Eight quick tips for requesting materials from natural history collections

Supporting information for the article "Eight quick tips for requesting materials from natural history collections" by Giovanna Yumi Scorsim Omura, Denise Furr, and Denis Jacob Machado, accepted for publication in PLOS Computational Biology. The article gives eight practical tips for requesting specimen loans from natural history collections. It covers how to search collection databases and data aggregators, how to prepare an accurate specimen list, how to write a loan request that a curator can act on, how to handle specimens ethically, how to return them on time and in good condition, and how to build lasting relationships with curators and scientific societies. This deposit holds the three supporting text files and the main figure. The same files are included in the Supporting Information with the published article. S1_Text.pdf holds a template loan request letter. Researchers can adapt it when requesting specimens from a collection. Bracketed placeholders mark the parts to replace. The letter covers the requested material and amount, expertise in caring for the samples, plans for sharing results, handling of leftover material, and shipping arrangements. S2_Text.pdf holds a specimen loan process checklist. It organizes the actionable steps into six phases: conduct preliminary research, prepare detailed tables and lists, make a complete and detailed loan request, handle samples ethically and responsibly, return the loan with reports, and build long-term relationships. Researchers can use it to track progress through a loan. S3_Text.pdf explains the challenges facing natural history collections and offers guidance on building professional networks. The first part describes the operational problems that collections face, including permits and compliance documentation, physical preservation, funding, staffing shortages, digitization, and errors in database records. The second part offers networking advice for early-career researchers who want to build working relationships with collection managers and scientific societies. Fig1.tif shows the six phases of the specimen loan process in a single diagram. It is the article's main figure. The file is an RGB TIFF, 1533 by 998 pixels at 300 dpi, with LZW compression.