Abstract
The ultimate goals of expanding databases for histologic specimens and their images are to (1) archive important specimen information; (2) facilitate collaboration; and (3) avoid unnecessary alteration of paleontological and biological specimens whenever possible. These goals can best be achieved if optimal standards of specimen sampling and processing and imaging are met. This chapter discusses the preservation of new data, metadata, and images for histological studies, and considers two types of databases: specimen databases and image databases.