american museum

["Rob Schenck" <rs7286@albany.edu>]

-hi all

    Does anybody know how someone goes about requesting access to
paleontological collections at the American Museum of Natural history?  Is
there a form that is filled out, or do you have to know one of the curators,
is it formalized or is there no process?  Does one normally look at their
catalogue before hand, and if so do you need to make a special request for
that?
    Is access restricted to graduate students studying at universities
affiliated with the university, or is it open to all graduate students?
What about people with BS degrees only?  Are they less likely to be granted
acess?  Once given access, how long is it usually given for, an indefinite
period of time (or at least until the project the specimins are being
studied for is complete), a limted period of time (regardless of whether or
not the project is finished) or is it given for certain times of the day and
on certain days?

Also, how available are staff members for assistance, are there requirements
placed upon them by their jobs to freely help people researching their
collections, or is it strictly a personal matter?

Do most museums have similar processes, or does it differ from place to
place?

thanks.

~R.


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