodicals

In addition to general library selection criteria, periodical selections willconsider the following:

• Periodicals must supplement the collection as an additional and currentsource of information.

• Periodicals must occasionally or regularly publish popular articles,historic materials, or research findings relating to the monument.


Operating Guidelines

Loan Privileges

Borrowing privileges are extended to all NPS employees and volunteers at themonument. There is a 30-day limit on individual loans that can be extended atthe discretion of the monument library manager. The librarian is responsiblefor reviewing the card files no less than once a month and contacting staffwith overdue materials. No more than three items may be checked out at onetime.

At the discretion of the monument library manager or chief, library privilegesmay be extended to the following:

• NPS employees from other areas

• Contractors conducting research in the park

• Researchers with valid research needs at all levels

• Other users who will benefit the monument and not interfere with normaloperations

Non-NPS library use is restricted to on-site use. The superintendent maymake exceptions. Use of the library by nonmonument staff will be byappointment with the library manager. Use will be supervised; users willcheck in and check out. A log of nonmonument use of the library will bemaintained.

Returned materials are to be placed in the “Return” box. The library manageris responsible for reshelving and refiling materials. No other person shouldreshelve books. Materials should be reshelved at least weekly.

Borrowers will replace lost or seriously damaged materials and, if materialsare not immediately available, reimburse the monument with the cost ofreplacement. If materials are not replaced or compensated for within 90 days,a bill of collection will be issued for the estimated market value of thematerials.

Abuse of library materials and privileges will result in the loss of libraryprivileges.


Vertical File

The library will maintain a vertical file. This file contains information aboutthe monument, photocopied material not suitable for cataloging into theregular collection, pamphlets, articles, and personal accounts from diaries,journals, letters and newspaper clippings. Materials in this file will becataloged into a vertical file index, which the library manager will maintain.This file will be updated yearly in January.

Paperbacks

Paperbacks will be acquired for the following reasons:

• Title is not available in hardcover.

• Subject is estimated to be of current interest only.

• Substantial price difference exists.

Duplicates

Duplicate copies of heavily used materials will be acquired when needed.

Replacement

After all reasonable efforts have been made to recover lost or stolen books,replacement will be attempted if there is a demand and/or the item meetsselection criteria.

Gifts

Gifts of materials that meet the selection criteria may be accepted with theunderstanding that:

• The monument retains the right to keep, use, or dispose of them asdeemed appropriate by the superintendent

• The materials will be integrated into the regular collection

• Monument staff will give no appraisals for tax purposes. The librarymanager may assist in the following ways

• Suggest sources of such information, such as dealers’ catalogs

• Provide a receipt describing the donated items but not assigning avalue to them


Controlled Access Collection

A locked cabinet will be maintained in the library with rare and fragilematerials. The basis for inclusion in this cabinet is as follows:

• The items are virtually irreplaceable

• Monetary value of the items is over seventy-five ($75.00) dollars

• The items have particular historic interest to the monument

• The items have reference value

• The items have unusual attractiveness or interest

• The items are in fragile or delicate condition

Materials from this collection will be loaned only at the discretion of thesuperintendent. Titles will be noted in the catalog as being in the cabinet. Aseparate list of the materials will be kept in the cabinet.

Exhibited Materials

The park library manager will compile and maintain a list of all books,periodicals, and maps that are used as furnishings and are not part of thelibrary. The list will be kept in the controlled access area.

Research Files

Items in the research files may be checked out in the same manner as booksunless they are specifically marked to the contrary. Research materials maynot leave the building.

Photocopying

Photocopying of materials is permitted except in the following situations:

• Materials could be damaged due to flattening the binding or exposure tolight.

• Materials are marked “Do Not Copy.”

Material photocopied for use outside the park must be labeled as follows:

NOTICE:

Copyright law found in Title 17, U.S. Code

may protect this material.


Adding New Publications

The Library of Congress System (LCS) is used at Fossil Butte NationalMonument. The following steps will be followed when new publications areadded to the system:

1. The Administration Office will receive new books and attend to allinvoice matters.

2. The new books will then go to the library manager.

3. The library manager will obtain call numbers, enter them into ProCite,and prepare labels for the book.

4. While books are being added to the catalog, they will be placed in thecontrolled access area; they can be used in the library only with thepermission of the park library manager.

5. When cataloging is completed, the library manager will affix labels,pocket, and checkout card to the publication.

6. Books are then shelved according to their LCS number.

Excluded Publications

With the exception of the categories listed below, all books purchased withNPS or cooperating association funds will be accessioned and cataloged intothe monument library in a timely manner. Excepted categories include thefollowing:

• Dictionaries, thesauruses, word finders, usage guides, or similar referenceguides

• Other books regularly needed by employees to carry out their day-to-dayduties, such as safety manuals, fire codes, regulations, laws, museummanuals, public health manuals, etc.

• Annual publications, such as almanacs, price books, catalogs, zip codeguides, etc.

• Publications purchased as part of an approved training program

• Books in the excepted category may be included in the collection at thediscretion of the library manager.

Inventories

By the end of each fiscal year, the park library manager will compile a list ofacquisitions of the past year, noting source and cost. The list will beforwarded to the superintendent.


Binding

Unbound or paperback material will be bound at the recommendation of thelibrary manager when value, condition, or frequency of use justifies this step.

Weeding

The removal of material from the collection judged to be of no use forresearch or documentation purposes will occur on a yearly basis. Weedingwill coincide with the annual inventory and follow the same criteria used inthe selection of new materials. Items considered for deaccession shouldexhibit the following characteristics:

• Information outside of the scope of collection

• Outdated information

• Inaccurate information

• Irreparably damaged or worn material

All items, including those that exhibit the above characteristics, should becarefully considered for possible historic value.

Weeding Procedure

• Items are removed from the collection following the above criteria.

• Selected material is included in a memo and circulated to monument staff.Final approval of weeding is made by the museum technician.

• A Report of Survey (DI-103) is prepared and circulated.

• Library records will be updated.

• Cataloged items are offered to the following:

a) Denver Service Center – Technical Information Center Library

b) Intermountain Region Units

c) Harpers Ferry

d) Department of the Interior Library

e) Library of Congress

Materials may be disposed of to other institutions at the discretion of the parklibrary manager with the concurrence of the museum technician.

The library will be weeded in January.


The staff at the DSC-TIC Library may be contacted with questionsconcerning library management or operations not specific to the parks, at303.969.2534.

Approved by:

Superintendent ___________________________________ Date _____________

Team Leader ______________________________________ Date _____________

Librarian _________________________________________ Date _____________


Appendix C —Procedures for Evaluating and

Retaining Monument-Specific Records

The collection of monument-specific records and manuscripts (commonlyreferred to as the “monument archives”) is a specialized part of the museumcollection. Along with the museum collection of specimens and objectsdirectly relating to the monument’s mandate, and the monument library,which contains the published information about institutional themes, therecords and manuscript collection provide information on the innerworkings of the park as a whole. The archives may therefore contain suchdiverse elements as records of land acquisition, maps and drawings ofmonument improvements, resource management studies, copies ofmonument publications, films, and slide shows, the personal files of formermonument employees, and field records related to specimen collection.

For the creation of the monument archives, it is necessary for the recordsmanager and the collection manager to cooperate and work toward acommon objective: the retention of the institutional memory of themonument as a whole. By emphasizing the team approach, the monument canbest facilitate the logical and orderly movement of records and manuscriptsfrom their point of origin, through processing, and into permanent locationsfor storage and use. Occasionally this team should also include the services ofa professional archivist, who can assist in developing the overall form,structure, and use criteria for the collection. In this particular case, the MMPteam suggests that the monument request the services of the archivist at theWestern Archeological and Conservation Center in Tucson, Arizona.

Three primary National Park Service documents should guide the creation ofthe park archives:


• Director’s Order 19, Records Management identifies what types of recordsmust be destroyed or transferred to a Federal Records Center and sets theschedule for these activities.

• Director’s Order 28, Cultural Resource Management outlines in broadterms the National Park Service policy covering the creation,management, and use of park records and manuscripts as part of amuseum collection.

• The NPS Museum Handbook, Part II, Appendix D, contains specificinstructions on methods to organize, manage, and use archival collectionsfor the benefit of both staff and the general public.

During the visit to Fossil Butte National Monument, the MMP teamidentified approximately 26,000 individual items that must be evaluated forretention in the archives. A professional archivist should evaluate thiscollection and assess organization, storage, and duplication needs.

To obtain the funding necessary for this work, the monument should take thefollowing steps:

• Accession the entire records collection under one initial accessionnumber. As the archivist organizes the collection, add several moreaccession numbers, depending upon the natural groupings of recordtypes.

• Ensure adequate documentation of this accession in the next annualCollection Management Report. This step will allow the park to requestBacklog Cataloging funds and address the organization, cataloging, andduplication of this resource.

• Survey, catalog, and duplicate the collections. Provide the requisitenumber of media use points (microfiche reader/printers or computerswith printers, for example) in designated use areas that are convenient tothe staff and general public.

• Develop an adequate “follow-on” program designed to update thearchives with new material from active files on a regular basis (3- to 5-yearcycle). Program the necessary Cyclic Maintenance funds to underwritethis necessary work.

By adopting and following this methodology, the monument will be able tomove the records and manuscripts that document monument resources andmanagement activities from current files to an organized medium availablefor both NPS and public use.


Bibliography

Good museum management planning requires: an understanding of thelibrary, archives, and museum collection resources as they currently exist;background on how and why these resources were developed; andinformation on what is required to preserve the resources and make themavailable for use. In order to accomplish these goals effectively, planners mustfirst review monument-specific documentation such as reports, checklists,and plans; and then make recommendations based upon sound professionaltheory and techniques that are documented in the professional literature.

This bibliography brings together the references used in developing themuseum management plan for Fossil Butte National Monument. The firstsection is the reference list of monument-specific documentation provided bythe monument and used by the team to understand the current status of theresources. The second section includes a list of recommended readings thatwill provide the monument staff with a better understanding of the physicaland intellectual nature of these unique resources, and will enable them toapply professionally accepted techniques and standards for preservation anduse.

Park Reference List

1980 General Management Plan

1984 Interpretive Prospectus

1988 Developmental Concept Plan

1992 Position Description: Museum Technician (General) GS-05

1993 Fossil, Wyoming: A Trip Through Time and Memories. Fagnant,Marcia D., Dinosaur Nature Association

1995 Emergency Operations Plan

1995 Quarry Site Trenching & Investigation of Additional Sites


1996 Statement for Management

1998 Resource Management Plan

2000 Scope of Collections Statement

2000 Checklist for Preservation & Protection of Museum Collections

2000 Collection Management Report

2001 Position Description: Museum Specialist (Geology) GS-09

2001 Ia6 Evaluation of Long Term Goals for Museum Collections(GPRA)

2001 Organizational Chart

2001 PMIS Project Title List

2001 Fossil Lake Quarry Guidelines

Suggested Reading List

The skills and craft necessary to perform adequate curatorial work haveexpanded exponentially over the past three decades. Fortunately, theliterature in the field has also expanded to meet program needs. The currentNational Park Service publications, Museum Handbook, the Conserve O Gramseries, and Tools of the Trade, all provide basic guidelines. They provideinformation on certain tasks such as accessioning and cataloging, but they donot teach the neophyte when and/or why these tasks should be done. Theproper application of the methodology presented in these documentsrequires a degree of intellectual preparation and practical experience thatcannot be provided in procedural manuals or a two-week course.

The following references represent some of the best theory and practice inthe fields of collections management, exhibits and programs, and archivalmanagement available today within the professional community. The MMPteam does not suggest that the monument purchase a copy of each suggestedreference, but it is possible to acquire copies of these volumes on interlibraryloan.

Managers and supervisors at Fossil Butte National Monument areencouraged to consider familiarity with the recognized literature in the fieldwhen evaluating prospective employees or, as an indication of continuedprofessional growth, when doing performance evaluations. This familiarity


should be a determining factor for employment at the GS-7 series 1015 leveland above. It should also serve as an indication of job interest andcommitment to professionalism when overall work standards are evaluated.

Collection Management References

American Association of Museums. Caring for Collections: Strategies forConservation, Maintenance and Documentation. 1984. More than 60 curators,registrars, and conservators contributed information on how to improveenvironmental conditions, manage inventory, register objects, and augmentpublic use of museum collections.

Appelbaum, Barbara. Guide to Environmental Protection of Collections. SecondView Press, 1991. Clarifies the various conditions that impact collections, howobjects respond, and how to mitigate damage. Good book for thenonspecialist.

Butcher-Younghans, Sherry. Historic House Museums: A Practical Handbook forTheir Care, Preservation, and Management. Oxford University Press, 1996.This book serves as both reference and hands-on guide for all aspects ofhistoric house management, including collections care, conservation,security, and interpretation.

Buck, Rebecca A. & Gilmore, Jean A., eds. The New Museum RegistrationMethods. American Association of Museums, 1998. This is a very well doneupdate of the classic Museum Registration Methods by Dorothy Dudley andIrma Wilkinson (below). Good format and easy to reference, with up-to-dateinformation sections concerning copyright, NAGPRA issues, and ethics.

Committee on Libraries, Museums, and Historic Buildings. Protection ofMuseums and Museum Collections 1980. NFPA 911, Boston: National FireProtection Association, Inc., 1980. One of the best sources on fire protectionand prevention, written specifically for museums.

Dudley, Dorothy H., et al. Museum Registration Methods. 3rd ed. AmericanAssociation of Museums, 1979. Accepted as "the basic reference" for museumregistrars, this classic covers registration, storage, and care, as well asinsurance, packing and shipping, and loan management.

Edwards, Stephen R., Bruce M. Bell, and Mary Elizabeth King. Pest Control inMuseums: A Status Report. Lawrence, Kansas: Association of SystematicCollections, 1980. A good guide to pesticides, their use in museums, andcommon insect pests.


Hensley, John R. "Safeguarding Museum Collections from the Effects ofEarthquakes." Curator, September 1987, pp. 199-205.

Hunter, John E. "Standard Practices for Handling Museum Objects." Omaha,Nebraska: National Park Service, Midwest Region. North Dakota.

. "Standards for the Design, Installation, Testing, and Maintenance ofInterior Intrusion Detection/Alarm System." Omaha, Nebraska: NationalPark Service, Midwest Region. 1981.

Johnson, E. Verner and Joanne C. Horgan. Museum Collection Storage. Paris:UNESCO, 1979.

Knell, Susan. Care of Collections. London: Routledge, 1994. Basic book onpreventative conservation, focusing on specific and practical guidelines forcollections care and handling.

Leo, Jack. "How to Secure Your Museum: A Basic Checklist." History News, June1980, pp. 10-12.

Lewis, Ralph H. Manual for Museums. Washington, DC: National Park Service,Department of Interior, 1976.

MacLeish, A. Bruce. The Care of Antiques and Historical Collections. Nashville,Tennessee: The American Association for State and Local History, 1983. Areference for general museum collection care.

Malaro, H.C., A Legal Primer on Managing Museum Collections. Washington, DC:Smithsonian Institutional Press, 1985.

Metsger, Deborah A. & Shelia C. Byers, eds. Managing the Modern Herbarium: AnInterdisciplinary Approach. 1999. Society for the Preservation of NaturalHistory Collections. Elton-Wolfe Publishing, Vancouver, Canada. Firstsignificant publication in decades on herbaria that covers all aspects ofherbaria management.

National Park Service. Automated National Catalog System User Manual. 1998.

. Conserve O Gram. 1974 to present.

_____. CRM, Volume 22, no. 2, 1999 “Archives at the Millennium.”

. NPS Management Policies. 2001.

. NPS Museum Handbook, Part I: Museum Collections. 1990 (revised).


. NPS Museum Handbook, Part II: Museum Records. 2000.

_____. NPS Museum Handbook, Part III: Museum Collections Use. 1998.

_____. DO #19: Records Management. 2001.

_____. NPS-19: Records Management Guidebook. 1999 Appendix B (only):"Records Management Disposition Schedule."

. DO #28: Cultural Resources Management. 1998.

. NPS-77: Natural Resources Management Guidelines. 1991.

. DO #24: NPS Museum Collections Management, 2000.

. Tools of the Trade. 1996.

Olkowski, William and Sheila Daar and Helga Olkowski. Common Sense PestControl. The Taunton Press, 1991. A very good IPM reference.

Reitherman, Robert. "Protection of Museum Contents from Earthquakes." The J.Paul Getty Museum Symposium on Protection of Art Objects from Damageby Earthquakes: What Can Be Done? 1984.

Rose, Carolyn and Amparo de Torres, eds. Storage of Natural History Collections:Ideas and Practical Solutions. Society for the Preservation of Natural HistoryCollections, 1992. A good “idea” book containing several photographs andgraphics detailing innovative solutions to the storage of various types ofmaterials.

_______ & C.A. Hawks, et al. Storage of Natural History Collections: A PreventiveConservation Approach. 1995. Society for the Preservation of Natural HistoryCollections.

Thomson, Garry. The Museum Environment. 2nd ed. London: Butterworths, 1986.An excellent source on light, humidity, and air pollution.

Thomson, John, et al. Manual of Curatorship: A Guide to Museum Practice. 2nd ed.London: Butterworths, 1992. Possibly the best comprehensive reference inprint on the craft and professionalism required for curatorial work.

Weinstein, Robert A., et al. Collection, Use and Care of Historical Photographs.American Association for State and Local History, 1977. One of the best basicreferences on this technical subject.


Zycherman, Linda, ed. A Guide to Museum Pest Control. The Foundation of theAmerican Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and theAssociation of Systematic Collections. A good, basic reference on pestidentification, with suggestions for methods of control.

Exhibits and Programs References

American Association of Museums. "The Audience in Exhibition Development:Course Proceedings." Resource Report, 1992. A good guide to models ofexhibition development; philosophy of education; learning theory; gender,culture, class and learning; spatial knowledge and its role in learning;evaluation; and visitor surveys.

Belcher, Michael. Exhibitions in Museums. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992.Discusses every stage of exhibit planning, design, and presentation, includingaudience research and evaluation. A good resource book.

Dean, David. Museum Exhibition: Theory and Practice. London: Routledge, 1994.Outlines the full range of exhibition development concerns, from planningand design to evaluation and administration.

Falk, John and Lynn D. Dierking. The Museum Experience. Whalesback Books,1992. Provides a good introduction to what is known about why people go tomuseums, what they do there, and what they learn. Guidelines andrecommendations are offered to help museum staff understand visitors andtheir motivation for visiting.

Hooper-Greenhill, Eileen. Museums and Their Visitors. London: Routledge, 1994.The unique needs of school groups, families, and people with disabilities areoutlined and illustrated with examples of exhibit, education, and marketingpolicies that work to provide a quality visitor experience.

Hooper-Greenhill, Eileen, ed. The Educational Role of the Museum. London:Routledge, 1994. A close look at the theories of communication in museums,exhibition theories and case studies, and educational programs in Britishmuseums, this book translates well into the American experience.

Korn, Randi and Laurie Sowd. Visitor Surveys: A User's Manual. AmericanAssociation of Museums, 1990. A good, basic manual on how to conductvisitor surveys to accurately measure the effectiveness of museum exhibitsand programs.


McLean, Kathleen. Planning for People in Museum Exhibitions. Association ofScience-Technology Centers, 1993. Good description of the exhibitionprocess, from planning to assessment.

New York Hall of Science. Take to the Streets: Guide to Planning Outdoor, PublicExhibits. 1995. Based on a series of sidewalk exhibits done in New York, thisbook contains checklists and guidelines for planning, designing, andimplementing outdoor exhibits.

Neil, Arminta. Help for the Small Museum. Pruett Publishing Co. 1987. The secondedition of the classic "how to" book for the development of temporaryexhibits on a tight budget.

Serrell, Beverly. Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach. Altamira Press, 1996.Solid reference tool, including discussions of label planning, writing, design,and publication. Contains very good resource list, glossary, and bibliography.

Witteborg, Lothar P. Good Show! A Practical Guide for Temporary Exhibitions.Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, 1991. The secondedition of a standard reference offering practical guidance in exhibitplanning, design, fabrication, security, conservation, and installation.

Archives Management References

Aourada, Stephen. Archives and Manuscript Materials in Parks of the NorthAtlantic Region. National Park Service, 1992.

Bellardo, Lewis and Lynn Lady Bellardo. A Glossary for Archivists, ManuscriptCurators, and Records Managers. Archival Fundamental Series. Chicago:Society of American Archivists, 1992.

Casterline, Gail F. Archives and Manuscripts: Exhibits. Chicago: Society ofAmerican Archivists, 1980 (Out of print).

Daniels, Maygene and Timothy Walsh, eds. A Modern Archives Reader: BasicReadings on Archival Theory and Practice. Washington, DC: NationalArchives Trust Fund Board, 1984.

Eastman-Kodak. Conservation of Photographs. Rochester, NY: Kodakpublication F-40, Rochester, NY: Eastman-Kodak Company, 1985.

Ellis, Judith, ed. Keeping Archives. Second edition. Australia: Australian Societyof Archivists and D.W. Thorpe, 1993.


Finch, Elsie Freeman, ed. Advocating Archives: An Introduction to PublicRelations for Archivists. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1994.

Ham, Gerald F. Selecting and Appraising Archives and Manuscripts. ArchivalFundamental Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1992.

Harrison, Donald Fisher, ed. Automation in Archives. Washington, DC: Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, 1993.

Hunter, Greg. Developing and Maintaining Practical Archives. New York: NealSchuman Publishers, 1997.

Kesner, Richard and Lisa Weber. Automating the Archives: A Beginner's Guide.Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1991.

A Manual for Small Archives. Vancouver: Archives Association of BritishColumbia, 1991.

Miller, Frederic M. Arranging and Describing Archives and Manuscripts.Archival Fundamental Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1990.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). A NARA Evaluation:The Management of Audiovisual Records in Federal Agencies. A GeneralReport. Washington, DC, 1991.

MacNeil, Heather. Without Consent: The Ethics of Disclosing PersonalInformation in Public Archives. Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press,1992.

O'Toole, James M. Understanding Archives and Manuscripts. ArchivalFundamental Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1990.

Pugh, Mary Jo. Providing Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts.Archival Fundamental Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1992.

Ritzenthaler, Mary Lynn, et al. Archives and Manuscripts: Administration ofPhotographic Collections. SAA Basic Manual Series. Chicago: Society ofAmerican Archivists, 1984.

Ritzenthaler, Mary Lynn. Preserving Archives and Manuscripts. ArchivalFundamental Series. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1993.

Silverman, Cetyl and Nancy J. Perezo. Preserving the Anthropological Record.New York: Wanner-Green Foundation for Anthropological Research, Inc.,1992.


Swartzburg, Susan. Preserving Library Materials: A Manual. 2nd ed. Metuchen, NJ:Scarecrow Press, 1995.

Van Bogart, Dr. John W.C. Magnetic Tape Storage and Handling: A Guide forLibraries and Archives. Washington, DC: The Commission on Preservationand Access, 1995.

Warren, Susan. "Introduction to Archival Organization and Description: Accessto Cultural Heritage." Getty Information Institute: San Marino, CA, 1998.On-the-Web primer includes a tutorial athttp://www.schistory.org/getty/index.html

Wilted, Thomas and William Note. Managing Archival and ManuscriptRepositories. Archival Fundamental Series. Chicago: Society of AmericanArchivists, 1991.

Yakel, Elizabeth. Starting an Archives. Chicago: Society of American Archivists,1994.