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Sharing Your Collection
byGeorge Campbell
If you're like most collectors,
you're very proud of your mineral collection. It represents a lot of
work and thought and represents some of the wonderful aspects of our
planet. You probably enjoy showing your collection to others, as
well. It's only natural.For most of us, though, the opportunities to
share our collections are somewhat limited. Visitors to our homes can
see it, but often that's about it. Here are a group of ideas you can
consider as ways to share your collection with your community. You'll
increase people's appreciation for minerals, and maybe even stimulate
someone to begin collecting themselves.
Share With Local Schools
The days when schools had mineral
collections available for study are long gone, and that's truly sad.
But, you can help introduce the children in your local schools to
minerals. You can contact your school's office to find out the name
of the teacher responsible for science education in that school.
Contact that individual and see if there isn't a way you can help.
Some possibilities include:
Set up a Display at the School.
Many schools have display cases in
the hallways. A simple, educational display is an excellent way to
stimulate interest. A variety of specimens, well-labeled, along with
a few informational cards are all it takes. These display cases are
always locked, so your minerals will be safe. Most often, such a
display will be on exhibit for one quarter or semester.
Visit Classes.
In many cases, schools are very
excited when an expert in the community is willing to come and give a
talk to a class. While nobody likes public speaking, you can easily
plan and rehearse a talk, illustrated with actual hand specimens
which can be passed around. One favorite topic is a talk about the
importance of minerals in our daily lives. Virtually everything in
our lives has some relationship to the mineral kingdom. Hint: If
you're visiting young students, take a box of small pyrite or quartz
crystals and let each student take one. They'll be thrilled. Once
you've done this once, it gets easier each time.
Host a Field Trip.
If your collection is displayed in
a room that will hold a group, you can arrange for a class of
students to visit the collection. Plan a talk which is simply a
guided tour of your collection. Keep it light and humorous, and the
kids will have a good time and learn too.
Create and Donate a Study Collection.
If your collection can support
this, you can create a basic mineral collection, using hand-sized
specimens, and donate it to the school. It will need to be housed in
a cabinet of some kind, of course, and well-labeled, with collection
numbers on the specimens keyed to actual labels. A printed guide to
the collection is useful, especially if arranged in a systematic way,
providing information about each specimen. Even a collection of 50 or
so specimens is helpful, and science teachers can use it to
supplement their lessons.
Share With Your Community
Most smaller communities do not
have a museum display of minerals, so there's often no opportunity
for community members to be exposed to mineral specimens. There are
several ways you can help.
Do a Library Exhibit.
Most public libraries have locked
display cabinets, complete with shelves and lighting. Check with your
local librarian. Odds are the library would love to have a mineral
exhibit in their case. Typically, these exhibits are in place for a
month at a time. You'll need excellent labels, along with small
informational posters, maps, and books on minerals for the display.
You can create the labels and small posters using your computer, and
use some of the books from your own shelves, so that the library's
books will be available for checking out during the display.
Help Your Local Museum.
Most towns have a small museum,
often dedicated to the history of the local area. Often, these
museums have a display case which is used for temporary exhibits.
Check with the curator. The same type of exhibit as used in the
library will work here, but if you can create an exhibit featuring
specimens from the local region, so much the better. If you can
create and donate a permanent exhibit, it's a wonderful way to
support your community and expose visitors to mineral collecting.
Display Minerals at Your Place
of Business.
If you own your own
business, consider installing a permanent display, containing a
representative part of your collection. It can be large or small, but
should always include informative labels and other informational
material. Not only is it a good way to share your collection, but
you'll be surprised at how fast people hear about it. It can even
bring in new customers, no matter what your business. If you work for
someone else, this may still be a valid opportunity, if your company
has display space.
Other Community Possibilities.
You can probably find additional
ways to share your collection. As you go about the community, watch
for display cases. Banks, hospitals, government buildings, Chambers
of Commerce, and other public areas often have such cases, and they
often hold stale, boring exhibits. An offer to install an interesting
and informative exhibit often is welcome. Local clubs of all kinds
are usually looking for speakers at their meetings. You could be the
next speaker, sharing your favorite hobby. |
