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Resources for Cataloging Biodiversity Content

Note: This page holds resources for conducting background research for context while cataloging, creating EAC records, and writing blog posts and other materials. The Cataloging Manual (found here: http://fieldbooks.wikispaces.com/Resources) is the authoritative resource for cataloging field books.

I. GENERAL RESEARCH AND REFERENCE RESOURCES

Encyclopedia of Life - http://www.eol.org/
Online encyclopedic reference resource on all forms of life on earth.

Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) - http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
A consortium of natural history and botanical libraries that cooperate to digitize and make accessible the legacy literature of biodiversity. Content may be freely viewed through the online reader or downloaded in part or as a complete work in PDF, OCR text, or JPG2000 file formats.

The Taxonomic Literature, 2nd edition (TL-2) - http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/103414#page/1013/mode/1up

SI Research Information System (SIRIS) – http://siris.si.edu
Search across all SI catalogs for a wide range of results. Includes finding aids, specimens, books, etc.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - http://data.gbif.org
Includes free access to biodiversity research and data sets.

II. SUBJECT SPECIFIC RESEARCH

ZOOLOGY:

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

BOTANY

USDA: http://plants.usda.gov/java/
Botanical Links - General Reference, Department of Botany: http://botany.si.edu/references/botlinks/

Includes a great list of resources for conducting botanical research

Botany and Horticulture Library, Smithsonian Institution: http://www.sil.si.edu/libraries/bothort/

PALEONTOLOGY:

USGS: http://geology.er.usgs.gov/paleo/glossary.shtml

A glossary of paleontology terms

III. FINDING ARTICLES

Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) - http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/Default.aspx
Can access books and journals, many have been digitized

JStor – http://jstor.org
Subscription database with access to articles over 1,000 academic journals in a range of disciplines

Other databases?

IV. RESEARCHING EXPEDITIONS

SI Expeditions (SIA): http://siarchives.si.edu/research/faexpeditions.html

Harvard University Library Open Collections Program – Expeditions and Discoveries
http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/expeditions/
Harvard-related expeditions, however there may be crossover with SI expeditions

Historic Expeditions, Dept. of Botany: http://nhb-web01.si.edu/botany/colls/expeditions/

CMS expeditions database

SI Annual Reports?
Other fed agencies?
Other historical SI publications?

V. BIOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH

Washington Biologists’ Field Club http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/perry/bios/Members.htm
Northwest Digital Archive http://nwda.orbiscascade.org/index.shtml

By Discipline:

MAMMALOGISTS

SIA RU007320: http://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_217476

Division of Mammals Biographical File 1860-1973 and undated

ENTOMOLOGISTS

SIA RU007323: http://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_217479

Systematic Entomology, Photographs and Biographical Information, 1797-1988 and undated

ORNITHOLOGISTS

SIA RU007308: http://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_217465

American Ornithologists Union, Biographical Files, 1883-

Bird Division Hall of Fame: http://vertebrates.si.edu/birds/Hall_of_fame/hall_of_fame_thumbnail_gallery_short.html

Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Birds

BOTANISTS

NMNH Department of Botany biographical file - Located in the Botany Library (ask Librarian for assistance)
Harvard University Herbarium (HUH) Botanist Index. http://kiki.huh.harvard.edu/databases/botanist_index.html
JSTOR PLANT SCIENCE (subscription or onsite at SIA). Search under "person". When results are returned, click on "Collections" and look for "Plant Collectors". I wish it were more straight forward.

Others: professional societies?
Look in CMS to check for additional biographical files