Within
the domain of what we call seed libraries, there is a great deal of
deviation in protocols. On one hand, many seed libraries simply file
packets of donated seed into alphabetical order and people take a
whole commercial packet home. This is the normal model for seed
libraries housed inside of book libraries and is probably the most
common way to deal with inventory.
This
paper is to look at the two basic systems of cataloging seeds in seed
libraries that don't follow that model – where seed is distributed
by a trained, albeit a volunteer, staff. I want to explore the
practices available and show their strengths and weaknesses of both.
I do not expect this to be definitive at all, but a first step
towards an understanding of the pros and cons and pitfalls that might
otherwise be surprises – nasty surprises at that.
I
would like to illustrate with a hypothetical example that contains
elements from three different problems.
We
have carrots in the seed library. One of our more popular carrots is
Nantes. Working with the library last Sunday, we discovered we had
Nantes
Carrots from 2016 – coming close to the end of their viability
Nantes
Carrots from 2020 – from Vendor A
Nantes
carrots from 2020 – from Vendor B
How
should we store and distribute them?
Does
each iteration deserve it's own number?
Or
do we keep 2016 from the 2020's and put both 2020's in the same check
out – even though they are from different companies?
Because
we seem to have a plethora of Nantes carrots, should we just dispose
of the 2016 lot and go with the fresher seeds?
There
are yeas and nays from all sides. How do you consider this? On one
hand, we are all against tossing seeds! Carrots, for one are the more
difficult to get to seeds (biennial – take up space in the garden
for a time and often require a good chill time before flowering).
I
am looking for a simple answer that is usable throughout the library
– maybe I'm overshooting
What
do other seed libraries do in this case?
david
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