Italian natural history museums need specimen digitization and much more: a reply to Benvenuti et al.

By

Andreone, Franco
Boero, Ferdinando
Bologna, Marco A. (Marco Alberto), 1954-
Carpaneto, Giuseppe Maria
Castiglia, Riccardo
Gippoliti, Spartaco
Massa, Bruno
Minelli, Alessandro

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2022

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1137

Pages

181--185

Subjects

Digitization , repository , scientific collections , Specimens

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1137.97631

 

Abstract

We reply to the comments made by Benvenuti et al. (2022) about our paper on the Italian natural history museums and scientific collections and the need of a centralized hub and repository. While agreeing that digitization is a useful tool to valorize each museum and collection, we still believe that the suggestion of a centralized hub is valid and necessary. This would largely help in boosting coordination among museums, sharing personnel and resources, and in providing a place to deposit scientific collections that do not fit the scope of smaller museums.