Instrument Usage Procedures: For the Hitachi SEM, Evo60 SEM, LSM510 CLM, Critical Point Dryer, Sputter Coater and Poster Printers

• New users may access the instrument Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM while technical assistance is available. Only experienced users will be permitted after hours.

• Users who are unable to use a time slot that they have reserved are obliged to cancel the reservation at their earliest convenience (24hr notice at the latest).

• If the user who reserved the time slot has not arrived within the first 30 minutes of the reserved period that slot will be considered unused and made available to others.

• No instrument may be booked more than two weeks ahead of time with the exception of booking for facility related service or in extenuating circumstances. Each user is limited to one reserved time slot during office hours (9:00AM-5:00PM Monday – Friday) per instrument per day so that a number of people can access each instrument while technical support is available in any given week. The time slot allowance for each instrument is 3 hours (ex. 9-12, 1-4).  Per week, each user is limited to one or two full work days, depending on experience and user demand.

• Users who require exceptionally long contiguous blocks of time for their work (especially users traveling here from a distance) or who must book more than two weeks in advance should contact the Laboratory Manager so that the necessary time may be reserved.

• Time slots that are still available 48 hours prior to the start time may be reserved by any user on a first come, first serve basis.

• As per existing MIF policy, priority in scheduling will go to curatorial staff, their students and postdoctoral fellows. Usage by Research Associates and Associates may be subject to re-scheduling in cases of “rush” requests by the curatorial staff. Please keep in mind, acceptable usage is defined as use related to the scientific research of the staff member; usage requests for commercial purposes will not be accepted. It is also expected that Associates acknowledge usage of AMNH research facilities in any and all publications resulting from that usage and submit reprints of those publications to the Laboratory Manager.