NEWSLETTER | December 2024 | |
The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) improves research methodology by collaboratively making biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.
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Support BHL with Your Year-End Giving | |
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As we reflect on the achievements of 2024, we invite you to support BHL with a year-end donation. Your contribution helps us inspire discovery by providing free access to biodiversity knowledge. Thanks to our global partners and generous support from people like you, BHL makes over 62 million pages of biodiversity literature openly accessible.
Donate Today >>
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BHL Datasets Now Openly Accessible on AWS Cloud | |
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BHL data is now hosted on AWS, and comprises over 62 million pages of scientific text from the 15th to the 21st centuries. BHL’s vast collection represents an unparalleled biodiversity resource with enormous potential to be used for longitudinal studies and conservation efforts. Transitioning to AWS services represents a transformative opportunity for BHL.
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The Power of Community Science: How Smithsonian Volunpeers Transform Scientific Field Notes | |
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Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (SLA), Smithsonian Transcription Center (STC), and the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), over 43,000 pages of transcription materials have been integrated from STC into BHL. An additional 151,362 scientific name access points have now been added to the BHL search index for SLA archival field notes. These transcriptions enhance BHL’s full-text search, enable taxonomic name recognition, improve accessibility for vision-impaired users, and support climate research.
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Welcome, Tiago Lubiana, BHL's first Wikimedian-in-Residence!
In this inaugural role, Tiago will expand BHL’s data presence within Wikimedia platforms, convert legacy data to structured data on Structured Data on Commons for BHL’s vast image collection, and provide training to the broader biodiversity wiki community.
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Farewell to BHL Program Director, Martin R. Kalfatovic!
In June, BHL wished a fond farewell to Martin Kalfatovic as he retired from the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives to take up the position of Managing Director of the IIIF Consortium. Martin reflected on his 12 years as Program Director in his departing blog post.
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2024 BHL Annual Meeting:
Securing Our Future While Celebrating Our Past | |
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The 2024 BHL Annual Meeting took place in Chicago, Illinois, from May 13-17, co-hosted by The Field Museum of Natural History and the Chicago Botanic Garden. The Field Museum, renowned for its extensive scientific specimen and artifact collections, provided attendees with access to behind-the-scenes tours of the anthropology, paleontology, botany, and library collections. The Chicago Botanic Garden, a leading conservation science center, showcased its stunning 385-acre landscape with a private tram tour, a cicada walk in the woods, tours of the Japanese and crescent gardens, and visits to the library and rare book room. The public symposium attracted over 130 attendees in person and online.
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In Memoriam: Nancy E. Gwinn
Dr. Nancy E. Gwinn, past BHL Executive Committee Chair (2011-2017) and Director Emerita, Smithsonian Institution Libraries, died in the Washington, DC area on April 29, 2024. An important advocate for BHL as Director of Smithsonian Libraries, Nancy was an early supporter of what would become BHL.
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In Memoriam:
William Ulate Rodríguez
William Ulate Rodríguez, past BHL Technical Director, died in St. Louis on September 20, 2023. William was a passionate advocate of using the tools of bioinformatics to better understand life on our planet. William’s friends and colleagues shared their fond memories of his life and work.
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Inspiring Discovery through Free Access to Biodiversity Knowledge. | |
BHL makes it easier than ever for you to access the information you need to study and explore life on Earth…for free, anytime, anywhere. | |
62+ Million Pages of Biodiversity Literature Online. EXPLORE >> | |
Tools and Services to Transform Research. EXPLORE >> | |
300,000+ Illustrations on Flickr.
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Many Opportunities to Get Involved
with BHL.
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