Collections of microbial cultures are critical tools in studying the microbial world around us. I have learned this from personal experience. The DSMZ for example, was absolutely essential to the entire GEBA (Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea) project I coordinated via the DOE-JGI. I recommend that everyone out there find ways to support various microbial culture collections. Deposit your strains. Order from these collections. Support them financially and in other ways. Do what you can to keep these critical resources viable.
For more, see this article in Scientific American: Culture Shock: Precious Microbe Collections Languish in Threatened Bio-Libraries