The University of Florida Herbarium welcomes visitors with a legitimate research interest to consult the collections.
The herbarium holds a vast storehouse of information in its library and with museum specimens of historic importance dating back into the mid-1800s. The specimens are fragile and are organized in a specialized system. Our goal is to balance the use of the collection with its preservation.
Please read our Collection Use Protocols before planning your visit to the Herbarium.
Arranging a Visit
Visitors wishing to use a collection are requested to contact a designated staff member of the appropriate collection in order to arrange a visit. This will allow us to schedule the visit, have staff available to assist, and make sure the collection will be available for use so that the goals of the visitor may be accomplished. Contact and location information is available on each of the collection pages.
Please see our Plan Your Visit page for hours, directions and parking information.
Collection Access
- Experienced researchers in plant taxonomy conducting projects specifically related to plant systematics are encouraged to use the collection. Such researchers must initially meet with the Collection Manager or a designated staff member for a collection orientation and permission to use the collection. It must be understood that there are responsibilities associated with the privilege to use the collection.
- Collection use activity should be reported either on available collection use log forms or via an email with collection-related project titles to the Collection Manager. This information is used for activity reports.
- Individuals not doing specific research work in plant taxonomy and wishing to take information from herbarium specimens will be allowed to do so under the supervision and assistance of the herbarium staff. Such persons should make an appointment with an authorized herbarium staff member for supervised research. A reasonable number of specimens will be pulled from the collection by the staff member for the individual to examine. Requests for supervised use of the collection will be evaluated on an individual basis. University of Florida Faculty and Staff and those agencies with which the Herbarium has service responsibilities have first priority. The Herbarium reserves the right to charge fees for exceptional services.
- Persons with a casual interest in plants and students in courses such as Local Flora who want to learn species and families are encouraged to use our library, synoptic collection and digital imaging resources. The synoptic collection, located in our library, includes flowering and fruiting samples of common Florida species.
- Visitors to The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Dickinson Hall facility are required to first check in at the reception desk in the lobby. A temporary visitor badge will be issued by the lobby receptionist. This badge should be returned at the conclusion of the visit.
- Herbarium collection and library visitors should also check in at the herbarium front office, 379 Dickinson Hall, and sign our guest register.
- Food or drink is not allowed inside the collections or library area.
- Please secure backpacks in the lockers provided in the herbarium or, by arrangement, in a staff member’s office.
- The Herbarium Library is available for consultation during normal office hours subject to staff availability. Library materials are not checked out. Photocopying services are available on a cash reimbursement basis.
Incoming Specimen Pest Control Policy
All specimens arriving to the herbarium must be decontaminated to reduce the possibility of introducing insect pests. Typically, incoming material is frozen 14 days and then stored in tightly sealed herbarium cabinets. Alternatively, material may be fumigated at the University of Florida Pest Control facility (this usually takes only a day or two). Contact the herbarium staff to make arrangements. Please note, if you plan to be here for only a few days, then you must mail your specimens to be frozen in advance of your visit.
Loans
No specimens may be removed from the herbarium collection without proper loan authorization and forms. Loans are made in accordance with the University of Florida Herbarium loan policies. Visitors, after consultation with herbarium staff, may select specimens for loan. Specimens generally need repair before they are loaned and it is likely they will be shipped later. A formal written request for the loan must be received from the administrator of your herbarium before the material will be sent.
Internet Access and Computing Facilities
UF provides guest wireless access. Staff logins are required to utilize museum computers connected to the internet via ethernet. Staff are not permitted to let others use their account.