As mentioned above, preparation of fossils can be very time consuming. Tiny fossils collected using screenwashing techniques are separated from the rock using a microscope and are placed in glass vials for safe storage. This sorting of fossils requires a sharp eye and many hours of work. Vertebrate and plant fossils brought in from the field commonly require cleaning and repair if collected as float. Invertebrate fossils usually require little preparation other than a simple cleaning.
Most museums have difficulty getting fossils prepared.
Fortunately, the Alf Museum has a large supply of student labor available. Students work as volunteers preparing fossils after school and students in Museum Studies are assigned preparation work during class time and as homework. Thus, the Alf Museum is able to maintain a steady supply of prepared specimens ready for inclusion into the permanent collections. Once specimens are ready to be placed into the permanent collections of the Alf Museum, they must be curated. Curation is defined as the process of documenting and organizing the collections.