Some specimens are so fragile they need custom-made, form-fitting, removable padded jackets. Part of the jacket can be removed, while the fossil rests in the other part. The jacket:

• Gives a specimen extra support.
• Lessens how much the specimen is handled.
• Makes the specimen easy to study from all sides, depending on which part of the jacket is removed.

Sometimes we also have to add extra padding to our storage boxes to protect our specimens from breaking apart over time. We need to take special care of our fossils so that scientists and visitors can enjoy them for many years into the future. This is why it is important to support the museum in the care of its collections.