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After Ariel (Arie) Hammond became a curator at the San Diego Natural History Museum, she said she wanted to make the library more accessible to the public.
“I want to publish our catalog so people can see what we have to visit our library and do research and also invite the public as volunteers or interns,” said Hammond, who works in Del Mar. has lived for about 11 years. “I’d really like to get some students here in the library to do archival research, but also to learn more about science and careers in science that they might not have considered.”
Hammond, a “lifelong nerd” who grew up in Escondido and has worked in the library at the San Diego Zoo for the past three years, is one of six curators who oversee the museum’s extensive collection. She started her new role on September 1st.
“I heard about this amazing position at The Nat that was a little bit more my style,” she said. “I’m a little more into snakes and sharks and spiders than cheetah kittens, so I took the chance.”
These interests began at the age of 5 when she saw a boa constrictor that had detached itself from someone’s house and ended up in their garden.
Future plans, with The Nat approaching its 150th anniversary in 2024, include digitizing more books and encouraging the public to explore its resources. Hammond added that there are interactive features that appeal to visitors of all ages, including their two children, who wanted to see “the fun stuff.”
“We have a lot of interactive exhibits and elements in the library display,” she said, mentioning buttons that can be pressed to hear different bird calls.
The Nat Research Library has around 56,000 volumes on natural history, an archive of historical records and a collection of rare books, maps and fine arts on natural history topics.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Arie on board,” said Michael Wall, vice president of the Museum of Science and Conservation, in a press release. “In an era of rampant misinformation, democratizing access to trusted data sources is critical. Arie’s current expertise in information science promises to bring the amazing resources and data of The Nat to the world in unique and universally available ways. “
Hammond attended an Ask A Curator Day on social media on September 15, part of their own and the museum’s goal of being more accessible.
“I learn as much from helping the public as they learn from giving them answers,” she said.
More information about The Nat can be found at www.sdnhm.org. Address: 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, 92101.
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