The LEER_STELLE represents all those items in the university collections that cannot, should or maynot be shown. The reasons for this are diverse:

The university collections are research and teaching collections; many objects are essential for teaching and cannot be exhibited permanently. Some of the objects presented in the collection showcase are therefore duplicates or less frequently used collection items.

Other reasons for vacancies can be loss, theft or destruction . Some subjects have so-called consumption or practice collections of things that are destroyed or damaged in teaching to impart knowledge, e.g. B. in geosciences. Some objects are accidentally damaged, especially when they are fragile collection items such as plaster casts. Others are subject to the ravages of time and fall apart or become unusable. Pest infestation is a common cause of damage or even destruction, particularly with organic materials. If collection items are severely damaged or are made of sensitive materials, they usually cannot be exhibited for conservation reasons.

Empty spaces in collections can also arise through deaccession , i.e. through the targeted disposal of collection holdings or entire collections. This happens especially when collection holdings are no longer relevant for teaching or research or no longer correspond to the profile of a collection. Finally, the LEER_STELLE also stands for the return of long-term loans or the restitution of collection items acquired in unfair contexts.

Other collection items should not or may not be presented to the public for ethical and moral reasons. They are considered sensitive objects. These include human remains or ritual objects whose original context prohibits their display.