FAQ

Can I visit the museum?

Yes! Though the Panama Canal Museum in Seminole, FL closed in 2012 and transferred its collection to the University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries in Gainesville, FL, the library has dedicated a large exhibit space to display the collection. The exhibit is located on the first floor of the Department of Special & Area Studies Collections in the Albert H. Nahmad Panama Canal Gallery, 1508 Union Road, Gainesville, FL 32611-7005. Come see the current exhibit, Between Two Oceans, encompassing the American Era in the Zone.

The exhibit space operates under the University of Florida’s schedule, so if you are planning a visit please call ahead to be sure the building is open, (352) 273-2755. Exhibits will change on a yearly basis, so there may be a few weeks when the hall is closed as we transition the objects within the cases. At the library, the museum objects function as a research collection.  This means that students, faculty, and other researchers can access them for study.  

Do I need to create a WordPress account?

Nope!  There is no need to create an account to view the blog or make comments.  

How can I comment on a blog post?

It’s easy to make a comment on a post– you don’t even need a WordPress account, so there is no need for a username or password.  Simply click “Leave a Comment” under the post you wish you comment on.   A text box will appear (see below), where you can type your comment.   You will also see a space to enter your email (which will not be made public) and your name, so everyone will know who made the comment. 

What happens to the comments I make on blog posts?

The information you provide in the comments section of each post helps us create more complete records of the objects in our collection.  Some of that information is then transcribed by a specially trained student volunteer into the collection’s database system, where it can be found and used by researchers.

Are there guidelines for commenting on blog posts?

Yes.  We observe a set of general rules for respectful civil discourse based on those used by The Library of Congress.

Our blog moderators may monitor any user-generated content as they choose and reserve the right to remove content for any reason whatever, without consent. We do not verify the identity of commenters. Here are some of the rules we follow:

• We will remove comments that contain abusive, vulgar, offensive, racist, threatening or harassing comments, personal attacks of any kind, or offensive terms that target specific individuals or groups.
• We may remove comments that contain personal information (whether your own or someone else’s), including home address, home or cell phone number, or personal e-mail address, in order to protect privacy.
• We will remove spam, comments that are clearly off-topic, that promote services or products, or that involve political campaigning or lobbying.
• Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and may result in the comment being removed.
• Do not post anything that you do not have the right to post. 
• The contents of all comments are released into the public domain, so do not submit anything you do not wish to broadcast to the general public.

Thank you for joining the conversation!

I don’t have time to check the blog every day; can I have posts emailed directly to me?

Yes! On the right side of the blog, there is a box that says “Follow by Email” (see below).  Simply enter your email address into the box and click “Follow”.  You will then begin to receive a copy of each new blog post directly to your email, as soon as it is posted.

You can also “unfollow” the blog (stop receiving emails) the any time by clicking “unfollow” at the bottom of the email.

How can I see objects from the collection?

Follow the blog!  We are constantly digitizing new objects to add to UF’s Digital Library Collection and we share many of them in this blog space.

 

What are you doing with the PCM Collection now that it’s at the library?

Every day, we are processing the collection and preparing it for long-term storage and use as a research collection.  This process involves unpacking boxes of objects, repacking them into archival materials, numbering objects, updating their records, digitizing some items, creating records for newly gifted objects, sewing labels onto 1500 molas, researching objects to better identify them in the database, organizing collections areas, and many other things.  If you have a specific question about the project, please contact us and we can make a blog post about it!

Can I donate an object to the collection?

Yes.  UF is very lucky to have received such a large and comprehensive collection from the PCM.  To avoid duplication, please contact John Nemmers with a detailed description and photographs of the objects you wish to donate on the contact page, or at special@uflib.ufl.edu.