At my small state agency of about 85 staff members, I recently brought up
the possibility of having volunteers help us with collecting, cleaning, and
cataloging fossils.  We have had volunteers before, so I was hardly
prepared for the reaction.  Can someone help me out with these questions?

Do museum volunteers need to be insured by the agency?
Does it matter whether the volunteer work is indoors or outdoors?
How do potential volunteers react when asked to sign a waiver of their rights?

Thank you in advance for your comments.


Andrew K. Rindsberg
Curator, Paleontological Collection
Geological Survey of Alabama
P.O. Box O
Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-9780, USA
Telephone (205) 349-2852
Telefax (205) 349-2861
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